Resolutions - How's that going?

Remember all those resolutions you made in January?

Remember all those expectations you had of yourself and other people had for you?

Remember all of that stress you placed on yourself right on the heels of all of the holiday pressure you endured?

Did it make you feel like this?  AAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!

Consider this subtle shift. 

Make a few SPRING resolutions instead. Instead of trying to rejuvenate your life in January when Earth is in the middle of winter and everybody just wants to hibernate, consider planning your rejuvenation with the Earth’s spring wake-up.

This is a natural time of awakening and rebirth in our culture. Everybody is excited for the first day of spring, spring break, and Easter celebrations. We finally have sunlight past 5 pm so we feel inclined to get out and enjoy the evening rather than cozying up in the house. You see people out walking, children outside playing, people in parks… Everyone is ready to “get out there.” Doesn’t it make more sense to make a few resolutions in conjunction with that?

A word of caution. Just like I said in January, don’t make your goals so high, or have so many, that you feel overwhelmed and the experience becomes negative. Just pick what reset point works for you (New Year’s or New Spring, or maybe something else) and be comfortable moving forward.

The equinox is not that many days away! Happy Spring to you!

Contributed by Melody Lowe

 

 

New Year's Resolutions - Yes or No?

Every year, many of us take the time to reflect on our lives and set New Year's resolutions. Whether it’s a goal to lose weight, save money, or learn a new skill - setting New Year's resolutions is an opportunity to create meaningful milestones in our lives and make positive changes.

New Year's resolutions can be a great way to stay motivated and focused on personal growth. They can help us stay accountable for our goals and remind us of the progress we’ve made over the course of the year. It’s important to remember that New Year's resolutions are not meant to be overwhelming or unachievable, but rather achievable goals that will help us reach our desired outcomes. Take it in baby steps! Don’t set your goals so high that they drive you crazy and the whole process begins to feel negative. Whether you use resolutions or not, the point is to give yourself a reset point, and be comfortable in moving forward.

Happy New Year!

contributed by Melody Lowe

And once all of the presents have been opened, you hear the words...

I just can’t believe it when I hear somebody speak these words! 

The crazy thing is, this is one my goals.

Yes, you read that correctly. It’s a goal. I’ve heard about bored housewives, how does one become that?

I have never in my life been bored. I suppose I probably said that when I was a kid, as a lot of kids do. But certainly not since high school have I ever been bored, there’s just too much to experience and accomplish.

First off, just staying ahead of housework keeps one busy. And, all of the errands that must be completed, and if you have young children there are all kinds of school activities to put on top of “just keeping up.”

But all of that aside, I have always found things that I wanted to do or wanted to learn to keep me busy. I love to read and to spend time writing. I enjoy many shows that provide education. As a child I loved it when Jacque Cousteau or Marlin Perkins would be on television. I enjoy watching Jack Hanna (I was fortunate enough to meet this gentleman), Albert Yu-Min Lin, and many programs on the History Channel, National Geographic, or PBS.

I was thrilled when the internet came into being. I’m a self-described internet gypsy. I’m always looking up something and wandering from page to page to page learning about new things – or old things that I find of interest. I’ve met some really great people this way.

 Every job that I’ve ever had, I had to learn something. My current “day job” is challenging and ever changing, so learning happens every single day. And, I can’t even imagine what career path I might have taken had the internet been available to me in my youth. The possibilities are endless so how could I ever be bored!

(And just in case you are bored, do your own gypsy hop to this site.)

Then there is my DIY side. I enjoy experimenting with many types of crafts. I’ve tried a lot of things; crocheting, embroidery, quilting, paper quilling, painting, kitchen crafts, fudge-making, the list goes on and on. The flip side of “crafting” is doing things in my home, like wallpapering, painting, plaster repair, installing tile, and this list also goes on.

Now, that my circumstances allow, I’m also enjoying some travels. It’s fun to go to new places and learn about those communities. I’ve trained my grandchildren well in these adventures and they’ve learned we are going to do something we can’t do at home, and eat in a “real” restaurant, not a fast-food place. We are going to read a book we’ve not read before, or watch a movie we’ve not seen before. They are beginning to appreciate these experiences over material things.

Back to my goal of being bored … There is always something to do, something to learn, or some place to go so it will take me a very, very long time to reach the point when “I’m bored.” I don’t know if I can even achieve this goal!

 

Contributed by Melody Lowe

Finding a Career Path

Let me tell you, choosing or changing careers is never easy.

The career path I wanted to take in high school didn’t work out. It takes a lot of college money to be an architect! My family didn’t have the means to provide a college savings plan and I wasn’t comfortable going deep into student debt during that recession!

So, I pivoted and took a job at the local hospital. It turned into a career as I continued to advance my knowledge and skills, working my way up from being a “runner” delivering supplies to the patient care units, to being a business manager. I worked there more than half of my life until a change in leadership forced a change upon me.

I had to start a new career, for I wanted a career, not just a job. I needed to be challenged, and feel like I was making a difference for people. I was fortunate that Bob Kramer was hiring at that time. He has been my mentor, my business partner, and my friend. I will be forever grateful of the opportunity and support that Bob has given me. I love this job, but it isn’t and wasn’t easy. It was a BIG learning curve with lots of tests and annual education requirements, and I embraced the challenge, and continue to meet new challenges every day. I am always learning.

In today’s job market, there are just as many challenges for those dipping their toe in for the first time, or those looking elsewhere for the job they want. Those students whose families have thought ahead to provide education dollars are fortunate. With the expansion of how funds can be used in 529 plans, they have more options. They need those options as the scope of job types is growing every day. From corporate jobs, to gig work, to being an entrepreneur, the choices are endless, and searching the internet brings up new possibilities every day.

I encourage you to help your students understand the opportunities before them, and guide them as they navigate the path to their dream career. And never hesitate to reach out and use the professionals and resources available to support you in this planning.

 

Contributed by Melody Lowe

I had forgotten how magical it is to watch someone’s face when inspiration hits them! You can see their feelings of joy and accomplishment bloom. I was reminded of this recently as I watched my youngest grandchild solve a problem.

She’s a very petite and tenacious five-year-old. She was helping set out the Christmas decorations and had become engrossed in the study of a 3-D Christmas card hanging in the hallway. It was a fun scene of Santa taking a vacation on the beach. Being about a foot too short to see it well, she kept stretching and twisting trying to take it all in. She asked a lot of questions about the scene. I was not close to her as I was sitting on the floor putting together some decorations I had added to my collection, and apparently, I was not answering her questions as well as she would have liked.

Suddenly, she got quiet (Parents – you know this warning sign…) so I watched her to see what she was up to and the wheels were definitely turning. And then I saw it. The moment of inspiration as it spread across her little face. Her eyes brightened; her smile huge. She started humming as she literally skipped to the kitchen and moments later, came back with a stepstool. She promptly sat it on the floor right in front of the Christmas card, stepped up on it, and she was beaming with pride that she had solved her problem without help from anyone. She then proceeded to confidently describe to me all the details of the card that she could now see and touch and which made her feel a part of the decorating activities.

It's a kind of magic when you have this feeling of inspiration, big or small. Inspiration instills energy and confidence. You walk a little taller. You believe in yourself and your plan. Inspiration motivates you to see it through to success, and you end your day with a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. Everything just feels better… and isn’t that magical.

Contributed by Melody Lowe