Happy New Year!
I know...I'm 16 days late! I apologize for not keeping up with this blog as I would've like to. Life has gotten in the way and I had to allow myself time to lie in the fetal position, sulk, and then pull myself up and begin to make changes.
As 2012 came to an end, I was laid off from my job after 5 years and 4 managers later, due to "restructuring." Ha! They always tell you it's never personal, that is such crap! It's definitely ALWAYS personal. How else do the powers that be determine who to let go and who to keep? Don't play with my intelligence. My former manager and I never saw eye to eye, so I was not surprised by the decision. I made a career out of being someone else's manager of time, having been an assistant for 20 plus years. Truth? I loathed that job and had been unhappy for 4 out of the 5 years I was employed there. So...as my fate was determined on that day, I was unbelievably calm. It was quite shocking to even me, how unbelievably calm I was. In that moment, I took a breath, I exhaled and I whispered to myself, "Thank you!" The universe has a way of stepping in when I get in my own way...and she isn't always polite! Quite forceful and abrupt! I knew if the universe was taking something away, it only meant she was replacing it with something far greater!
Needless to say, I still had my days of doubts and there were more days of negative thoughts than positive, thus why I allowed myself to stay in that fetal position. But here is the weird thing about how things come about. As fast as I traveled down the rabbit hole, is just as fast as I climbed my way out and before I knew it I was cleaning the house, rearranging rooms, shifting the energy. The first week of the new year had me thinking uh oh! Really? The comical snafus already? And so I went into seclusion, inner seclusion and got back into Yoga, Pilates, meditation and chanting. HOWEVER...when you begin an inner journey, outer circumstances happen. I've been there before and knew those circumstances were tests and it was how I would respond to them that would determine the outcome.
I don't make resolutions, I tend to make lifestyle changes and when I get out of my own way and listen to that inner voice, I allow it to take me where I need to go. I took inventory of the year 2012 and I realized, after putting together a photo album, cleaning off the pictures on my phone, just how wonderful the year had been! I recaptured those moments that brought me pure bliss and began to feel extremely grateful in spite of the way the year ended.
2012 Flashbacks
I rang in 2012, peacefully, alone with a glass of champagne ringing in the new year with a clear mental state. I met a few great women! I also lost old friends due to moving in different paths. Unfortunate, but it happens. I was invited to a fashion show courtesy of my good gal pal Jes. Please check out "Bless by Bless Couture,"http://www.blessbybless.com. The designer's story is inspiring!
I traveled out west with my sister to visit my brother in Cali and we hiked up to the Hollywood sign! I lived in Cali for 6 years and hadn't done that. It was something I longed to do and that hike became my mantra, "I hiked up a hill, I can conquer anything!"
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| Ledesi rocked it! |
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I'd pay to see Nas anytime! He was dope!
Check out that crowd! |
I went to a few great gatherings surrounded by good folks, good food, spirits and fun! I enjoyed three concerts, Ledesi and Eric Benet, Nas and Lauren Hill (Nas did not disappoint, can't say the same for Ms. Hill), and the Roots (AWESOME show)!
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The Roots! The Roots!
The Roots were on fiya! |
In September I returned to grad school, after taking a leave of absence from my Social Work studies due to that same manager who decided to let me go, not allowing me to do the necessary intern hours required to graduate (I would've been graduating this year). I changed my major to Communications Management and so far I've been extremely happy with the decision. It's a great program, where I should have been from the beginning.
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My minnie me being silly
my madre in the back ringing
in 2013 |
Finally, as the year came to a close, I celebrated the holidays with loved ones and those in my circle who are genuine and real. 2012 was indeed a great year and I had a lot to be thankful for so as I slowly raised from the couch that had become my safe haven for 2 months, I made a choice to create the life I want and to finally get out of my own way and allow the universe to lead me in the direction I'm truly supposed to go.
So...here's to 2013, for you and for me! May we strive for excellence, prosperity and abundance and even when the days are not so great may we get over the hump and keep focused on the ultimate goal! After all, in the words of Scarface aka Tony Montana, I deserve "the world Chico and everything in it!" We all do!
Have moxie! Drip the Swagu and always stay Fabulously Fierce!
Gillian
