Girls Nights Are...

This is just a short post, more fun and random than anything else!

I've had guys question girls nights, not understand them, not understand why we would want to exclude them. That is because girls nights are:

• Therapy - often, although not always, for guy problems
• Venting sessions - these differ from Therapy because no one wants a solution, it's a moment where she just wants to be heard
• A Safe Haven - I'll admit, you can have this w/your guy friends. But it's different. There's something great about getting together with your closest girl friends and just being yourself, warts and all
• Sanity Saving - like when you walk in the door and the first words out are, "can I get you a glass of wine?"
• Brainstorming Sessions - about anything and everything that needs to be addressed!
  

Short blog post, definitely. But I've got a girls night tonight that I'm pretty excited about, so I thought I's just share all the reasons why!

Support and Acceptance

Ok, I realize that the title here is maybe a little misleading. But...I'll explain where it comes from. First, let me build the background by saying that I'm jumping head first into a new business venture - I've started working with Arbonne, and so far I love it. There's so much to learn and there are tons of trainings, but I'm incredibly grateful that I haven't been dumped into a business and left to figure it all out on my own.

Part of my reason for moving in this direction is because I am at a point in my world where I really needed to try something completely new, to expand my boundaries, and to build some new skills that in some ways, scare me to death. I think it's healthy to push yourself from time to time in ways that maybe aren't the most comfortable but have the potential for great payoff. In this case, while of course I hope my business stays financially viable, the best payoff for me is the opportunity to meet new people through the presentations and get to talk to them about their lives.

Already, I've been fortunate to find that I really click with my sponsor - I think we have similar outlooks on the world, and it's always a gift to meet someone like that. Plus, working with one of my longtime friends is a major added bonus - we're learning together, and I trust her implicitly so it makes attempting to overcome some of the personal challenges a little less daunting.

In this process, I have been pleasantly surprised at how supportive those closest to me have been. Now, let me say that it's NOT the case that my doubt was based on previous experience...everyone's always wonderful, so why would I expect anything else? But as with any new thing, it's a learn-through-experience kind of deal. And I've been blown away by the people who have come to my launch parties, purchased items (and I've gotta say, the products do pretty much rock :)), or even just sent simple notes of encouragement and well wishes. It's been eye-opening to see how strong my network really is, and how blessed I am!

So...now to get to the explanation for the title. I have a friend's wife who is also starting out in direct sales with a different company. If her launch had been on a weekend, it's likely that I would have gone down just to support her...but it was a weekday and in the morning, so I couldn't make it. I sent a note expressing my excitement for both of us, suggesting we compare notes sometime, wishing her luck, and letting her know if she had a catalogue to let me know and I'd take a look at her products.

I have learned in the week leading up to getting her invitation how important and welcome that simple offer can be.

I got a note back saying that we should compare notes, and telling me in a fair amount of detail why she thinks her company is better than mine. At the end of the note, she deigned to offer to look at what my company might have that her company didn't.

Really?

Clearly, I'm a little irritated by the return message. I completely understand that some things don't come across well in an email...but was it really necessary to tell me why she thinks her company is better and to offer so little positive in response? I've got to admit, I'm incredibly hesitant now to even look at what she's selling - I'm sure the products are fine, but I don't need to be torn down in order to build someone else up.

In my world, it seems to me that the amazing support that people can offer also has to know how to be accepted on the other side. Sometimes that's not an easy thing - I'm terribly independent and get that - but at the very least, acknowledge the offer with grace.

So I guess to sum it up...all I'm saying is that to me, when people volunteer their time or their money or even something like a thought that they turn into a note in order to build me up, it's like my personal small miracle in that moment and means the world. And really, it's a shame for those people who have trouble purely accepting that offer...because they're missing out on an incredibly powerful experience.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's hard to believe that we're back into the holidays - I think I just don't believe it since it really hasn't snowed much this year. I, for one, definitely tie the colder weather to the holiday season...which is really weird, since in Colorado it's as likely to be 65 on Thanksgiving Day as it is to be 32.

