I got the contract today!!!! What a great start to the day! After sharing this information via social networking, I was reminded of how long I have been talking about this as a final decision! One friend, Cindy, reminded me that last June after flying across the country to see Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney in Nashville, I had begun talking about this wonderful adventure. She said, "You did it, you rascal!" It reminded me of the man I met from Detroit, who is the vice president of a non-profit company in the city. After a casual conversation about life, travel, culture, and dreams, he had told me "go to China" as he boarded his plane. I was reminded of a conversation last fall with one of my long-time best friends, who told me, "way to go! I'm so proud of you Amanda! Way to make your dreams a reality!" There was so much support and excitment for us as we are heading to embark on this fantastic adventure.
There were so many steps that have gotten me here. SO many people who played a role in reminding me of my dream, and more importantly to GO FOR IT!!! With the fast pace of life, sometimes we get so caught up in the day-to-day that our dreams take the back burner, they get set aside because there is something that is SO IMPORTANT that needs to be done NOW. But when you think about it, what is more important than living your life?? What is more important than the relationships and experiences? I have struggled with this over the past year. As you noticed with my long absences between posting last year, I did not complete my Happiness Project as intended, though it awoke in me a fire for change. I have actively decided to make changes to my priorities, giving those most important to me the best of me. Don't get me wrong, I fall short sometimes, no one is perfect. But the reflection that follows helps me make better choices next time. I am an active, busy person, and looking around my home, there's always something that "needs to be done. But again, is it that important the it must be done NOW?? I have come a long way since last year with this, but still, there is room for improvement.
My next thirty years started with reflection of where I was, a reevaluation of my life, my dreams, and my goals. I have taken back my dreams. Taken steps to get there. And you know what? I'm almost there!!! In four and a half months, we will be in BEIJING, CHINA!!! To everyone who helped me get here, thank you!!
Amanda :)
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Sunday, March 10, 2013
The Waiting Game...
What has been the hardest thing you have had to wait for? It seems that the size of the thing for which you are waiting tends to be comparable to the time it feels like it takes for that event to come. I have made my choice, accepted an offer, and am waiting now for the final contract to sign. Before actually spreading the word to all, I want to make sure that it's all in place and lined up. It'd be a REAL bummer to have something happen and have already told everyone. So, now, I wait...The human resources department told me that I should receive it by Tuesday (China time) which will be Monday here. So, for now, I wait.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
"Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction, ends up being the biggest step in your life. TIP TOE if you must, but take the first step!"
OK folks! It has been about 8 months since my last post. Since I have not shared this site with anyone, it's really just for me right now. Well, me and whoever out there ran across this randomly, to which I say THANK YOU for reading! The past month has been an exciting blur for me. Last summer I decided (finally!!!) it was time to look into teaching overseas. In September, I signed up for a very inexpensive online recruiting site recommended by someone I know. I looked regularly at jobs that were posted, though never taking "the leap" to go that final step. In December I turned 31 and then 2013 started. I was rejuvenated with excitement and yearning for the next step of my life, which I felt was beyond where I am now.
Over the past few years, I have found myself again after removing myself from a toxic situation. I have gotten back to my desire for more. I've never really been one to be content with where I am, simply because I want to do, see, and learn more. My Daddy always told me I could do anything. Both my parents always instilled in me hard work and appreciation. My positive outlook on life paired with all these things fostered a desire to see the world. People and new cultures are fascinating to me. I have always wanted to go to China and this was my first choice of places to go and visit. As I began to think about the possibility of seeing more, I got more and more excited. At the end of January I was interviewed for a special education position three times at one school before they told me that they had already offered a contract to another person. They later offered me a different position, then a week later, took it back. I was DEVASTATED!!! But, I needed a new plan. Life is what you make of it. I found a quote a while back that said "Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction, ends up being the biggest step in your life. TIP TOE if you must, but take the first step!" Every little step has taken me a little farther. I then sent letters of interest for 6 other schools. I got two other interviews and two more job offers. Then another school sent me a letter of interest. So, at this time, I had four job offers!!! I weighed my options and finally made a decision.
So, that's where I sit now. I am awaiting the official contract to come and have realized that in less than 5 months, I will be in CHINA!!!
