Journey...NOT THE BAND

Good Morning!

I wanted to put out a post today just for the fun of it and it ended up being a good one, I think. Let me know and type a comment on my Facebook page or here if you can.

Reclaiming me is supposed to be about the trials and tribulations of losing yourself and rediscovering yourself.

How do you lose yourself you ask?

Gosh...let's see your job, your boss, your co-workers, your home, your kids, your spouse, your house, your pets, your parents, your grandparents, your in-laws, your cousins, your friends, your town, your church, your social life (or non-existence of one), etc..

I think you get the point.

When you're young, you have dreams and goals. What's great about that time is there is

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

stopping you. You can't see the pitfalls, the tragedy, the dark times of life. You are carefree and pure in your own thoughts and feelings.

Then people, things, and events start to mold your from this divine being into something NOT DIVINE. Thus, the beginning of you begin to losing yourself. Responsibilities over take your life and you forget about you.

It's kind of an "oxymoronic" occurrence really. You know like jumbo shrimp (oxymoron).

Think about it for a sec here. You start out with good intentions. As a child, your going to be a surgeon (that was mine). Then your conscious begins to develop and you start seeing other kids who want to be firemen or dancers. You start to doubt your choice of surgeon. You go into middle school and high school and become preoccupied with the opposite sex (which unfortunately never goes away).

Then, in college (if you get to go) you revisit your original goals to find out that it's too hard or more "fun" to hang with the "cool" kids. Some of you may have done this in high school too. You change your major 5-6 times. End up graduating only to find out, that it's nearly impossible to find a job in your major. Or the competition is so fierce that you get out ranked and out scored by hundreds of others.

So you lose a little bit more of yourself because you have to compromise to just make a living.

Enter responsibilities.

You meet the right person.
Start a family.
Buy a house.
Get a dog.
Have more kids.
Change jobs.
Etc, Etc, Etc...

Responsibilities are escalating at a fierce rate, huh?

And during all this, you put yourself and your wants and needs aside to make sure that everyone else in your life has their wants and needs.

This is wrong. Very wrong. Now I'm not saying be totally 100% selfish and let the crying infant fend for itself, but you have to make time to reclaim who you are and what makes you happy.

The problem I am having (and I see others having too) it that you are so far removed from yourself that you don't know, or remember, what it was you wanted in the first place. And the journey back is much harder than arriving at your current destination.

So take time for yourself. 15 minutes. 30 minutes. 1 Hour. Make sure you hold onto you. It will make you stronger for all of those around you.

Until Next Time.

Stay Cool.

Amanda :)

Internal GPS Defective

Good Morning,

I am currently not in my normal location but needed to do a blog post. I have a question to pose...

Has anyone felt like they don't know which was was up, down, left, right, in, out, or any other direction?

That's where my internal GPS has had some sort of malfunction. Reclaiming Me has had a serious internal GPS defect surface.

At least in the past, I've been moving forward. Just one direction. It's been foggy, couldn't see my hand in front of my face, taking baby steps, but now...nothing.

I'm am truly lost. What do you do?

I am honestly asking anyone out there in cyberspace...

What do you do?

I refuse to curl up into a ball and sit still because I feel like if I do, then I will get stuck there inevitable. Frozen in place. Time standing still. And I know that's just not right, not right for anyone.

I had an aunt say to me, "You're going through one of those dark periods that life gives you from time to time."

That's a scary thought.

I believe her but it doesn't lessen the intensity of the situation. I asked her, "Any idea how long these last? I am about tapped out."

She responded, "What's that saying, God only gives you what you can handle."

While I find some comfort in that statement, it's still frightening because of the unknown.

--Don't know how to react
--Don't know what's ahead
--Don't know where our lives are heading
--Don't know how we are going to survive
--Don't know what to decide
--Don't know...
--Don't know...
--Don't know...

Man am I rambling today. Sorry everyone. Well, I think you get what reclaiming me is trying to get at today.

The one thing I, you, anyone, cannot do is give up.

