When one says they want to be successful, what does that mean? Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines success as: 1 obsolete : outcome, result; 2 a : degree or measure of succeeding b : favorable or desired outcome; also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence; 3 : one that succeeds. To me to achieve success is to obtain your goals. If your goal is to buy a house, or a new car, or graduate college, then obtaining those goals makes you successful.
Everyone has their own measure for success; however, I think sometimes that measure gets distorted. Distorted by what others have that you don't, by feeling that you should be more successful than you are at that point in your life, or the end result not happening soon enough. The old saying "The grass isn't always green" is so true. Throughout our lives we all have made choices with regard to the paths our lives will take. Those path choices have taken you on a journey that has lead your life to the place you are today. If you look back to an earlier point in your life through today, you can begin to see how truly successful you are and have become. For me, I measure my success by seeing my teenage boys as true gentleman, making the deans list yet one more time, following through with things I said I would do, or making someone smile.
It's very easy to get caught up into the day to day drama and monotony. When that happens, step back and take a look at the big picture. You will begin to truly appreciate all that you have and all that you have become.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Reflection
Pretty slow week. After a week of break from Cleary, its back to the regular routine. Tanger, work-study, classes, Miche, and home.
However, as of April 1st, the campground that our trailer is at has opened. We can now start getting ready for the nice weather to come...it will come! We have painting, cleaning, building, and rearranging to do. A new adventure to uphold.
I also have just learned that my 17 year old, junior in high school is signing up with the marines. Although not surprised, I am concerned. He can't really do anything until he graduates and he knows that, but they can prepare everything now for him so right after graduation he can be shipped to boot camp. My baby!!!! He has always wanted to be in the military. He would find and wear anything camouflage. Now he gets to do it for real and defend his country. I am very proud of him! This adds a whole new level to my chaos!
My youngest is venturing into drivers training. Although not eager to do it, he knows his older brother isn't going to be around to keep driving him around. It makes me sad and yet excited to see how my young little monsters have grown. It truly does not take long!! They both have become handsome little gentlemen.
The same is true of my boyfriends daughters. They have been apart of my life for 3 years now. When I first met them they were 3 & 5, just getting ready to turn 4 & 6. Today, they are 6 & 8 getting to turn 7 & 9. To see where they were just 3 short years ago to where they are today is exciting. Things they couldn't accomplish before are now easy, the growth in their individual personalities is amazing, and the genuine love they offer is priceless. It all goes by so fast.
Sometimes you need to step back and take a look around you. The world you have around you is really quite amazing. Although we all have our day to day structure and chaos, it only reminds us that we are alive.
However, as of April 1st, the campground that our trailer is at has opened. We can now start getting ready for the nice weather to come...it will come! We have painting, cleaning, building, and rearranging to do. A new adventure to uphold.
I also have just learned that my 17 year old, junior in high school is signing up with the marines. Although not surprised, I am concerned. He can't really do anything until he graduates and he knows that, but they can prepare everything now for him so right after graduation he can be shipped to boot camp. My baby!!!! He has always wanted to be in the military. He would find and wear anything camouflage. Now he gets to do it for real and defend his country. I am very proud of him! This adds a whole new level to my chaos!
My youngest is venturing into drivers training. Although not eager to do it, he knows his older brother isn't going to be around to keep driving him around. It makes me sad and yet excited to see how my young little monsters have grown. It truly does not take long!! They both have become handsome little gentlemen.
The same is true of my boyfriends daughters. They have been apart of my life for 3 years now. When I first met them they were 3 & 5, just getting ready to turn 4 & 6. Today, they are 6 & 8 getting to turn 7 & 9. To see where they were just 3 short years ago to where they are today is exciting. Things they couldn't accomplish before are now easy, the growth in their individual personalities is amazing, and the genuine love they offer is priceless. It all goes by so fast.
Sometimes you need to step back and take a look around you. The world you have around you is really quite amazing. Although we all have our day to day structure and chaos, it only reminds us that we are alive.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Benefits of chaos
Time flies...It has been 3 weeks since my last post and a lot has happen.
The chaos was abundant. At home we framed in the laundry room, hung dry wall and insulation, rebuilt the work area in the garage, wired lights and switches, and exposed the issue that was going to be the bearer of all; the plumbing for the washing machine. Plus we pulled up carpet in the dining room, waterproofed the cement floor, and then laid and hand nailed in the 150 year old barn wood for the floor. Rented a sander and did a quick once over and put furniture back into place. Turned out great!