I am SO EXCITED about what this adventure is going to bring for us. It was a series of small steps that led me here, but it just has felt SO RIGHT each step of the way. People keep asking me if I'm scared...and no, I'm not. It feels really right for me, for us. NOW is the time. I honestly believe that God has a plan for us all and that we will end up where we need to be. I had been waiting for this, then realized that Life is what you make of it, I was tired of waiting for a door to open, so I built one.
Until next time...(sooner than 8 months from now)
Amanda :)
Over the past few years, I have found myself again after removing myself from a toxic situation. I have gotten back to my desire for more. I've never really been one to be content with where I am, simply because I want to do, see, and learn more. My Daddy always told me I could do anything. Both my parents always instilled in me hard work and appreciation. My positive outlook on life paired with all these things fostered a desire to see the world. People and new cultures are fascinating to me. I have always wanted to go to China and this was my first choice of places to go and visit. As I began to think about the possibility of seeing more, I got more and more excited. At the end of January I was interviewed for a special education position three times at one school before they told me that they had already offered a contract to another person. They later offered me a different position, then a week later, took it back. I was DEVASTATED!!! But, I needed a new plan. Life is what you make of it. I found a quote a while back that said "Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction, ends up being the biggest step in your life. TIP TOE if you must, but take the first step!" Every little step has taken me a little farther. I then sent letters of interest for 6 other schools. I got two other interviews and two more job offers. Then another school sent me a letter of interest. So, at this time, I had four job offers!!! I weighed my options and finally made a decision.
So, that's where I sit now. I am awaiting the official contract to come and have realized that in less than 5 months, I will be in CHINA!!!
Until next time...(sooner than 8 months from now)
Amanda :)
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Happy Independence Day!!!!
Independence. Yesterday got me thinking a lot about this word. Last year I taught civics to a group of my students and renewed my knowledge of the basics of the creation of our country. I struggle with where we are now compared to what our Founding Fathers had in mind when they declared independence from the British. It has been challenging for me to listen to news and current events with this in mind.
Back to my goals. Yesterday was a good day. I got in some quality time wiht my son after giving myself permission to complete tasks that I was working on without feeling guilty (this was the 'do one thing for me'). I often get this feeling when I am cleaning up or doing things other than playing with my son. I don't know what makes this happen to me so often, but I have difficulty allowing me to do things for myself as well as things that needed to be done without this feeling of guilt.
Yesterday, the nagging task I completed was the cleaning of our pool. Honestly, thinking about nagging tasks, this is pretty recent and not really a high priority, but in order for full summer enjoyment, I needed to clean the pool. And it is ready to go!!! Today I have yet to complete a nagging task, but I have had a great day. We went to the park this morning, then did some more work to have our pool toys all ready. We had an afternoon swimming, went on a walk, and a bikeride.
I continue to work on restoring order in my house. I have been a little obsessive about cleaning throughout the day and maintaining order. My son and I completed the "evening clean-up" together these last two nights. I feel as I make more progress towards bringing my house in order, I feel better and better. I have a long way to go, but by doing a little every day, I am seeing progress.
Yesterday, it was evening before I got to a "clean my closets" task. At that point, I did not want anything to do with going through things, so in the interest of following through and creating a routine, I chose a stack of magazines that has been sitting in my room for about a year that needed to be gone through. Part of the problem is that I do not want to throw out magazines or other things because I "may need them someday," it is ridiculous and has created an overload of things I don't want to get rid of. Tonight I have done the same thing. I have a pile of magazines that need to be gone through. From what I did last night (and what I will do tonight) I have been pulling out my favorite article or two from the magazines. Now, I know this is not much better than what I was doing before, but to me it is. I have to start making steps that are managable enough to be continued and not set myself up for failure. This allows me to keep some things, but to get rid of most of the pile. With the ways I justify keeping things, I have found it helps me to take multiple runs at things in order to get to what I want to keep the most. My craft room is definitely the most overwhelming room in the house, mostly because of the reasons that I keep things that I tend not to use again. I had a friend who came over recently who (after I apologized for my messy room) told me that it was 'an organized mess.' Ok, that I can work with...
