I Made It!

Oh. My. Gosh. Call me Brittany... I did it again. Well, almost. Here it is after 10 pm and I'm writing my post for the day. Good thing I remembered, this time.

This is going to take some getting used to. I'm working on a daily "Chore" list so I know what things need to be done every day. I opt to forget some things because they aren't a habit (yet). And then there are the things I just don't like doing that I need a larger reward for accomplishing them (laundry, dishes, making the bed, you get the picture).

I guess this one is going to be short and sweet... I will, however, leave you with one of some motivational pictures from the vacation we just had in Nantucket. (Motivational for me, hopefully pretty for you.) Nantucket has become one powerful reason for going all this and making these changes... I crave to have a life where of living in a small town on the ocean and visiting this the beautiful island regularly.  

Hope you have a wonderful night. 

Well, that didn't take long...

It's Day 5 and there are only three posts. How soon I can forget to do something I want to do. I got caught up in needed to do what I was "suppose" to do and when I froze on that, a lot of other things didn't get done (like yesterday's post).

Interesting how we can allow something we are fighting to do control everything thing else we do and stop us dead in our tracks. We want to stay "focused" and not get distracted by something else. We want to stay on point and finish this project, no matter what the cost, so we don't leave yet another one unfinished. We don't want to let someone down, so we sit in avoidance and not do anything letting down so many other people. We go to battle with this "Thing". We create an attitude of all or nothing.

I've been listening to a lot of Abraham Hicks lately (thanks to the ease of Youtube). They spend a lot of time talking about the "Path of Least Resistance"; do what feels natural to you; notice when something doesn't feel right: keep a positive outlook:, and what you put out you receive. (Ok, this is completely my take-a-way in cliff-note version and I am so totally sure there is much much more, but for short story sakes...) Looking back at yesterday, (with Hindsight as my Super Hero) I wasn't living the path of least resistance.  I was, instead, forcing myself to do something and as a result I sat at my desk hitting my head against the wall.

On the flip side, when I was able to eventually start my project I had a blast! I worked through some hiccups have been in the way stopping me. I have a worksheet to assist my clients with. I have a game plan about what to do with my own marketing that I'm proud of. So I'm glad that I didn't give up on what I wanted to do. But...

But... Is there a way we could stay on track, remember what the big picture is, forgive ourselves when we're not ready to work on this or that part, allow ourselves to work on a different section, and then try again when the resistance isn't there? I know! That is asking a lot! Just think, how much could we accomplish if we listened to our inner self and allowed it to steer the direction every now and then!

So, I'm back. I'm not going to get on my case and I'm not going to yell at myself. I'm going to learn from yesterday and I'm going to continue on this discovery journey.  I'm going to work at listening to myself and allowing my emotions to be.

What are you going to do? Power on? Or try to understand why you've put an invisible wall in front of you? Whatever you choose, I'm glad you're here on this trip with me. Thank you!

Photo Credit to Richard Long. If you would like to purchase his book please follow this link 

Why Discipline?

Like all good stories... It all started long ago in a far away land called Redford.

I realized what I was doing wasn't what I wanted to do. I didn't fully enjoy my micro interior design studio, working retail wasn't going to cut, and I had no worth-while marketable skills for a job I could live on. I discovered I needed to do something else. But what?

For nearly twelve months, I floated and bounced around. Throughout this, I discovered a career I like! How do I know I like it you ask? (Don't laugh) I know I like it because I read books about it. (I'm a slow and clumsy  reader and don't do it often, so this is a pretty big deal for me.) I want to know more about it. I go outside my comfort zone for it.  (And, we all know how hard that is to do.)

Now, I've spent six months learning and developing skills for this new adventure. I've taken classes, attended webinars, read books, listened to podcasts, (gaining an education is a different experience with Google than before) and gotten certified. I am ready to hang my shingle and get going! How exciting for me and my future!!!

But... But... But, I'm A.F.R.A.I.D.

I'm afraid to put all this knowledge I have into action. What if I really don't know anything?
I'm afraid to do what I know I can do (what I'm trained to do.)? What if it doesn't go the way I think it will?
I'm afraid to attempt the work. What if people think I'm stupid?

This is why the "D"-word (Discipline)

I Know I can do this.

I Know I have the knowledge to back up my processes.

I Know people will find value in my work.

I Know that starting and continuing will give me confidence.

I Know that with confidence fear will diminish.

I Know that having discipline will give me the backbone to continue on when I-Just-Don't-Wanna.

That is Why the need for Discipline...

The desire to overcome fear and accomplish something I Know I want and to live the life I dream about.

Day 3 of 90... only 86 more to go! I got this! Want to join me on my journey?


Thank you Very Best Quotes for a great motivational picture!

Discipline: Day 2

New Beginnings

It's raining. #Cuteness is here, meaning it's family time. A perfect day for movies and naps. But, I want more than this. Or, I want days like this more. No matter how the coin is flipped I want different than I've had, and that, my friend, is why I'm here typing and not stopping even before I've begun.

They say that it's not the destination but the journey that is important. I totally agree.  I'm thankful #Cuteness is focused on cleaning her room (only because I've bribed her with fudge.) I'm grateful my husband is working in his office and looks up to smile at me every now and then. I'm happy with my life and I never want to take any of it for granted ever. I just want more! And more! And more!

I want to always keep growing! I want to always keep learning! I want to always keep exploring! I want to always keep giving! I want to always keep smiling and laughing!

My question to you is... What do you want? What are you willing to do to change your life? Or, are you happy where you are?

A Blog a Day

Discipline: (noun) training or conditions imposed for the improvement of physical powers, self-control, etc.