HOPE that it will work out. FAITH that the good people of this world will be rewarded. PATIENCE that perseveres through this dark time.

Stay strong my friends (I feel like that XX Dos Equis beer commercial dude saying that). The advice for the day. Just stay strong today and see what tomorrow brings.

Until Next Time.

Stay Cool.

Amanda ;)

"Fishpaste!"

Hello!

Well let's see here - it's been what about three/four weeks since my last post to reclaiming me. Not that anyone is really interested in my personal life but the last month has been full of "fishpaste".

If your not familiar with the term - watch Spongebob Squarepants. It's his swear word. And a darn good one.

Let see what happened (and I'm going to generalize so as not to get personal because I really don't want to relive the details). Yes, I am selfish that way.

#1. Got hopes up
#2. Hopes got crushed by emergency surgery
#3. Learned I could have died
#4. Reality strikes
#5. Find out something tragic has happened to a loved one
#6. Approximately 2 weeks later that loved one is gone

Yup...that about covers the ENTIRE month of March and a little extra just in case you really didn't get the depth of what was happening.

All the while, I've had one company take a serious look at me after 4 months of consistent searching.

OFF THE SOAP BOX NOW

So what did we learn during this episode of reclaiming me...

-> Life if just a bunch of "fishpaste"?

NO. Don't take for granted the little things in life that surround you each day. The most powerful thing that happened to me was realizing that I may have left this earth, my husband, my children, even my dog without ever saying goodbye. And that's when the tears started and still have not stopped. But I put on my brave face and keep on moving forward.

Take a moment out of your day and look at what's around you. Be thankful for the little, common, there everyday consistently, things in your life and appreciate them.

Until Next Time

Stay Cool.

Amanda :)

Simplicity of a Dog

Good Afternoon Everyone!

Man...talk about a crazy, hectic week. This has been one for the books. And it's primary theme:

Patience

Which, by the way, I have none or atleast very little of. Today's reclaiming me is all about patience and finding it when you need it. That's why I'm going to breifly talk about what I mean by "simplicity of a dog".

Honestly, reclaiming me is really about you and everyone reading this blog. You're looking for someone to relate to or for a solution that just might work this time that someone else has pioneered. Here's yet another suggestion on how to look at life. Sometimes all you need is a little perspective change.


Imagine you're a dog. First, of course, pick what kind of dog you want to be. What are your primary concerns? Food.....(yup).....Water......(yup)......AFFECTION.......(Totally).

And if your lucky, a nice, warm, dry, comfortable place to sleep. Other than those needs, nothing else really matters.

And when you spot a bird and start a chase - that's a luxury and a highlight of your day! Or maybe you get to go to the dog park and sniff a few new butts...right? That again, is the best day of your dog life up until this point! What's tomorrow going to bring! It's all so exciting.

So, as I am learning, slowly, enjoy life's simplicities. Both the good and the bad. As I am sitting here, outside, watching my chocolate lab Daisy, and she is splayed out in the sunshine, litteraly smiling. Sniffs the air. Barks at the neighbors then promptly returns to lay by my feet. The only thing missing right now is a large, fuzzy tennis ball in which she can retrieve and go again. (But we will do that once I'm done with this post - little does she know)

So take a lesson from our finely furry friends, the canines, as I have today in reclaiming me and getting closer day by day.

ENJOY THE SIMPLICITY OF LIFE

Until Next Time.

Stay Cool.

Amanda (BARK!)

Mantra-tastic!

Greetings!

I just wanted to put up a quick post today. I'm in the middle of organizing my work desk and I got a blast of inspiration after having a great phone call with an old friend. And in the theme of reclaiming me...I think this fits perfectly.

I have a mantra-tastic lesson for you courtesy of someone who is wise beyond his years and a fantastic person in general.

I am currently struggling with myself (which seems to be a re-occurring theme here at ol' reclaiming me....but hey... what are you gonna do, right?)