My level of activity has increased since beginning. I started with some exercises that I have completed three days in a row (counting today). I added some more in yesterday. Today, since the pool was ready, I had about a half hour of aerobic exercise in the pool. I have not gotten my run in yet, but today's aerobic workout was a step in the right direction.
I am really glad that organization and parenting are in different months, because of the amount of front-loading I have to do with organization in order to get to a point of maintainence. I feel confident though that in a few more days I will be far enough along in order to pull back a little.
Until tomorrow...
Amanda :)
Back to my goals. Yesterday was a good day. I got in some quality time wiht my son after giving myself permission to complete tasks that I was working on without feeling guilty (this was the 'do one thing for me'). I often get this feeling when I am cleaning up or doing things other than playing with my son. I don't know what makes this happen to me so often, but I have difficulty allowing me to do things for myself as well as things that needed to be done without this feeling of guilt.
Yesterday, the nagging task I completed was the cleaning of our pool. Honestly, thinking about nagging tasks, this is pretty recent and not really a high priority, but in order for full summer enjoyment, I needed to clean the pool. And it is ready to go!!! Today I have yet to complete a nagging task, but I have had a great day. We went to the park this morning, then did some more work to have our pool toys all ready. We had an afternoon swimming, went on a walk, and a bikeride.
I continue to work on restoring order in my house. I have been a little obsessive about cleaning throughout the day and maintaining order. My son and I completed the "evening clean-up" together these last two nights. I feel as I make more progress towards bringing my house in order, I feel better and better. I have a long way to go, but by doing a little every day, I am seeing progress.
Yesterday, it was evening before I got to a "clean my closets" task. At that point, I did not want anything to do with going through things, so in the interest of following through and creating a routine, I chose a stack of magazines that has been sitting in my room for about a year that needed to be gone through. Part of the problem is that I do not want to throw out magazines or other things because I "may need them someday," it is ridiculous and has created an overload of things I don't want to get rid of. Tonight I have done the same thing. I have a pile of magazines that need to be gone through. From what I did last night (and what I will do tonight) I have been pulling out my favorite article or two from the magazines. Now, I know this is not much better than what I was doing before, but to me it is. I have to start making steps that are managable enough to be continued and not set myself up for failure. This allows me to keep some things, but to get rid of most of the pile. With the ways I justify keeping things, I have found it helps me to take multiple runs at things in order to get to what I want to keep the most. My craft room is definitely the most overwhelming room in the house, mostly because of the reasons that I keep things that I tend not to use again. I had a friend who came over recently who (after I apologized for my messy room) told me that it was 'an organized mess.' Ok, that I can work with...
My level of activity has increased since beginning. I started with some exercises that I have completed three days in a row (counting today). I added some more in yesterday. Today, since the pool was ready, I had about a half hour of aerobic exercise in the pool. I have not gotten my run in yet, but today's aerobic workout was a step in the right direction.
I am really glad that organization and parenting are in different months, because of the amount of front-loading I have to do with organization in order to get to a point of maintainence. I feel confident though that in a few more days I will be far enough along in order to pull back a little.
Until tomorrow...
Amanda :)
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Day 3:Energy & Organization
Well, I have to say that three days in, I am feeling good about what I am doing in my house. Today it sucked up a lot of my time, though I did use some of nap time for this task (though then I missed out on napping) and completed my time in the evening. I spent about 4 hours on things around the house today. At this point, it is not really looking spectacular, but I notice the things that I have done and it feels good. I have spent some time in the kitchen cupboards, the living room, bathroom, and the second bedroom. I have another pile of stuff that has to GO and am trying to make quick decisions about whether to keep something or not. I have this uncontrollable urge to "pile" things and save them "to look through later" and also to keep things (little, weird things that are meaningless) that I want to put in my scrapbook "someday." (think recpiets, tags, etc) I implemented this system of looking at things in my piles and making QUICK GUT decisions on whether or not to keep them because I have this uncanny ability to talk myself into keeping the strangest things. I have been successful with this area. I have tackled a BIG nagging task (it split over two days). I purchased an external hard drive and now have ALL of my pictures backed up!!! YAY! I have been meaning to do this for years, so it is nice to have checked off. :)
I held myself well today to the one minute rule and the evening tidy up. I actually spent more time and completed more this evening than planned, which got my mind wandering. I was thinking about things that I start (scrapbooks, journals, workouts) that I neve finish and began to wonder what it is that gives me such a strong urge and ability to start these things and how it is that my desire in them falls short and diminishes??? Cna I change myself so that I follow through with them? I guess this "happiness project" is really a BIG TEST on whether or not I do this. I am tracking my progress each day, so there is not really room to just fall off of this one, unless I tuck my checklist away and forget it. I feel this system may be really helpful to build these things into a habit before dropping them off. So far, the one that I have yet to hit on any of my three days is my "early to bed, early to rise" objective. I'm naturally a night person, this will be the most challenging for me. Especially since the evenings are my time and though I often do work or chores around the house, it is mine to decide what I do with. I really dont want to lose this, but hitting the hay a little earlier would be much better for me, I know.
