Finding Balance

Well I'm here...two months into my new position and I'm still moving forward.  There have been many days where I feel like I'm moving on the back of a turtle but I haven't yet felt like the train is in reverse!

I love to be organized, prompt and was always proud of my good memory.  I'm realizing in my new position that these traits can easily slip away.  Distractions occur, meetings run late, and comments made in passing can easily be forgotten when the next distraction comes along.    All that being said, I'm loving my new job, challenges and all.

Two months in and I've developed many new friendships, a professional network around the province, and pride in my ability to accomplish new tasks. I've also learned the power of stress on my body, mind and family.

Now that I have a wee bit of experience under my belt, it's time I start exploring the balance to bring it all together.  Time to unwind, to enjoy the moment and to let go the things I cannot change.  It's back to exercise, healthy eating and meditation.  The plan of attack; scheduled exercise, bagged lunches, a meditation challenge and a housekeeper!  The thoughts of it are making me relaxed already!

Big Accomplishments...Short Time Frame

Wow...I just realized it has been a long time since I have actually taken time to put my thoughts on paper with respect to my personal growth. Now that I've had the chance to think back to all the things that have happened since my last post, I have to admit, I've kind of blown my own mind.  This summer, my focus was more on professional growth and less on personal growth.  Although I still worked hard on my health and wellness, my actions and time really were committed to my career goals and aspirations.

My last post was written the on the heels of a huge job interview.  Success came the following day when I accepted the position of Secondary Pathways Consultant with the school board.  I also had just begun what would hopefully be my last university course to promote myself to the next pay category.   The month of June, as noted before, has always been a crazy month.  This year made even more so based on the crazy emotions of excitement for the future, sadness leaving the place I called home for so many years, and the stress of wrapping up one stage of my life while preparing for a new one.

July brought summer school craziness, extra busy family activities and more excitement, sadness and fear for the upcoming school year. 

August dropped me into my new position and I was, for half of the month, consumed by studying to achieve a mark high enough in my course to help me achieve my goal of a category change.  A week in Northern Ontario, surrounded by my family and nature offered me the relaxation and renewal I needed before heading back into the biggest change of my life.

September brought fear!  The realization that for the first time in 29 years, I wouldn't be in school for the first day of school.  The fear of not knowing what to expect in my new position.  The expectation of loneliness, missing the colleagues I had come to know as family for the past 10 years.  I'm happy to say that all of those fears were irrational.  I've discovered I'm still surrounded by amazing people, my McGregor family is still there and I'm truly loving the new opportunities I have been awarded.

Now that October is here..I'm excited to see what comes first and am taking the opportunity to regain my focus on my health, fitness and family.  I'm proud of the hard work I put in to achieve some of my goals and I'm looking forward to the challenges and changes heading my way.

It's amazing what you can accomplish in a short time frame if you work hard and believe in yourself!   Now it's time to put it all together.  Here goes my commitment to put my best foot forward in my new position and to regain my focus on health and wellness.  It's time again to set my goals for the next three months to see what I can achieve.   Explore what matters to you, set your goals...let's see what we can accomplish this time around!

It's Amazing what a Weekend can Teach You!

I just spent another amazing weekend traveling with my students.  For four years, I've been privileged to spend a weekend in May with a large group of Grade 9 students.  We spend the weekend attempting new feats, exploring new places, and expanding our horizons.  

This year we changed up the trip to include jet boating, ziplining and exploring two cities.  Aside from the educational experience, there are so many things this weekend offers the students and myself.

This year I was reminded that:

Stepping out of your comfort zone is exhilarating.

Surrounding yourself with positive people is important.

Encouragement and support can come from unexpected sources.

Friendships make things better.

Making a point to learn more about other people increases the strength of your relationships.

We all share the same fears.

Laughter bonds.

Shared experiences create lasting memories.

I'm once again overjoyed and amazed at the important life reminders these students offer to me every year.  The experiences we shared, the fun we had and the memories we made will shape who we are and how we proceed on the path of life.  I'm thankful for times like these!

A Year in Review

Thanks to a new found friendship, some professional reflection and a reminder that I enjoy sharing my thoughts, I just revisited my personal blog I started almost one year ago.  When I started this project, my goal was self reflection and awareness.  To share my story, my struggles and my successes with others.  I completed the 21 day blogging challenge I put on myself, and managed at times throughout the year to revisit what I began.