All of this home repair was at the same time as the last 2 weeks of classes. My economics class was my major concern. I wasn't doing so well on the quizes; however I did very well on all my assignments and participation. Now it was coming down to the final exam and the capstone. I was getting nervous. My final exam ended up like most of my quizes but my team and I received a 100% on our capstone. That was exciting! Therefore, I ended the class with an A! I was thrilled!! That enabled me to finish the semester with a 3.9 GPA. Made the Dean's List yet one more time! I guess chaos works for me.
The chaos was abundant. At home we framed in the laundry room, hung dry wall and insulation, rebuilt the work area in the garage, wired lights and switches, and exposed the issue that was going to be the bearer of all; the plumbing for the washing machine. Plus we pulled up carpet in the dining room, waterproofed the cement floor, and then laid and hand nailed in the 150 year old barn wood for the floor. Rented a sander and did a quick once over and put furniture back into place. Turned out great!
All of this home repair was at the same time as the last 2 weeks of classes. My economics class was my major concern. I wasn't doing so well on the quizes; however I did very well on all my assignments and participation. Now it was coming down to the final exam and the capstone. I was getting nervous. My final exam ended up like most of my quizes but my team and I received a 100% on our capstone. That was exciting! Therefore, I ended the class with an A! I was thrilled!! That enabled me to finish the semester with a 3.9 GPA. Made the Dean's List yet one more time! I guess chaos works for me.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Spring forward
Time is flying by. I am 2 short weeks away from finishing winter term at Cleary. That means I am a few steps closer to that degree. I have since scheduled my classes for spring term. All of those classes will be conducted online. No more sitting in a class for 4 hours, 1 night a week.
Winter term ends at the beginning of spring time. Meaning, the weather is getting nice and spring fever hits! I see plants emerging from the ground and can't wait to see the beautiful tulips I have planted. However, I look out into the yard and see lots of stuff that needs to be done. Thus, the stuff that STILL needs to be done inside, still needs to be done, but now I have to add the outside duties as well. The weather also reminds me that I have a motorcycle to bust out. Since I didn't get to ride it at all last year, I need to make up for it this year. All I need is to get my helmet back and I will be crusin!
We also have a new adventure for this year. We have a camper that we purchased end of year last year and have placed it permenately at a campground. Now we can "go camping" anytime we want. The campground is about 8 miles from our house and offers a beach, a game room, and lots of away time. I am looking forward to the get aways, even if I am still close to home.
The laundry room addition is still in progress. We have a good start on it, but still have lots to do! We both are looking forward to the completion of that.
Miche parties are finding their way into my calendar, Tanger is coming into one of its busy seasons, and I am learning more and more from Amanda at Cleary through Communications. I don't know if there is such a thing as knowledge overload, but I am willing to find out.
Winter term ends at the beginning of spring time. Meaning, the weather is getting nice and spring fever hits! I see plants emerging from the ground and can't wait to see the beautiful tulips I have planted. However, I look out into the yard and see lots of stuff that needs to be done. Thus, the stuff that STILL needs to be done inside, still needs to be done, but now I have to add the outside duties as well. The weather also reminds me that I have a motorcycle to bust out. Since I didn't get to ride it at all last year, I need to make up for it this year. All I need is to get my helmet back and I will be crusin!
We also have a new adventure for this year. We have a camper that we purchased end of year last year and have placed it permenately at a campground. Now we can "go camping" anytime we want. The campground is about 8 miles from our house and offers a beach, a game room, and lots of away time. I am looking forward to the get aways, even if I am still close to home.
The laundry room addition is still in progress. We have a good start on it, but still have lots to do! We both are looking forward to the completion of that.
Miche parties are finding their way into my calendar, Tanger is coming into one of its busy seasons, and I am learning more and more from Amanda at Cleary through Communications. I don't know if there is such a thing as knowledge overload, but I am willing to find out.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thankful for chaos
Among all the chaos I feel and experience, I am quite blessed. I have a great family life, a wonderful home, caring family members, the joy of meeting new people, doing jobs I love, gaining an education, and complete support. Although my life is not perfect (who's is), it's perfect for me.
One thing that I have not learned how to do well is to live in the moment. I see people that do this and think how lucky they are to have learned such a skill. Their lives seem filled with love, peace, and happiness. I think I have always tried to create the moment rather than letting it find me. You miss so many of "the moments" if you try to create them. "A day without laughter is a day wasted." (Charlie Chaplin) Kids are little but only once and life is too short to not enjoy it.