I have hit the mark on two of my objectives each of the three days: "restore, maintain, organize" & "do something active." The latter is very vague and I am already thinking I need to refine it to be more clear, but since I have so many changes right now, I am going to wait until I have week one under my belt,then will change it to "run one mile." Again, this is because I want to build routine in what I am doing and if I try to do too much too fast, all at once, I will be setting myself up for failure, which I am NOT going to do.
Even in just these three short days, I have struggled with "doing one thing for me" & "priortize." I knew these were going to be my toughest, and I think that now I need to grab the bull by the horns and make a more concentrated effort to fulfill these because at the root of my struggles, lies these two things, which just snowball everything else.
All in all, summer has started with a wonderful bang and the time I have had with my son has been spectacular and MUCH more relaxing than before. Everything is on the right track. :)
Until tomorrow.
Amanda :)
I held myself well today to the one minute rule and the evening tidy up. I actually spent more time and completed more this evening than planned, which got my mind wandering. I was thinking about things that I start (scrapbooks, journals, workouts) that I neve finish and began to wonder what it is that gives me such a strong urge and ability to start these things and how it is that my desire in them falls short and diminishes??? Cna I change myself so that I follow through with them? I guess this "happiness project" is really a BIG TEST on whether or not I do this. I am tracking my progress each day, so there is not really room to just fall off of this one, unless I tuck my checklist away and forget it. I feel this system may be really helpful to build these things into a habit before dropping them off. So far, the one that I have yet to hit on any of my three days is my "early to bed, early to rise" objective. I'm naturally a night person, this will be the most challenging for me. Especially since the evenings are my time and though I often do work or chores around the house, it is mine to decide what I do with. I really dont want to lose this, but hitting the hay a little earlier would be much better for me, I know.
I have hit the mark on two of my objectives each of the three days: "restore, maintain, organize" & "do something active." The latter is very vague and I am already thinking I need to refine it to be more clear, but since I have so many changes right now, I am going to wait until I have week one under my belt,then will change it to "run one mile." Again, this is because I want to build routine in what I am doing and if I try to do too much too fast, all at once, I will be setting myself up for failure, which I am NOT going to do.
Even in just these three short days, I have struggled with "doing one thing for me" & "priortize." I knew these were going to be my toughest, and I think that now I need to grab the bull by the horns and make a more concentrated effort to fulfill these because at the root of my struggles, lies these two things, which just snowball everything else.
All in all, summer has started with a wonderful bang and the time I have had with my son has been spectacular and MUCH more relaxing than before. Everything is on the right track. :)
Until tomorrow.
Amanda :)
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Month One: Energy & Organization
It has been a few days since I have posted, and it really amazes me how many things I have been working through in that short period of time. On the 28th I had a meeting with some other leaders across the district regarding our transition to the Common Core standards. I have been leading the elementary school grade level leaders (one per each school) in the area of math this past year. Given that we just adopted to transition this year, I have worked with only Kindergarten and First grade. It was really encouraging to hear how my colleagues were talking about my work. I got praise for what I was doing and heard what a positive thing it was that we were doing this. I also was told how well I have done leading the groups from others who had heard from teachers I have worked with. It was nice to hear these things at a time when I am trying to figure life out.
After that, I have spent the past couple days playing with my son and doing nothing in particular. We have been to the zoo twice, spent time with friends on a couple of occasions, watched movies, played games, and just spent time together.
