Tomorrow, December 31, 2010 represents the end of the first decade of the millenium. I am not quite sure why it seems so significant but it is neat to think about. There is an old saying that "Time flies when you're having fun" and in my life this statement rings only too true. I have a great family that I have fun with and time flies by when we are together. I have a pretty fun job and time flies by while I am working. I have fun with school and time is flying by with that as well.
As the new year approaches, I am thinking back, what changes have there been in my life since this time last year? The first part of 2010 was somewhat uneventful. I was working at a trucking company as an "account executive", going to school and happy with the home life, all was content. Somewhere around May, I started thinking I wanted to start working for myself from home and I started getting all of my ducks in a row to get to that point. In the back of my mind I was afraid, such a move would mean I would not have the security of a steady salary and benefits. Part of me did not believe I would actually take such a risk but the other part of me knew, based on company expectations and the current state of our economy, I would soon not have a choice. My intuition was correct as usual. I was laid off from my job. I was still afraid but also knew that I am good at what I do and I would be just fine. As soon as I left the office, I called a friend of mine in the industry and told him the news. It just so happened that he and another colleague were in talks with a company in Chicago about opening a franchise branch here in town! The meeting was set for that very same day I told my friend I was in and met with them later that afternoon. Change number one, new job. Scary but so far so good, the freedom I have is an amazing feeling, I honestly don't think I will ever be able to work for someone else again. Granted, I am going to school to become a nurse and technically I will be working for a hospital when I am finished but the difference is that I will be contributing to the difference in my patients lives. Knowing that I will be working directly for children and their families will make it worth while for me to "punch in and out" on the days I will be working.
Change number two, adjusting to working from home and a nice sized pay cut. I have never been the domestic type, I don't like to pick up after myself or anyone else. I never had chores growing up, I had a stay at home mom who did everything for us. Luckily enough, our family dynamic works well, Jason and Kiah are good picker uppers and I am good about making sure (on the occasion) the nooks and crannies are cleaned.
When I was working for a company I would get into the office between seven-thirty and eight-thirty in the morning (I was supposed to be there at seven but I am never on time for anything). I would get home around three in the afternoon, do some work on the computer and be done at five. That would leave time to brainstorm with Jason over the menu for the night, we'd eat and then it would be time for school work. Weekends were for the real cleanings and of course our house was still brand new, it was only a year old this time last year, so we were very good about keeping our new prized possession pretty spotless. It worked, each of my duties had a time slot. Working from home, for yourself, the lines are easily crossed now I don't have time for anything but work (and my favorite computer game on Facebook, Bejeweled. I wake up each morning between six a.m and eight-thirty a.m, as of late it is closer to the eight thirty a.m time slot, crawl out of bed, head down stairs to start the coffee and immediately begin to work. I work at the kitchen table and sometimes from the couch even though I have an office upstairs equipped with a phone, fax machine, printer, copier and a computer of which I do not use. I use the office equipment but I do not use the office. This time last year, Jason bought me a nice walnut desk to put in the nook upstairs, the nook has three large windows that are on the opposite side of the desk area which for a "normal" person would be the perfect place to work. Not me, I don't feel comfortable there. I am not sure if it is claustrophobia or what but I do know it is a feeling like I am missing out on something downstairs where all the action happens. Oddly enough, between the hours of seven a.m and three p.m I am the only one home. So what could I be missing out on? So, the kitchen table it is and my new walnut desk in the nook sits there all alone collecting dust, it looks good though. I feel comfortable at the kitchen table and I get things done. Three p.m rolls around, the girl comes home from school, the husband arrives shortly thereafter and I am still working for the next three to four hours. Dinner does not get discussed and school work is put on the back burner, I am still working. This is as much of an adjustment for me as it is for the family, you see when you work from home everyone assumes you have all the time in the world to do laundry, prepare dinner and keep the house picked up. I have not yet found that balance but am hoping to in 2011. I have gotten a head start, this week has been historically slow in the shipping industry and has proven to be in my case as well so I have had some good study time to prepare for my final exam and have dinner ready for the family by six p.m the past three nights. My goal for 2011 is to start my work day, between the hours of seven and eight-thirty a.m (I am not going to kid myself and attempt to put a start time of seven a.m on a daily basis because I know that I will fail everyday, I am an optimist but not unrealistically so) at noon I will put the computer down, fix myself lunch, do some laundry and clean one room a day. I am pretty sure I can get all of that accomplished during my lunch hour. Maybe my word for 2011 will be DISCIPLINE.
The last part of 2010 has been focusing on preparing for changes in 2011. So far on the to do list for 2011 is a trip to San Diego for me and Kiah to visit with friends and family, a trip to Europe with a friend Nicole in support of the husbands band "Hogjaw" and two other trips that are brewing in mind. I will keep you in suspense on those other two trips. 2011 is going to be a year of exploring! Happy New Year everyone!
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