* This blog has been formulating itself in my head for some time now. It's dedicated to the ponderings I have when driving, the random thoughts and debates that go through my brain in the shower, and the discussions I wish I had finished at dinner.
* I am not a writer, though there are times I wish I could be paid to write. (Don't all bloggers?!) As you read this, just remember it's all based on opinion. That doesn't mean I'm closed-minded, but rather just passionate! So please feel free to share your opinions, thoughts, and questions. I always welcome a good debate!
* All that being said, sit back, relax, and enjoy! :)

Friday, November 15, 2013

When is Enough Enough?

I don't know what this blog post is about but I keep coming back to that statement - When is Enough Enough?
How do you know when you've had enough of a food, person, or activity?  How do you know it's time to move on to the next adventure?  How can you tell if you're just having a bad day/week/month or it really is time to move on?
I suppose it could be a feeling - that feeling when you want to explode if you hear something again.  That feeling of dread when it's time to go to work.  That feeling of annoyance when someone opens their mouth, no matter what they are going to say.
Philosophers throughout time and counselors of today say we can control our feelings.  We should be able to control how we feel, rather than allowing something or someone else to control how we feel.  Well I think that is easier said than done.  (And trust me, as a counselor, I know more strategies for this than most people!)  But there does come a point where Enough is Enough.  If something doesn't change, we'll make something else change.  If someone says the wrong thing on the wrong day, emotions erupt.  If that promotion passes you up one more time, you're done with that job.

Maybe the key to it all is knowing that it is inevitable.  Enough will be Enough one day.  For some people that will come sooner than others.  But if we know it's going to happen, we can accept it when it does.  Maybe if we know and accept that there will be a breaking point, that breaking point will appear more clear to us and we won't be asking When is Enough Enough...
Maybe...

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Redirections

I've been doing some research on the career changes people make today.  It is making me feel much better about myself, actually! One source said that today's workforce will change careers 10 times in a lifetime. The article went on to clarify that it was actually 10 jobs, and typically 5 careers. Another blog stated that people are making 7 career changes in a lifetime, however the author had changed careers 9 times. I know I have heard the number 7 thrown out before. I, personally, am coming dangerously close to using up my last cat life of careers.
You see, I graduated college hoping for a career life similar to my dad's: I would work for one company, dedicating my life to that company, for my career. I quickly realized that company wouldn't be the first company I chose! The company touted itself as one that promotes from within and likes to keep employees moving forward in their careers. However, try as I might to move up, I was only ever given one promotion. In fact, the parent of one of my clients tried to get me into a trainer position (training new staff on how to work with our clients) because she felt I exemplified the traits needed to be a community support professional. She was told, in no better words, that I actually needed to dumb down if I wanted to move up in the company! This sealed it. I moved onto graduate school to earn my Masters in Counseling and pursue my original career goal of being a counselor working with middle school age children.
I had intended on being a mental health counselor, however didn't have the funds to work for free for a full year completing a second internship in counseling. So I settled on the school counselor license and decided I would find a middle school to dedicate my life to. Well everyone in education knows this is nearly impossible because if you love middle school you are not going to leave! And elementary counselor positions are nearly extinct. So after the third school fell through, all due to circumstances out of my control, I decided to move forward again.
Perhaps I am not meant to dedicate myself to one company or career. Or even two or three!
Along the way I have tried out other career paths. My absolute favorite job, as I referenced not long ago, is being a mom. However, with the Tiny in kindergarten, and someone wanting more income, it is time to seek out the next career path. Life is extremely boring when no one is around all day!
This brings me to this blog. Redirecting. Apparently it is something most people do quite often in our lives. I just happen to be surrounded by people who don't redirect a lot. I'm married to a teacher. For 15+ years he has worked in the same school. My dad gave his career life to Lilly. My mom dedicated herself to us kids. My brother is a vet who, like me, has been seeking out one company. At least he has had one career goal, though! I am the black sheep. I am the direction-less floater. I am the one who is most frustrating. I have career ADD. I can't ever be happy. I feel like the screw-up of the family.
And yet, I am more like the average working person than any one of these people in my life. Why can't I accept that?  Better yet, what am I even looking for in the next career move? I can tell you what I want on the surface: flexible hours, good pay, and security. I want to be part of a team who respects me and the other hard-working employees. I want to matter and I don't want to feel like a screw up. I want the job to last...longer than a year or so. Is this asking too much? Is it unrealistic for Me?
Recently I interviewed for a job, and accepted the position. The interviewer said that my assessment results said I was "in transition" and that I am a "generalist". He went on to say that generalists are great people to have on staff because they are not limited in their skills. They are the kinds of people who like to learn and practice a lot of different things. They are typically good project managers. This sounds wonderful to me! This makes all my flighty-ness seem normal and even useful. So there you go. I am a generalist. Now, who wants to take that and make a career of it?!
This has been an extremely long blog, with no real relevant point to anyone but me. The idea came to me in the shower and it was much more succinct when I was speaking out loud. But perhaps someone else will read it and it will make him feel much better about himself or realize that he is not alone. Feel free to share your career path by commenting below!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Abercrombie & Fitch

And it's my turn to weigh in on the scandal that has become A&F!
It is slightly amusing, and mostly annoying, listening to all the people who are outraged by the CEO's statements.  I have been trying to stay out of this but it seems that nearly every day someone else on facebook comments or posts some picture/video of someone degrading A&F.  I cannot sit by any longer!

On the CEO's statement - I actually see nothing wrong with the CEO stating that he is purposely marketing to the "cool kids".  Don't we all want to be the "cool kids"?  If you were "cool" growing up, admit that you loved the feeling of everyone looking up to you and wanting to be you.  If you were not "cool", admit that you wanted to be!  We all did!  It was something to reach for.  If a company wants to cater to those people, isn't that saying that we can all be "cool" if we buy their clothes?  We will look hot and be awesome if we buy their clothes.  We will be making a statement about our awesomeness and attractiveness if we wear A&F.  After all, they only cater to  "cool" kids.

On size 10 and under - America is WAY too overweight these days.  A size 10 today is probably about a size 16 20 years ago.  Someone recently posted that Marilyn Monroe wore a size 12.  (I thought it was an 8...but I'm too lazy to research right now!)  A size 12 for her would equal at least a size 10, possibly an 8, today.  I know this b/c my clothes have gone down in size and I asked a store about it once.  My suspicions were verified - clothes have been getting bigger every couple of years to help cater to the growing population.  What?  You wear a 10 now?!  That's awesome!  Wait, you weight the same?  The 10 is the same size as the size 12 pants hanging in your closet?  You must have shrunk those somehow...
Therefore, for people to be so upset that A&F won't make clothes to fit them, makes America seem like a giant, overweight, extremely sensitive country!  It is difficult to protest a store you never shopped in anyway.  What are you going to do to hurt the business?  Not buy their clothes?  You weren't buying them anyway!  To these people I say, if you are so upset, do something about it!  Eat less, Do more.  Get healthy and fit into those clothes!  Then, if you want to protest over some statement, you will at least be making an accurate protest.

This is probably coming off extremely harsh, however no one really reads this blog anyway, and it's been weighing on my mind for a while now.  It's about time I put my thoughts down somewhere!  Thanks for reading.  Now I'm off to buy some "cool kids" clothes at A&F!  :)