Thankful Thursday: Dreams

Dreams are defined in two ways:  #1 – a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person’s mind during sleep. and #2 – a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal.

I will admit I don’t often remember the dreams I had when I am sleeping.  I guess it is part of the MS or maybe I don’t dream.  But there was a time when I had goals – dreaming big for success in my professional and personal life.  Of course, I’m not sure I really knew what success was.

What do you dream of?  Exotic vacations?  A successful business? A romantic relationship?  Kids? Friends?  What did you dream about doing when you were little?  I don’t remember much of my childhood so what my dreams were, I don’t know.  I have glimpses of past dreams – some of which I met.  Those glimpses come with the help of others who remind of my successes.  Now, my dream is to wake up one morning with memories (all of them) and not have MS.  I dream of being able to process thoughts and have feelings again besides the extremes of sadness and joy.  It’s more wishful thinking than anything, but who knows, if not today, maybe tomorrow. There’s always hope for tomorrow.

I never grew up dreaming I would have a life with a chronic illness filled with body weakness, loss of memory and pain. I don’t think anyone ever does. Cancer took many of my family members so I actually figured one day it would take me…..but I stuffed the thought and lived my life.  I’m not sure what my choice would have been on career day but I’m sure MS wasn’t an option.  I remember wanting to be a lawyer and ended up in the casinos. Then addiction and recovery changed my life.  I went from the casino to being a social worker.  Something which might have been God’s plan all along.  I loved helping people and it became my calling.  I am grateful for the pictures and the memories others share with me of those many years making a difference in the live of others.  I love creating things – angels of all types and sewing.

Now, because of MS, my thoughts get jumbled and the words I’m thinking aren’t always the ones that come out.  I don’t remember people so remember details about their life is a struggle.  Helping others is more difficult since I can barely help myself some days.  I trust others memories of my hopes and dreams.  I  rely on them to help me remember my past.

I may not talk a lot in public since my worlds get jumbled BUT I do love writing. Writing my thoughts down gives me enough time to pause in order to keep from jumbling words up too bad. I still make a ton of writing errors, but they are easier to correct than losing my train of thought in the middle of a conversation.  It’s really funny when I jot something down and then go back and read it later – I am usually puzzled wondering what was I thinking.

Creating my angels has become therapy.  It takes a lot longer than it used to but I still love spending the time using those creative juices.  The colors may not always work, the design may be a bit off but the end result is a unique angel design.  I have to be more patient with my hands when they won’t stay steady. Or the numbness/tingling causes me to drop things.   That makes it a challenge, but somehow I still get things done.

Because of MS, I have learned to appreciate the things I am still able to do. I can’t let the fact that I can’t do something now get me down. There’s always a way if I get creative enough.

Have you given up on a dream?  Maybe it is because of a chronic illness.  Maybe it is because life showed up and things got detoured.  Don’t loose hope in succeeding in finding your dream. Never stop pursuing your dreams just because something gets in the way.  Life happens.  Dreams keep us going and yes, they do change.

Never lose the ability to dream – for me, it just means writing them down.  It means not “thinking” the passion will keep the dream alive because the truth is, by tomorrow I will forget what the dream was.

Remember…Go out there and conquer your day today.  Reach for your dreams – large or small. taking one step closer to them every day.

Have a blessed day!

Are You Superstitious?

Do you dread this day each time it rolls around? I used to be one of those people. I used negative words to describe the day and the outcome was “I got negative results”. I was surprised by the origins of this “dreaded day”:

The origins are as mysterious as the day itself, although it’s thought to stem from two separate fears that amalgamate every now and again to frighten us. Yup, the number 13 and Friday (apparently) have long been considered to be unlucky in their own right.

REALLY, Fridays were considered unlucky too?  I always thought Fridays were GREAT days. Especially TODAY since I am in  NC with my daughter and looking forward to a weekend filled with tailgating and fun.  Yes, I squirreled.  As an employee, it was pay day with the exception of my years at the casinos, so what’s so bad about it? For those with a Monday – Friday JOB, it means the end of the work week and the start of two days of NO WORK! As for those of us in direct sales, Fridays are always good because they are traditionally our busy party nights.  Pay day means people are ready to shop too!

  

As for the number 13, this is what they had to say:

The number 13 has always been seen as a bit of an unfriendly number. In numerology it is irregular, transgressing the completeness of perfect 12 (for example, 12 months of the year and 12 signs of the zodiac).

Okay, I am not sure what to say about this. I do know most builders don’t include a 13th floor in the hotels or skyscrapers to avoid the negative energy it creates in people. I mean, would you rent a room or an office on the 13th floor?

A few years ago, I started changing the way I looked at Friday the 13th. I started thinking of it as just another day – a day like any other day. I LOVE thinking about it as “31” in reverse.  Okay, occasionally Negative Nellie will make a passing comment but overall positive thoughts prevail.

