My Christmas Letter

If I wrote a Christmas letter, it would go something like this.

2009 has been a challenging but fruitful year. I believe that the valuable lessons learned will lead to 2010 being a great year!

As you know, I have a goal to take one major trip each year. This year, I visited Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. I encountered many interesting people along the way. I traveled to Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland alone. They are English speaking countries so it was piece of cake. I met my friend Candy and her friend (now my friend) Pam in Dublin. We traveled around the Republic of Ireland, and we traveled well together and had many great conversations about life.

I’ve been obsessed with going to Ireland for some time. I was expecting something wonderful to happen and it did. The trip awakened something that had lain dormant inside of me for some time. I cracked open a door that had been sealed shut for a long time, and it feels good.

I am still working for the Port of Seattle. October 1, 2009, marked our 13th anniversary (included my temp time). It’s hard to believe. It’s had its up and downs. I have great coworkers and good benefits. I am also grateful for the opportunity for training. This year, I have take InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. My team also did a presentation skills training where we were filmed. I was traumatized going in, but glad coming out. I also received a mentor in the mentoring program the Port has. I also participated in a telecommuting pilot program, which I loved! When it comes down to it, I am thankful to have a job.

Church is going well. I am putting the final touches to the first issue of year nine of our newsletter. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. It continues to be something I enjoy. I know I was called to write, and my skills as an editor are improving. I am also an usher still. I have come a long way from my “mean usher” days. God has been good to me. God has surrounded me with wonderful people. I am truly blessed in this area. God has sent me a lot of love, and I am thankful for it.

I pray that you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Solstice

The winter solstice, aka the shortest day of the year, was yesterday. It was the day of the year with the least amount of sunlight.

The darkest day of the year did not seem as dark as it normally does. The days leading up to it were not as dark as they normally seem. I’ve shared this thought on Facebook. I’ve shared this thought with people around me. Maybe it doesn’t appear as dark because it has not been raining? The rain and clouds do tend to bring things down a notch.

I’m not sure what is going on. This is the point where I can go down the avenue that a light shining in me has made things lighter all around me. I will spare you that, but it does deserve an honorable mention.

My prediction for 2009 was that it was going to be a good year. I predicted that it was going to be hard, but it would be good. I was right. It was a hard, trying year but the hardships and tests have made me stronger. I was not able to avoid situations I would shy from and the experiences increased my confidence. Good, bad, and ugly, I am learning what makes me tick.

The two highlights:
1. Number one is definitely my summer vacation in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland (Northern and Republic of).
2. Birth of my niece/cousin Sade. Her presence brought the family back together. Okay, okay, that should be number one. LOL.

My prediction for 2010 is that it’s going to be an excellent year. Not saying everything is going to be perfect, but if I have learned anything in life it is this, all things work for my good.

I expect good things to happen as long as I put forth the efforts and pursue and conquer all.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I don't want to be anyone but me

I met someone the other day who I realized didn’t like me. In the past, I would have broken a sweat to charm the person into seeing the good, likeable qualities that I have in abundance. Now, frankly Scarlett I don’t give a…

The truth is I didn’t really take to this person either, so what’ the problem? Everyone is not going to love or like me, and I am certainly not going to love or like everybody I meet. The days of trying to please everyone and to be everything to everyone are over. No, today I will focus my efforts on pleasing and being all to people who are actually on my side.

It did get me wondering about this need to be liked. Fundamentally, I think it’s a human nature to want to be accepted and to belong, and in some ways, to be validated.

An event in my life made me realize that not everyone who I thought was on my team is. People often take pleasure in the discomfort of others and are quick to criticize without having all the pertinent facts. This is something I don’t understand and something I watch for in myself. It was a good life lesson. I look at people differently. Things aren’t always quite what they seem.

Life is short and getting shorter every day. It’s time to reach past any fears, insecurities, doubts, hindrances and become the person I was created to be.

I’ve reconnected with a dynamic college friend of mine. She is very outgoing and a naturally gifted public speaker and someone who I admire all around.

I started thinking about everything I wasn’t. I don’t make friends very easily. I’m not always outgoing, though a part of my nature is. I tend to be very reserved. I hate public speaking, but I am becoming more open to it.

That’s when it hit me. I AM fearfully and wonderfully made. I was made to me. I have gifts and talents that make me uniquely me. There is no reason to focus on what I am not. It’s more productive to focus on what I am and use those gifts and talents to become who I am supposed to me. My believe and faith in God are strong. I need to transfer that belief into accepting and loving and being comfortable with who He made me, realizing I am not a finished project, yet.

As the song goes, “I don’t want to be anyone but me.”

2010 To Do List - Take One

2010 To Do List:
• Visit Yams in India
• Figure out and take second trip (probably in Europe)
• Get serious about Weight Watchers
• Walk for 30 minutes three times a week
• Learn something, either:
o Learn to knit
o Learn to swim
o Take a photographer class

Weight Watchers

So, my job has a Spirit and Wellness Initiative. Through the initiative, I was able to sign up for an onsite Weight Watchers. I missed week one because I had a Photoshop class. I attended week two on Wednesday. I realized then that I may not be as committed or serious as some of my classmates.

The spirit is willing but the flesh is week.

The main problem is that the week that just pasted and part of next week are party central. I realize that I don’t want to say no to meatballs, popcorn shrimp, cheese and crackers, cookies, cakes, donuts, etc. I very much want to partake.

What I’m thinking is that this is something I should have started in the new year. If I mentally fast forwarded to Christmas Eve my mouth begins to water. How can I say no to pizza, chili dogs, Chinese food, friend chicken, etc? What about Christmas brunch dinner? How can I say no to that? More importantly why would I say no to that?

What I am thinking is that I won’t be teacher’s pet. I figure each week I will come in about five pounds heavier. But what I ride I will have doing so.

I promise to behave better on January 2, 2010. I don’t want to say no to any special dinner that may take place on January 1.

Secret Thoughts

I watched a movie where a mother tells her son she is concerned about his secret thoughts (or something like that).

Well last night, I was a little ashamed of my secret thoughts. When I will not tell what they were, I will use this entry as a confession of some sorts.

Sometimes, there is what I know is right to do. Then there is what I want to do, which is separated by 180 degrees than what it right. And therein lays the problem.

I'm a writer. If I keep typing, I'll spill. So I must stop now. LOL

The Twilight Zone

There is a movie where a woman is running to catch a train. The movie then breaks into two scenarios. In one scenario, she catches the train. She arrives at home and catches her boyfriend with another woman. In the second scenario, she misses the train, thus never encountering this other woman.

I thought of this movie today.

I decided to catch the bus downtown to get a birthday present. I left at 3:40 to catch the 3:45 bus. I arrived at the bus stop at 3:43. I waited and waited. I assume the bus was early (or it never came). I knew if I went back home, I would not come back out so I waited and waited and waited for the 4:15 bus. During the time I was waiting, I was thinking about how this 30 minute delay changed the people I would encounter.

The first set of people was the bus driver and the people who rode the bus with me. The second sent was people I would encounter on the streets and in the stores I went into.

It’s one of those mind exercises I do quite a bit and gives me this strange mysterious feeling whenever I do it.