I have been thinking a lot about what my plan is going to be and how I am going to approach this transformation of myself and my life to a more organized, less cluttered, happier, time-spent-on my actual #1 priorities-life. I have decided that I could sit here, pondering how to start this for months, years, but in the interest of starting I have decisions to make. Based on my 6 key areas, I am going to bundle them as "Energy & Organization," "Parenting & Relationships," and "Professionalism & Balance." Its almost a fast-track to get going, but if I dont make changes in a manageable way (and fast) I will fall back into my little rut and may never possibly emerge, risking future-me with a heart full of regret for things I never did. I am feeling that there may be another emergent "Follow your Dreams" month after the first three, but I need to get a jump start first.
I have decided that my first month will be "Energy & Organization." A friend of mine has been raving about this cleanse that she did, claiming to feel more energetic afterwards. Since I am looking for improvements that are outside the realm of my routines, I am going to give it a shot. There could be so many things I could fit under this umbrella, but I have decided to look at clearing out my clutter, tackling nagging tasks, organizing, the "one minute rule," evening tidy-up, doing something active, do one thing just for me, prioritizing, and 'early to bed, early to rise.' I may move prioritizing to month 3, I will have to see how it plays out this week. Now, today, being July 1st, I did not full-heartedly start this with a full mind. This evening looking at my goals, I did make a few of them. I went through a bookshelf and removed books that I have not read (ever or would not ever read again) to send on, and I shared with my son that we will begin going through things to get rid of them. I actually told myself while between playing activities today, "one mintue rule" and made myself clean up a little mess that took less than that time. I finally purchased an external harddrive to back up all my files...I have yet to actually do this, but one nagging task down! This evening we went on a little walk, and today in order to prepare for "my next thirty years" I bought a nice, new set of uni-ball pens. I really, really, really love office supplies and spent an hour in office depot today completing my task, looking around, and purchasing myself this this little set of pens along with a panda bear folder (my favorite animal) to hold all of my resolution sheets.
I feel that today, I am off to a good start and I hope to continue to feel as strongly about my goals. As in the book, I am using a simple check/minus system for tracking in order to not overthink things (I often do). I would like to have good routines by the end of the summer so that going into the school year, I can focus on the "Professionalism & Balance" which is going to be a real challenge for me.
Day one. :)
After that, I have spent the past couple days playing with my son and doing nothing in particular. We have been to the zoo twice, spent time with friends on a couple of occasions, watched movies, played games, and just spent time together.
I have been thinking a lot about what my plan is going to be and how I am going to approach this transformation of myself and my life to a more organized, less cluttered, happier, time-spent-on my actual #1 priorities-life. I have decided that I could sit here, pondering how to start this for months, years, but in the interest of starting I have decisions to make. Based on my 6 key areas, I am going to bundle them as "Energy & Organization," "Parenting & Relationships," and "Professionalism & Balance." Its almost a fast-track to get going, but if I dont make changes in a manageable way (and fast) I will fall back into my little rut and may never possibly emerge, risking future-me with a heart full of regret for things I never did. I am feeling that there may be another emergent "Follow your Dreams" month after the first three, but I need to get a jump start first.
I have decided that my first month will be "Energy & Organization." A friend of mine has been raving about this cleanse that she did, claiming to feel more energetic afterwards. Since I am looking for improvements that are outside the realm of my routines, I am going to give it a shot. There could be so many things I could fit under this umbrella, but I have decided to look at clearing out my clutter, tackling nagging tasks, organizing, the "one minute rule," evening tidy-up, doing something active, do one thing just for me, prioritizing, and 'early to bed, early to rise.' I may move prioritizing to month 3, I will have to see how it plays out this week. Now, today, being July 1st, I did not full-heartedly start this with a full mind. This evening looking at my goals, I did make a few of them. I went through a bookshelf and removed books that I have not read (ever or would not ever read again) to send on, and I shared with my son that we will begin going through things to get rid of them. I actually told myself while between playing activities today, "one mintue rule" and made myself clean up a little mess that took less than that time. I finally purchased an external harddrive to back up all my files...I have yet to actually do this, but one nagging task down! This evening we went on a little walk, and today in order to prepare for "my next thirty years" I bought a nice, new set of uni-ball pens. I really, really, really love office supplies and spent an hour in office depot today completing my task, looking around, and purchasing myself this this little set of pens along with a panda bear folder (my favorite animal) to hold all of my resolution sheets.
