Tuesday, May 29, 2018. The first day of the rest of my life.

Two weeks ago, I resigned from a company where I worked for 20 years. TWENTY YEARS! It was not a decision that came easily. I was finding that I was constantly exhausted; coming home from work and not having the energy to do the things I used to love to do. I was letting work take over my life, and I was thinking about my projects even when I wasn't working. With the help and support of people who love me, I am now taking a sabbatical. I’m going to further my education this summer around things I LOVE to do. Life’s too short not to figure out what you love to do and then go do it!

Goal: become my best self.

So, what am I going to do with so much free time on my hands? Scary and exciting question! Over the past two weeks, I was frantically finishing up my job, trying to compile processes, and collecting all working files, etc. so that the next person would be set up for success. I was working so hard, up until the very end, and what kept coming up in the back of my head, was, “do I have what it takes to make the most out of this gift of time?” And I didn’t have the mental bandwidth to really think about it. That all changed after I got some good sleep this past weekend. My Four Summer Focus Areas Include: Yoga Studies Years ago, I took a test that helped me identify that health is a priority for me. Yesterday, I signed up for 12 yoga classes, three a week, over the next four weeks. When I practice yoga, I feel calmer and stronger. Once the 12 sessions are complete, I’m leaving my options open to continuing yoga or starting Pilates again. I live close to the Blue Ash Recreation Center that offers an open gym and low-cost classes. Writing After being reorganized into a communications role four years ago, I realized that I enjoy writing. I forgot that. I majored in communications in college, and I studied creative writing, technical writing, and screenwriting (a class where I wrote an episode of “Seinfeld.” Not a published script, but a great exercise in the discipline.) I’m exploring writing classes, seminars, and workshops, including Women Writing for a Change. And this blog. Photography In college, I minored in art, with an emphasis on photography. I’m exploring photography classes and hope to have something lined up soon. In the meantime, I’m heading to the butterfly show this week with my camera. Can’t wait to share some images! I’ll also be posting a photo each day.

Jewelry-Making I started making jewelry when I was seven years old. A woman named Judy had a blanket on the beach in Florida, and she taught kids how to make jewelry. I made my first bracelet, and I was hooked. I. Love. Beads. I’ve had an Etsy store for years with nothing on it. That’s going to change. Additional Focus Areas: Learning to Sew I never was able to grasp the ins and outs, and I have a friend who has offered to teach me. Meal Planning I used to go to the grocery store a lot. I’d decide on a recipe, go to the store after work, make dinner, and we’d eat at 9:00 p.m. Planning will not only save money but also save time and allow us to eat at a reasonable hour. Learn How to Bake Bread Not instant breads. Yeasty breads that take hours, even days to make. Breads like this. Relaxing and Decompressing Come on, it’s summer! I have a pool within walking distance! Becoming my best self involves some me time, in my happy place, reading all of the books that have been on my list.
Photo of the day: my favorite summer flowers!