What are you doing on this Friday the 13th? I am hosting a special to my VIP customers and hostesses at Hope’s Purse Closet (as well as those who read my blog):

Better yet, if you place an order of $35 you can take advantage of the AWESOME October Customer special.  You can also kick off you holiday shopping with the NEW Holiday Gift Guide.  

To place an order, you can email, text, call or PM me on Facebook to place your order and receive your discount.  If you place your order online with DIRECT SHIP, I will not be able to give the discount because direct ship orders are being processed as soon as they are placed online.   I am turning a negative into a positive today, what about you?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Friday the 13th

Are you superstitious? Do you dread this day each time it rolls around? I used to be one of those people. I used negative words to describe the day and the outcome – “I got negative results”. I was surprised by the origins of this “dreaded day”:

The origins are as mysterious as the day itself, although it’s thought to stem from two separate fears that amalgamate every now and again to frighten us. Yup, the number 13 and Friday (apparently) have long been considered to be unlucky in their own right.

REALLY, Fridays were considered unlucky too?  I always thought Fridays were GREAT days. As an employee, it traditionally was pay day with the exception of my years at the casinos, so what’s bad about that? For those that have a Monday – Friday JOB, it means the end of the work week and the start of two days of NO WORK! As for those of us in direct sales, Fridays are always good because they are traditionally our busy party nights.

As for the number 13, this is what they had to say:

The number 13 has always been seen as a bit of an unfriendly number. In numerology it is irregular, transgressing the completeness of perfect 12 (for example, 12 months of the year and 12 signs of the zodiac).

Okay, I am not sure what to say about this. I do know that most builders do not include a 13th floor in the hotels or skyscrapers to avoid the negative energy that it creates in many people. I mean, would you rent a room or an office on the 13th floor?

A few years ago, I started changing the way that I looked at Friday the 13th. I started thinking of it as just another day – a day like any other day. I LOVE thinking about it as “31” in reverse.  Okay, occasionally Negative Nellie will make a passing comment but overall positive thoughts prevail.

What are you doing on this Friday the 13th? I am hosting a special to my VIP customers and hostesses at Hope’s Purse Closet (as well as those who read my blog):

Better yet, if you place an order of $35 you can take advantage of the AWESOME May special.

To place an order, you can email, text, call or PM me on Facebook to place your order and receive your discount. I am turning a negative into a positive today, what about you?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Administrative Professional Day

Happy Hump Day!  Today is Administrative Professional Day formerly known as Secretary’s Day.  Today is the day that many employers show (or should show) their appreciation to administrative professionals highlighting their importance to an organization.

I have worn both hats in my many careers – that of the Administrative Professional and that of the Boss – and remember all of the amazing lessons that I learned in each of those positions.  In fact, I truly believe that it was my work as an Administrative Professional that guided me through most of my career.  When I started at the casinos, first a Secretary but then became the Compliance Officer and a Security Supervisor.  When I left the casinos, again I went back to being a Secretary in a Hotel Sales Department which took me to being the boss at a Reservation Center who got to travel around the country for business.  As an Administrative Professional in a non-profit, I then moved up the ladder to Chief Operating Officer.

The title may have changed over the years from Secretary to Administrative Professional but they were the positions that helped me to grow personally and in my professional career.  In my direct sales business, I have not reached the level of having an Administrative Professional as an Assistant and you can tell because on any given day (like today) my desk looks like a hot mess.  I always use the skills that I acquired as an Administrative Professional to try and keep my office in a set of systems.

I have a tickler file for my calls and follow-up with my clients.  Nothing fancy just a brown accordion file with a slot for each day of the week.  As I make a call, or need to follow-up on something it gets dropped in that day.  I also have one for the months of the year so if I need to do something in 3 or 6 months, I don’t forget.  I will admit, I have tried ALOT of systems but back to basics and what worked in the past seems to be doing it right now.  Of course, I have to learn how to spread out my call backs so that I don’t have 25 in one day.

My Planner is my life.  I know by now I should have everything electronic so it is easer, right?  The problem is that I am between two systems – an Android phone and a MAC computer (and soon an IPAD).  If I put something on my phone calendar, it never seems to make it to my computer.  I am sure there is a way but I haven’t figured it out.  I will be glad when  my birthday arrives and I get my IPAD.  MAYBE then I will then be able to go back to an electronic version of things because it will be small and easy to carry in my purse.

Sounds basic, right?  Administrative Professionals are the heart of any business and I truly believe that without them many businesses would collapse in failure.  I applaud YOU for your hard-work and dedication.  For those of you who think “I am only an Administrative Professional” or dare I say “Secretary” – wear this title with pride.  If your dream is to go further, work for it, set a goal and reach for the stars.  I always did and am grateful that I was able to soar with eagles as I grew in my career.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!