I feel that today, I am off to a good start and I hope to continue to feel as strongly about my goals. As in the book, I am using a simple check/minus system for tracking in order to not overthink things (I often do). I would like to have good routines by the end of the summer so that going into the school year, I can focus on the "Professionalism & Balance" which is going to be a real challenge for me.
Day one. :)
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
My Happiness Project Focus Areas
As I shared yesterday, I am reading this fabulous book, "The Happiness Project" which has gotten me thinking a lot about my life, goals, and myself really. I am haunted with the fact that I struggle to stick to things that I start when my life gets busy (for example: new workouts, journaling, schedules). I have been thinking about this project that Gretchen Rubin started for herself in her Happiness project. Like her, I do not consider myself an "unhappy person" by any means, but definitely have some areas that I would like to improve about myself. Thus begins, my idea of MY happiness project.
I sat in a training today for a thinking map program and had a really hard time being 'present' with what it was that was being presented. This was partially due to the fact that the day after school ended, I went on a trip to Nashville with my sister to see a concert and was gone for 5 days. When I returned, I had one day at home, then was back at this training. As I was sitting there, I was confronted with everything I was doing that overwhelms me. I should be at home with my son, playing, spending time together during our summer...instead, I am here, training. Honestly, its not the training (which I enjoy) or the leadership (which I'm also good at) but the lack of balance I have in my life between work and my life.
So, given this chaos that I am in, trying to figure out my life right now, I have decided to follow in the footsteps of Gretchen and begin my own "Happiness Project" with goals and resolutions that I intend on keeping!!! Where do you go from here? Well, I needed to decide what areas of my life I want to focus on.
Here's what I have come up with thus far:
In the book, Gretchen chose one topic a month which to focus on, extending her project an entire year. I feel the need to modify this in order to have a strong focus, building positive habits over the summer, which will help me to be rounded out by the start of school again in the fall. At that point, I could re-evlauate and decide what I am going to do and where I will go from there. The biggest thing for me is to build the habit when things are calmer (summer) in order to gain the needed momentum for the year.
Now the question is, where to start? When to start? I have a totaly of 9 full weeks until school starts again in the fall. I feel that my solution is not going to come to me staring at this computer screen, but it is imperative that I get started right away in order to start meeting some of my goals and heading towards a goal, guiding me where I want to be in the future.
I am still in an awkward place with international teaching and trying to decide how to break the news to my boss, what it will entail for me next year, and how I get from here to there. I know God will lead me where I need to be and I feel this is it, now for the follow through in order to get there.
I hope to have a plan tomorrow for how to start this journey. Until then.
Amanda :)
So, given this chaos that I am in, trying to figure out my life right now, I have decided to follow in the footsteps of Gretchen and begin my own "Happiness Project" with goals and resolutions that I intend on keeping!!! Where do you go from here? Well, I needed to decide what areas of my life I want to focus on.
Here's what I have come up with thus far:
- Parenting
- Organization
- Energy
- Professionalism
- Relationships
- Balance
In the book, Gretchen chose one topic a month which to focus on, extending her project an entire year. I feel the need to modify this in order to have a strong focus, building positive habits over the summer, which will help me to be rounded out by the start of school again in the fall. At that point, I could re-evlauate and decide what I am going to do and where I will go from there. The biggest thing for me is to build the habit when things are calmer (summer) in order to gain the needed momentum for the year.
Now the question is, where to start? When to start? I have a totaly of 9 full weeks until school starts again in the fall. I feel that my solution is not going to come to me staring at this computer screen, but it is imperative that I get started right away in order to start meeting some of my goals and heading towards a goal, guiding me where I want to be in the future.
I am still in an awkward place with international teaching and trying to decide how to break the news to my boss, what it will entail for me next year, and how I get from here to there. I know God will lead me where I need to be and I feel this is it, now for the follow through in order to get there.
I hope to have a plan tomorrow for how to start this journey. Until then.
Amanda :)
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