Upon rereading my posts, I think it is time to get back to it!  If nothing else, sharing my stories, my fears and my accomplishments, serves as a personal reminder of the Journey I have been on the past few years.

I'm currently in the process of examining my future.  My goals are set, my dreams are big and I'm ready for the hard work ahead.  Professional aspirations and personal fitness goals have been recorded and now is the time to make it happen!  It is time to work hard, to focus on the finish line and to have fun along the way. It won't always be fun, it most definitely won't be easy...but it will be worth it!

Pretty lucky, or More to it?

I recently found a financial plan I made 10 years ago, when I was first married and settling into life as I knew it.  The financial goals I wanted to accomplish by the time I was in my 30's, kind of like a wish list 10 year plan.  The list tody makes me laugh.  Somehow I've managed to accomplish every thing I had down...owning a bigger house, affording a 2 child family, health benefits, a job I love that pays well and money for our family to do what we want.  I had specific financial obligations on my list, things like pool maintenance and a golf membership.  I sure had my dreams!

The thing that kind of blows my mind is that I didn't actually set out to accomplish each thing individually so I could check it off the list, they simply happened.  I truly believe that by simply planting the thoughts all those years ago helped to influence how I responded to events as they occurred in my life.  

I'm  actually excited to try my next experiment.  I think I may spend some time imagining my financial goals 10 years from now, to dream big and see what happens.  I'm not going to keep these goals out I'm the open like my dream board, but rather going to tuck them away to explore years from now.  The interesting thing will to see if my goals stayed the same and came true 10 years from now, if by spending time imagining and dreaming about the future subconsciously leads my decisions and choices in the years to come.

I'm a huge believer that we have the power to change and influence the lives we lead.  Positive thoughts, clear goals and the desire to work hard can help us achieve anything.  What would you like  your life to look like 10 years from now?

The Journey

All too often I get wrapped up in my emotions.  Good days, happy events, bring me joy, love and a sense of good in the world.  Bad days, tragic events, bring me anger, sadness, frustration and a desire to hide out from others.  I'd say I'm a perfectly normal human being.  My emotions are controlled by the happenings around me, my interactions with others and my sense of worth in the current moment.

I'm quick to celebrate when celebration is needed.  I'm quick to show affection to those I care about.  I'm quick to offer help when help is required.  On the other hand, I'm easily annoyed when things don't go my way.  I'm quick to judge when situations don't play out as planned.  I'm quick to get frustrated when things take longer than expected.

I'm extremely educated when it comes to matters of the heart and mind.  I read a lot, I search for answers to my questions and I'm constantly searching for ways to improve myself.  I am open to exploring various beliefs concerning life and death.  I respect and enjoy learning about other cultures and religions.  I'm always searching for life lessons that resonate with my ever changing and developing belief system.  I enjoy reading, learning, sharing and discussing my findings with others.

I've discovered the benefits of intense physical activity.  I've improved my body and my mind through daily activity.  I've learned to challenge my boundaries and to push past my pre conceived limitations to do things I never thought I could.  I'm frequently pleased by  my accomplishments but just as easily frustrated by my shortcomings.  I know the benefits of healthy eating but struggle with the willpower to adapt my eating habits to a diet I know will benefit my body.

Based on my description of myself...I'm a perfectly confused woman.  I've come a long way over the years, learning more about myself as the days go on.  As pointed out by a very smart friend, life is a Journey, a chance to experience, learn and improve.   The fact I keep trying new things, knowing things can always get better and not stopping or giving up means my Journey continues on. 

Enjoying all the journey has to offer, the celebrations, the setbacks and the fact it never really ends will keep me working hard.  If you happen to find me stuck in a rut on the road, please remind me a smoother path lies ahead.  I promise to do the same for you, you only need to ask.

Take the chance to embrace all life has to offer, good and bad....enjoy your Journey!

A Step Back in Time

Today I started something I never thought I'd do again...I began a university course.  I'm stepping back into the world of textbook reading, study notes, and test anxiety!  Plagued with health problems during my original university days, the prospect of heading back into the classroom wasn't one of my top priorities.  I've managed to survive my first online post, two chapters of the textbook and the thought of a multiple choice final exam.

 The only thing scarier than the prospect of completing the course itself is the topic: The Psychology of Death and Dying.  Wish me luck...this may be one of the scariest things I've tackled in the last few years ;)