Career Development Conference

I just got back on Sunday from Career Development Conference. This is a week long, specialized training that you actually have to qualify for from my employer. It is held in Dallas Texas at the American Airlines Training Center. The rooms are small enough that you can reach across the room from one wall to the other, practically. But apparently, I'm lucky, because it used to be that individuals shared rooms with THREE other people! And since all I did was sleep in my room, I guess the size is pretty much irrelevant. The food though, was outstanding! I really enjoyed not having to cook, clean or drive for the whole week.

Each day was motivational and educational in nature. Each day, there was an inspiring story of someone who overcame all the odds to achieve what others said was impossible. And there was direct, enthusiastic training on the difference between goals and desires and how to tell the difference. Knowing the difference is critical to succeeding. They should have put warning labels on the door to the auditorium, because I found myself touched and in tears nearly every day. I was amazed at the skill of the individuals who shared with us tactics for success. The cool thing is, it wasn't just career success...they challenged us to find balance, seek for joy, and look for our missions in life. It was truly amazing!

We also spent a large portion of each day in classes to talk about the "counselor approach." It emphasizes using our interpersonal skills to make sure that we are "solving problems" not just making a sale. One thing I rediscovered is how much I LOVE what I do. I needed that really badly at this point in the business. I have been working my tail off, and even though knew it was going to be a hard "row to hoe" from the start, I was hoping it would be a bit easier to get myself established. And no offense to the management of our office, because surely they must measure us in order to know if we are doing what we need to do to be successful, but I was seriously lacking the inspiration of what I was doing as we tended to focus on the numbers. Our company is about humanity, or so we are told...yet in my day to day interactions with those who represent the company to me, humanity seemed replaced by performance statistics. So I had been praying about finding the peace and inspiration that I needed to be successful...finding the humanity in what I was doing. Lo and behold...Look how God answers prayers!

I left the conference feeling happy and at peace. Succeed or fail with New York Life, I know that I have found skills and individuals that will have a lasting impact on my life, and hopefully on the lives of many that I meet. Will the miracle come? I don't know, but I know that I have done my best by putting on my shoes each day and doing what I need to do to be successful. I have tried to keep my priorities in order (a hard thing to do when it feels like EVERYTHING depends on me! It really depends on God...I just have to do the work. But how quickly I forget that!). I have been blessed in the journey. I know the miracle can come, because God is God. I need to surrender to his will and let come what may. :-)

Love to all of my pepsquad and nurturers of my soul out there! You lift me every day. Hugs!

The biggest oops.

I can't believe it happened. I am so bummed.

Believe it or not, I actually earned some money at New York Life this month, and I thought, I'm going to get a Wii for Christmas. I knew I had to buy it now, because by Christmas, there wouldn't be any left. So I bought it yesterday (after visiting only three stores!) while the kids were with their dad. It was in the back of the van covered with some work stuff. I thought about trying to bring it in the house, but I couldn't figure out where to hide it. Now that the kids are older, there is no place to put things that they might not accidentally stumble upon it. So this afternoon when I picked up the kids from school, I instructed them to sit in the middle row of the van, and proceeded to help Laine with something as she got in the car. Well, the boys didn't listen and climbed in the back seat, leaning WAY over the back, and Joe got a glimpse of the Wii, and said it aloud. My secret was out.

I was so mad! Because they were disobedient, they ruined my surprise. I told them that since they were disobedient, I was going to take it back to the store. Naturally, this was followed by much wailing and gnashing of teeth. After a while, guilt got to me, and I had to admit that the fault was mine. I should have properly hidden the thing before they got back, notwithstanding the fact that I was working all day. I had to apologize to everyone for losing my cool, and take back my threats of buying plastic harmonicas for Christmas since my Christmas money had now been spent on a November surprise. But what the heck am I going to do for Christmas???

Maybe it will have to be socks and underwear under the tree. One thing's for sure...I know I'm getting some coal in my stocking. Bad momma...bad, bad momma!

We did have a great time trying out the Wii tonight though! I really like it because we get to move as we play! And I invested in Wii Fit for me, though I'm sure the kids will want to play with it too.

Get out and VOTE!

I am exercising my rights as an American Citizen tomorrow...I am voting for the candidates of my choice, I am choosing which propositions I support, I am letting my voice be heard!

Never more than today, in time of war and conflict where friends and strangers fight for the freedoms of people I've never met, what better way to express gratitude for the country I live in, the freedoms others have fought and died for, than to get out there and VOTE!

I have always considered myself lucky to live here in the USA. I was really blessed to be born here. (I would have been a real trouble maker anywhere else.) When I read in the newspaper about others who live in countries where trouble and turmoil and the trampling of rights is rampant, I think about how much our country needs to be humbled by the great men and women who made our life in this country what it is. Too many Americans quarrel over inconsequential details, and imagine themselves wronged by so many minor indiscretions. The world over, there are still people who struggle for basic human rights, for a quality of life that they may never have.

I cannot change the rest of the world. The only place I can affect is my little corner of the universe. I try to do that by being the best I can be (or making an effort at it, at least), by fulfilling my responsibilities as a citizen, by exercising the privilege of voting, and by helping in small ways to make tiny contributions to making the world better. I'm darn lousy at it most days, to be perfectly honest...but it's like learning to play the piano...If at first, you sound terrible, practice, practice, practice. If you give up at the first wrong note, you'll never play that song. But if you keep it up, who knows what kind of music you can make?

Here's hoping that together, we can make a symphony!!!