I need to work on mine! No, that's not accurate... I need to find where I hid mine, dust off the cobwebs - THEN start rebuilding to make it stronger. It's not a word people would use to describe me. However, it is a characteristic a new wife, a new step-mom, a new business owner "should" have. (Or, know where it's hiding.)

I am great at having ideas. I have journals full of brainstorms or brain-dumbs! I am a wiz at starting projects. My art studio has piles of unfinished "good intentions". But, having the discipline to actually finish something (anything)... Now, that is a rare event and should be celebrated!

But... But... I want more out of life! I'm learning, slowly, that the "D"-word is important tool to help me get there!!! And, I'm too suborn to just give in and let life win... So, I'm going to find my Discipline, start training, and Live the Life I crave!

My first task in this journey: Blog every day for 90 days.

Now, here's the flip-side: I'm nervous! In the past when I've started something my follow through has lasted 2 days, 5 days at the most... And here I am broadcasting to the world I'm going to do something for 90 days! At the same time, I'm excited about it. I can't wait to see who I am at the end of this challenge. How will my writing evolve? Will my discipline change? Will I enjoy it?

Like the road less traveled... We'll see where it takes me.


Photo Credit: TheThingsWeSay.com

Self Awareness, A Wedding Gift to Myself

People are interesting! And I LOVE watching the many different kinds of behaviors...

For the most part, we have the Best intentions for our actions. We crave to be "good" people. But, I've noticed, our old habits and programming take the reins from our intentions, no matter how good they are.

I'm not saying I'm any different! I'm not saying that we can't change. However, an object at rest will stay at rest until acted on by an unbalanced force. (Newton's First Law of Motion). And change is HARD!!!

This rant is all stemming from a realization about myself and the current desire to introduce an unbalanced force. 

So... Here I go, startin' a new path... 

I just got married! (Thank you! Yes, it was beautiful! Yes, I am happy it's over!) Some how I managed to escape summers with 5 or 7 weddings. The etiquette of present giving. The rules you're suppose to follow for events. I went into this completely naive about what to expect. (Thank goodness for the overwhelming blogs and magazines to confuse me!)   I did notice one thing happening; an ongoing conversation that swayed between a sore spot and moments of glee with in me.

There's a belief that if something continually irks you it's a most likely a behavior within yourself that you have unknowingly disowned; and so, it bothers you to experience it in others. (Yeah, did you get that? Took me a long time to figure it out.) After a couple of weeks, I realized this is what was happening!!!

I suck at RSVPing! Even when I do happen to let people know I'm coming, I have minor panic attacks and end up bailing at the last moment. And, even more importantly, I hate it about myself.  Good thing though, the wedding made me confront my issue.

I didn't realize how important RSVPs were. I didn't realize how important a realistic head count is for events. How much food do you buy, tables do you put out, gifts do you create? Then, when you do actually get that number before the event, don't believe it; it changes the day of!

I was faced with what happens when I allow my personal human nature to control the actions of my intentions. (In the case of the wedding-way too much food!) I don't like what it does to host and hostess. I don't like being someone you can't rely on.  I don't like living in the space of the unknown.  This was a view into a world I didn't understand, and so didn't care about it.

Happy Dance!!! My "unbalanced force" has been discovered! The knowledge of what my actions/inactions create. I'm not saying my panic attacks aren't going to show up, but I will work harder at addressing them earlier so they won't stop me. I'm not saying I'm going to get to every Facebook invite that comes, but I'll try harder. I will also be more truthful about my intentions of attending as opposed to saying what I think they "want" to hear.  

My wedding gave me a husband, a lack of sleep preparing for it, beautiful pictures of wonderful memories and some gifts of greater self-awareness.

So, What Do You Do?

May 29th - The last day I had a "real" job. 81 days ago (but who's counting?) Instead a 9-5 paycheck job I ---

• sorted through every item in my parent's house/garage discovering forgotten treasures.
• filled the front yard, driveway, and back yard to host one of the biggest single yard sales in the Redford area of the year.
• found 10 different places to donate or recycle the other items and filled up the old green truck over and over again to minimized just tossing things away to the landfill.
• painted two landscape murals at the size of 8 feet x 8 feet each for an ice show.
•  packed up my life and moved in with my fiancé's tiny apartment. (Which got new carpeting installed three days before adding my things to his collection.)
• completed updates, cleaning and preparation to rent out my family's home so I can be close to my future step-daughter.
• unpacked, re-established up my art studio, and began the merging of two lives and all the stuff that comes with said lives.
• planned, executed, and had an amazing DIY potluck wedding for 85 loving friends and family within a short four month engagement.

 Yeah... Maybe I should have stayed at the "real" job and gotten a paycheck!

So, it's been nearly three months of not having a job, a paycheck or knowing what how to define myself. And I don't like it. I don't feel like I'm part of society. I don't feel like I'm giving equally in my relationships. Even though I have worked from sunrise to sundown to create new lives for love ones and family members.  I still feel like I've taken the easy route because I haven't contributed money to the situations. Instead I have been working behind the scenes making sure everyone has what they need to do what they want.

It's interesting how much emphasis is placed on what one does. Ok... It's interesting to see how much emphasis I have put on myself by my title, by what I do, by if I have a paycheck or not.

What I did didn't bring in money. What I did didn't provide an income for the household. But what I did ---

• allowed my parents to move to Seattle to watch the grand-kids grow up to help influence them to make great memories.
•  allowed me to marry a wonderful man who loves me and encourages me to be me, all the different facets of me that there are.
• allowed my fiancé to be an active and supportive dad and be there for his busy daughter.

I guess that's pretty important. I guess there is more to life than just money and titles. I guess I should remember that...

What about you? What do you do? Most importantly, are you happy doing it and see it's amazing value?