I am truly thankful for all the good in my life. I am also thankful for the tough experiences. Without those, I would not grow, learn, and gain experience. Thus, chaos is a requirement for my life to be complete.
One thing that I have not learned how to do well is to live in the moment. I see people that do this and think how lucky they are to have learned such a skill. Their lives seem filled with love, peace, and happiness. I think I have always tried to create the moment rather than letting it find me. You miss so many of "the moments" if you try to create them. "A day without laughter is a day wasted." (Charlie Chaplin) Kids are little but only once and life is too short to not enjoy it.
I am truly thankful for all the good in my life. I am also thankful for the tough experiences. Without those, I would not grow, learn, and gain experience. Thus, chaos is a requirement for my life to be complete.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Order
Happy St. Patrick's Day you all!!Whether you are Irish or not, much luck to ya!
Last week brought about the ability to actually maintain sanity within chaos. Laughing while in the middle of it is a huge endevour! This week brings more peace and reflection. Although there is still chaos, it seems more managable, after a week like last week.
This week brings on the continuation of the addition of the laundry room in my house. Adding walls, tearing down walls. Hopefully my mess is well on it's way to completion.
I also have a capstone (final paper) due in the next few weeks for my econ class. My group has decided to have our rough draft done by THIS Saturday evening. I have LOTS of research to do in order to do my part. I have to write 5-7 pages by Saturday plus the weekly assignment. Next week a couple of us will review the rough draft, then send it on to the the other 2 in the group to final review and make it flow. Meanwhile, I still have a final exam to take in my last Linux class and enroll for next term.
With the weather getting nice, I tend to want to spend more time outside getting the yard ready. We have mole tracks in the yard, plants are starting to emerge, and LOTS of doggie dodo to clean up!
However, without the continued chaos in my life, I don't think I would feel complete.
Last week brought about the ability to actually maintain sanity within chaos. Laughing while in the middle of it is a huge endevour! This week brings more peace and reflection. Although there is still chaos, it seems more managable, after a week like last week.
This week brings on the continuation of the addition of the laundry room in my house. Adding walls, tearing down walls. Hopefully my mess is well on it's way to completion.
I also have a capstone (final paper) due in the next few weeks for my econ class. My group has decided to have our rough draft done by THIS Saturday evening. I have LOTS of research to do in order to do my part. I have to write 5-7 pages by Saturday plus the weekly assignment. Next week a couple of us will review the rough draft, then send it on to the the other 2 in the group to final review and make it flow. Meanwhile, I still have a final exam to take in my last Linux class and enroll for next term.
With the weather getting nice, I tend to want to spend more time outside getting the yard ready. We have mole tracks in the yard, plants are starting to emerge, and LOTS of doggie dodo to clean up!
However, without the continued chaos in my life, I don't think I would feel complete.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Just another week...
Chaos is defined as a condition or place of great disorder or confusion. That defines this past week for me.
Monday was like every other Monday.
Tuesday started out by attending Saylor's 3rd grade class (as I have all year). Went from there to Holly, MI (a 40 minute drive) to pick up a Miche Bag order. From there, came home gathered my stuff for class and headed back out the door to head to Cleary. Sat through 4 hours of economics and finally came home for the evening.
Wednesday was one of my days for my work study at Cleary. I arrived back at Cleary at 9 a.m. and left at 2 p.m. I was then suppose to drive to Flint to deliver a Miche Bag order, except that my truck was not running right. I took the truck to a mechanic that informed me that both of my front end wheel bearings were going and it was going to cost me about $400 to fix 1 side. Feeling very frustrated, I went home to get ready for the 1st grade musical we had to attend that evening. After the musical, we stopped by our friends that are working on their house, and finally went home for the evening. I had placed a call to my dad (a life-long mechanic who lives 3 thousand miles away) to ask his opinion of my vehicle situation. My outcome looked expensive!
