Priorities

"The grass isn't always greener on the other side." I've come to terms with the truth in the statement. I thought making more money and having more power would bring the fulfillment I was longing for. Well...it didn't. Money isn't the answer to happiness, though it does make things easier at times. I am thankful for the opportunity I've had to earn more income which has allowed me to live an independent, comfortable life. What came with the extra pay though...10 hour work days, working through holidays and weekends, missing out on time with family and friends...was it all worth it? To me, the answer is no. It's all about priorities, which for me are: #1 GOD. #2 Family. #3 Friends. #4 Work. I have recently come to the realization that I am not okay with sacrificing my priorities for more money. It's actually pretty liberating. When I die, I would rather the legacy that I leave behind not be one of financial wealth, but the wealth of a giving spirit who was always there when it mattered most. That is the wealth that can live on in others through the impacts that were made and the love that was given. Having my priorities enables me to feel as though I am one step closer to living the life God had called me to live.

Blogging Buddy

This is Opie, my blogging buddy.

Rock Bottom Motivation

Just the other day when I joined Cross Fit, I started a conversation with one of the members. I was asked what I did for a living and replied, "Well I was a teacher but I have recently decided to go in a different direction." Then, she asked where I was living, which I replied with the whole spiel about how my apartment was broken into and now currently live with my parents. And finally, the dreaded question of whether I had a boyfriend or not was asked. The reply being a "sigh" followed with a "no". And then she said, "Wow, so you're like completely starting over."

Is it safe to say I've hit rock bottom? I mean maybe not like the bottom of a trench, but definitely sea floor level. There are two emotions that I feel based on my current state; terrified and liberated. Terrified that I may not get the opportunity to succeed in a new profession, and liberated that I followed through with my plans rather than just staying comfortable and complacent. What surprises me most is that despite current conditions, I have more motivation than ever. I get up in the mornings ready to sweat puddles at cross fit, I find DIY projects and hobbies to stay challenged and busy with, and I have been applying for jobs every chance I get. I mean hey, I even started a blog! I suppose that after I hit rock bottom, I took a good look around and immediately started problem-solving ways I could get myself back to the surface. Hence the lesson that sometimes you need to experience loss and disappointment to get the push you need to persevere through the hard times so you can go back to being the buoy rather than the anchor. *~H.B.~*

When one door closes, how do you get the others open?

So technically I closed the door on teaching recently. I guess I just didn't feel like it was my true purpose, and I knew it would not be the path that would allow me to really be fulfilled. So here I am, going on 26, without a clue as to where I'm headed next. That's the beauty of life, though; just when you think you've got it all figured out, God throws you a curve ball (or more like a lightening bolt). The reality of it all is that I'm not hard to please. I am always up for a change or a challenge, and I guess that explains why I am where I am now. Life is too short not to take risks and chances, even if it means you won't be successful. I'll be honest, I have always just said yes to the first opportunity that has presented itself, and I have been lucky enough to always be at the right place at the right time. So now, I've decided to take a chance, currently unemployed and without much of a plan at this point. But I'm not afraid, because God has my back and as long as I work hard at gaining more knowledge and competence, I know he will come through and open those doors. *~H.B.~*