I feel like I'm about to deliver one of the ten commandments here

"And, thus, Phil said to me..." (see what I mean)

"LOVE MORE FEAR LESS"
"FLOW MORE STEER LESS"

These are the new mantra's for me. Hence why I named this little ditty "mantra-tastic".

As most people do naturally, we have the tendency to lean towards the fear of a situation and it becomes self fulfilling. For what reason I have no idea, it's seems easier (maybe more exciting) to dwell in the fear of a situation. When the reality of it is, it creates nothing but pain, dread, and suffering.

We also tend to want to control where we go, what we do, how we live, etc...and lose the freedom and sense of peace that dealing with the here and now gives us.

So my advice to you is to put this on your vision board as I have done today.

"LOVE MORE FEAR LESS"
"FLOW MORE STEER LESS"

I trust in god. I trust in the universe. I trust that my destiny is being presented to me and I will not fight it but welcome it with open arms and an open mind.

Until next time.

Stay Cool.

Amanda

Pig-Latin ROCKS

Howdy!



T'sia as reatga aydq odayta.

Pig-Latin Translation = It's a great day today.






Throwing some curve balls at you today because that's what I've been getting the past couple of days and I thought maybe I should pay it forward.

In my attempts in reclaiming me, an event of massive proportions has been lowered over my head. Something that will change me and my life forever.

But today, I just wanted to teach my respected and loved readers something you might not know how to do.

WARNING: If you don't know how to do this already and you try this on someone they will (I repeat WILL) do one of the following:

A. Think you've REALLY lost your mind once and for all
B. Laugh (because they are terribly uncomfortable)
C. Talk back to you in the same fashion

Pig-Latin. Remember, reclaiming me is about helping each other get through those low points in your life. You're going to have them and I find Pig-Latin a refreshing way to break the seriousness of the event, day, hour, situation, whatever.

Here's how you do it:

Take the first letter of the word and place it at the end of your word like such:

Penny = Ennyp

Then add the letter A to the end of the new word:

Penny = Ennyp = Ennypa

Then pronounce it the best you can.

As you practice, you can talk in full sentences as I have done to those I love when things get stressful. The laughter that comes from it helps alleviate and relieve any tension and lets you move on with your day with a smile and a memory.

I would NOT recommend you do this in the board room unless you have a fun-filled board who would appreciate a good conversation via Pig-Latin.

Ntilua extna imeta. (Until Next Time)

taysa oolca. (Stay Cool)

Amanda

Dad-Gum Short Term Memory Failure : Reboot! Reboot!

Good Evening,

I woke up this morning with the best title for my blog today and thought to myself..."Don't forget that title - it's perfect! - total eye catcher!" And what do you know - I can't remember. And I am so bummed out about it. Short term memory gets worse and worse as you get older.

Maybe it will come to me while I post this update. Let's pray.

This week has been an interesting one to say the least. Two days (four total if you count the weekend) where family was off from school and home 24/7. Had a great meeting with an friend down in San Diego. Got to meet an amazing spouse of a woman I am volunteer with at church/school and he has worked wonders just today (thank you god - keep your fingers crossed).

So...all-in-all...I think that it's been a great week especially compared to other weeks I've had and shared with you. ~This is when I think "you" need to take note and mark these days so you can fall back upon them when you're having those, more frequent, "not-so-good" days. Hence my Adobe Illustrator artwork below.



One last thought for the evening. I need to heed my own advice - I can hear myself telling myself this right now even before the words become reality and type themselves on this blog page...

(Side Note: I heard that those who talk to themselves are actually way above average intelligence. Well...even if it's not true... I'm taking it ! Take em' when you can get em'!)

It's not always going to be bad. There has to be a balance in the world.

--Good cannot exist without evil.
--Evil cannot exist without good.

The ol' yin and yang theory. And it's true.

YOU also control how you react to those bad days. As I am slowly learning. I have found this trick works for me - maybe it will work for you, maybe it won't.

Less reaction to the bad = happier state of being.

Until next time.

Stay Cool.

Amanda

P.S. That killer title I had - never came to me. Oh well...I'll remember one of these days and use it in another post in the future.