Thursday was quite a day. We found a mechanic that works on cars on the side at his house. We called around, found out part, and I headed to the mechanics house after working 8 hours at Tanger. The mechanic informed me that it could take anywhere from 1-4 hours to complete the job. I now have 1-4 hours to wait. I had no place to go and it started raining. About 20 minutes after I left his shop, he called to tell me we had the wrong part. I immediately called the store we bought the part from to see if they had the right part in stock...they did and set it a side for my arrival. Now...how was I going to get there? The mechanic had my truck on the lift with the left wheel off. So he was either going to put it back together for me so I could drive down to get the right part, or this total stranger was going to have to take me to the store. This nice gentleman drove me to the store. We got the parts and went back to his shop. By now, it's like 7:00 p.m. or so. So I decided to hang out at his shop and watch the job. Exactly 1 hour later he finished the driver side. YEAH!!!! Now, on to the right side. He took the wheel apart and was about to remove the bad bearing only to realize that...we again have the wrong part. At this point, he and I can only laugh. He hands me the keys to his car so I can go get the right one...the one I previously returned. I walk into the store and the guys working there are just as surprised as the mechanic and I were that it was wrong. Make the exchange and head back (once again) to the shop. By the time I get back, he had the bad bearing off and ready for the new one. Install goes well and we are test driving. After all that, I didn't get home until after 10:00 p.m. As chaotic as it all was, the mechanic was gracious and understanding. So were the guys at Auto Zone! My heartfelt graditude to them all!!!
Friday was much easier. Worked at Cleary for my work study, drove to Flint to make my delivery, came home only to receive a phone call my youngest son asking me to come see him. I hopped back in the truck and drive 45 minutes to spend the evening with my handsome young man. That was a wonderful ending for such a chaotic week!
Although busy and chaotic, it was all rewarding. I built wonderful relationships, learned lots of new things, and had a few great laughs along the way. For me, chaos works!
Monday was like every other Monday.
Tuesday started out by attending Saylor's 3rd grade class (as I have all year). Went from there to Holly, MI (a 40 minute drive) to pick up a Miche Bag order. From there, came home gathered my stuff for class and headed back out the door to head to Cleary. Sat through 4 hours of economics and finally came home for the evening.
Wednesday was one of my days for my work study at Cleary. I arrived back at Cleary at 9 a.m. and left at 2 p.m. I was then suppose to drive to Flint to deliver a Miche Bag order, except that my truck was not running right. I took the truck to a mechanic that informed me that both of my front end wheel bearings were going and it was going to cost me about $400 to fix 1 side. Feeling very frustrated, I went home to get ready for the 1st grade musical we had to attend that evening. After the musical, we stopped by our friends that are working on their house, and finally went home for the evening. I had placed a call to my dad (a life-long mechanic who lives 3 thousand miles away) to ask his opinion of my vehicle situation. My outcome looked expensive!
Thursday was quite a day. We found a mechanic that works on cars on the side at his house. We called around, found out part, and I headed to the mechanics house after working 8 hours at Tanger. The mechanic informed me that it could take anywhere from 1-4 hours to complete the job. I now have 1-4 hours to wait. I had no place to go and it started raining. About 20 minutes after I left his shop, he called to tell me we had the wrong part. I immediately called the store we bought the part from to see if they had the right part in stock...they did and set it a side for my arrival. Now...how was I going to get there? The mechanic had my truck on the lift with the left wheel off. So he was either going to put it back together for me so I could drive down to get the right part, or this total stranger was going to have to take me to the store. This nice gentleman drove me to the store. We got the parts and went back to his shop. By now, it's like 7:00 p.m. or so. So I decided to hang out at his shop and watch the job. Exactly 1 hour later he finished the driver side. YEAH!!!! Now, on to the right side. He took the wheel apart and was about to remove the bad bearing only to realize that...we again have the wrong part. At this point, he and I can only laugh. He hands me the keys to his car so I can go get the right one...the one I previously returned. I walk into the store and the guys working there are just as surprised as the mechanic and I were that it was wrong. Make the exchange and head back (once again) to the shop. By the time I get back, he had the bad bearing off and ready for the new one. Install goes well and we are test driving. After all that, I didn't get home until after 10:00 p.m. As chaotic as it all was, the mechanic was gracious and understanding. So were the guys at Auto Zone! My heartfelt graditude to them all!!!
Friday was much easier. Worked at Cleary for my work study, drove to Flint to make my delivery, came home only to receive a phone call my youngest son asking me to come see him. I hopped back in the truck and drive 45 minutes to spend the evening with my handsome young man. That was a wonderful ending for such a chaotic week!
Although busy and chaotic, it was all rewarding. I built wonderful relationships, learned lots of new things, and had a few great laughs along the way. For me, chaos works!
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