So then, what is there to be thankful this year, since that's what this day is all about? I can say that it has been a roller coaster of a year, with extreme ups and downs...but the basic things I'm thankful for stay the same through all of it.

1. My family - My brother and SIL make so many days better just by being so fun and still so laid back. Plus they are so awesome about helping to build my relationship with my nephew. My nephew could brighten anyone's day - he's changing so much, and has wrapped his Auntie right around his finger (being told to get off a table by his dad, so he wraps his arms around my neck to give me a hug - seriously, who's going to remove a kid who's giving you a hug??) My parents, who are just as involved as we need them to be and are always willing to offer a hand when we ask. Oh, and I would be in remiss to not mention my very talkative cat!

2. My friends - So many of these people are basically extended family. They are the ones that support all my crazy ideas with love and sensitivity, are there when I need to vent/talk through things, remind me that I do actually have something to offer when I'm feeling spectacularly unspecial, and would be there at a moments notice. I've been blessed with so many AMAZING people in my life, who all bring something unique to my world...how in the world can you not be thankful for that??

3. My job - While things are slowly getting better 'out there', there are still people who are having a tough time making ends meet. I am fortunate to be working in the field that I have chosen, and it helps to support my crazy love of travel!

4. My health - I've been able to do some amazing things this year and am so grateful that my body continues to take the abuse :) A 1/2 Marathon, a 14er, a fair amount of country and swing dancing...hopefully more of all for 2011!

I'm sure that there are other things, but just writing these things down is an excellent reminder to me that there are always silver linings, even if I can't see them in the moment.

I hope you're having a wonderful Thanksgiving, and cheers to the upcoming holiday season!

I'm Back!

It has been months and months since I posted to my blog, and this time it's not for lack of things to talk about! Really, I jumped off onto a traveling binge right after my last post. Since the beginning of May I've been:

• Portland, Oregon for a wine tasting trip with three of my favorite ladies
• Southern Indiana for my Grandpa's 85th birthday
• Most of July I was holding still (if you don't count camping within the state)
• August I ran a 1/2 marathon
• September I went to Hawaii with one of my besties
• October I went to Maine with my dad to visit my other Grandad

So, as you can see, it's not been a slow six months! But...shame on me for not writing about all of these adventures. Because really, they were ALL adventures. Maybe now that I'm headed back to technologically solvent (yep, that's right, I finally replaced my 7 year old computer) I can circle back and tell the stories that I've collected!

Tonight I spontaneously ran into some friends at the mall and we decided to make an evening of it by getting dinner and catching up. Can I just say how much I love random run-ins like that? Anyway, there was a lot of talk of blogging and it inspired me to start catching up on my own project. I've got a few ideas about posts to add here, and they won't all tie to travelling...but I can't wait to put them out there!!

The Game of Constant Catch-up

The title of this blog is pretty much how I feel about my ability to keep the blog up to date! I've had all kinds of thoughts rolling around in my head for possible posts, now I just need to sit down and write them. Which means another possible flurry of activity before I go MIA for another month.

First, the coolest project ever:
The New York Times has a photography blog called Lens. They were behind the idea of appointing a time (15:00 UTC = Universal Coordinated Time) when anyone who was interested, anywhere in the world, would take a picture of what they were doing and submit it. That way, they could build a collage of literally a single set of moments from around the world.

The date for this project was Sunday, May 2nd and here in Denver the time for photo taking was 9am. I had actually thought ahead for this project and decided that at 9am I would be hiking up at Red Rocks - what better place to capture a Sunday morning in the Rocky Mountains? See - obviously this project captured my heart, because it takes a lot to get me out of bed at 7:30a on a weekend! It was a Colorado spring day in its truest form, with a combination of sunlight and the tiniest hint of snowflakes...but I was bundled up and eventually the sun did decide to play nice.

Anyway, my success with participation was unfortunately limited because my ancient computer decided it was not going to let me access, edit or email the photo (there were a series of computer crashes, a ridiculous amount of time, and a WHOLE lot of swearing before I came to the realization that it was futile), and I had made the mistake of taking it off my camera when I put it onto the computer. But, all the same, I know I was out there with thousands of other photographers at the same time doing exactly what they were doing in that moment. And what a cool experience, just knowing that!

Everyone should take some time and check out the end result - it will require a lot of time to look at everything, but even just clicking around will give you an idea of all the different things happening at 9am MST two Sundays ago!

Here's the link: A Moment In Time (NYT: Lens)

Two important things came out of this experience: (A) I am going to buy a new computer that will run programs from this decade and (B) I would love love LOVE to really start pursuing a new camera and a photo blog. Time will tell, and obviously the new computer is the key (I can't justify a nice camera until I have the technology to support it), but I get so excited about the possibility of sharing my photos - the good, the bad, and the ugly - that it might be closing in on the point that I have to find a way to make it happen!

Leaping Back In...

I have missed running outside, and I just realized it since the sidewalks are clear and I was able to take a quick run before it got dark! Best feeling ever - I'm tired and sweaty, and didn't even go that far since it became clear pretty quick that I've forgotten how to pace myself - but I'm proud that I got out to do something. It's crazy, but my best motivation is when I just want to scream and pick a fight...and I know that neither of those options are productive. So what better than to hit the sidewalk for a little bit?

Only 1.6 miles today (I did make it 1.25 before I needed to take a short walk break), but more on the horizon when I have a little more daylight to work with. Bolder Boulder, here I come!

A Good Dose of Inspiration

Lately I have been feeling very bored, which is a weird description for my life. Too busy, yes. Overwhelming, often. So then it seems strange that bored would also tie to those words. Because while I'm moving a thousand miles per hour, it's all beginning to feel the same.

I have a problem with being present in the moment, and I think taking the long view actually hurts all of the experiences that I'm meant to be having right now. I worry about the "what if this isn't going to/supposed to work out" and the "how on earth is that going to happen" rather than enjoying the exact place that everything actually is and trusting that it's that way for a reason. If I would just let things either work out - or not - rather than thinking them to death, I think it would open a better window for me to know myself even better than I do. By going with the moment, it would better allow me to react to how I really feel rather than worrying about the ramifications...it would allow me to just be and to take care of myself in the process.

Moving to this philosophy is going to take some work, but it's been on my mind a lot lately as I find myself worrying about things that just can't be addressed right at this exact moment. And then I don't enjoy the moments that I have. I may need the occasional reminder that everything will be fine...but I'm going to try to focus more on the here and now to see if that doesn't help relieve some of the boredom.

I'm in the middle of reading Siddhartha and there's a line that caught my attention. Not having it in front of me right now, all I can share is the gist, but it basically talked about how he'd been through a period where he fed his body, but starved his soul. He goes on to reflect on the way he'd been living and the experiences he'd been having...he had made money, experienced women, enjoyed good food and nice clothes. But ultimately, he was left friendless, miserable and nearly suicidal until he rediscovered that the little voice in himself that reminded him that there was still a journey to live for. It just wasn't a journey of things.

I love how this translates, since it acts as a reminder to not place so much value on things you want, or even the direction you think life should take. Instead, the focus should be on finding enlightenment...not necessarily happiness, but a peace and acceptance within yourself that's meant to carry you through everything else that's going on.

I have to remind myself that it's ok to be in a constant state of "work in progress", and that sometimes it's out glitches that make us interesting.

So here's to finding inspiration to make the best of the journey...wherever I may end up. And I say this a lot, but it always is worth repeating...a thanks to my wonderful friends who are so supportive of both my random joys and my most confusing disappointments and fears. I'm blessed to have so much love in my life!