Friday, May 31, 2013

Building a Life



I am looking for a transformation.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Greater-Kalamazoo-Girls-on-the-Run/194778223873902
Girls on the Run -- Kalamazoo

Anyone who’s been to Clemson Road before knows I am a change junky. I crave it. I used to travel frequently which satisfied it but now I can feel myself, daily, taking stock of my surroundings, evaluating my circumstances, and seeking transformation.

I could start a new fitness challenge.

I could paint Hollie’s bedroom.

I could go get a real job.

I’ve agreed to participate in the 2013 WordCount Blogathon. It means blogging every day for 30 days. Get ready, subscribers, a blitz is coming! I agreed to it because I think even this blog needs a transformation.



For over a year now I’ve been writing about Life on Clemson Road, an incredible journey from our old cushy life in the Upstate to our new home, new jobs, new friends, in Columbia. I’ve written about visiting my Nana every week and I wrote about her passing. I’ve written about what I’ve found on the internet and how it made me feel. I’ve written about what I know how to do and whether anyone will or should hire me to do it.

I’ve alluded to but haven’t exactly written about my older sister and I’ve mentioned but haven’t dwelled on some challenges I’ve had with fitness and body image.

I have tried to be honest about myself while motivational about what I’m doing here.

“There are three ways to build a life,” 
I told Charlie yesterday. “What you are, what you do, and what you have.”


What you are: 
your values, your compassion for others, your convictions and opinions, your willingness to fight or settle, your courage to commit, your relationships with your family and the people you choose to spend time with and on.

What you do: 
your education, your job, your intellectual property, your good works like charity and mentoring, your willingness to be changed by others, what you achieve and what you attempt.

What you have: 
your home, your furnishings and décor, your books and technology, your car, your clothes, all those other image things that people use to judge you. Are you shabby or flawless? Are you natural or polished? These are the things you take pride in because you’ve earned them, chosen them, afforded them, and now care for them.

When I get the urge for transformation I look at those three building materials: what I am, what I do, and what I have and ask myself, “Where do I need to improve?”

Come with me. In June we’ll explore this and other associated questions. We’ll allow ourselves to be changed. It’s just 30 days. You can do anything for 30 days.

How are you building your life? Where are you falling short?

8 comments:

  1. I could use a little change as well. A lot, probably. Sometimes there's so much that needs done, it can be overwhelming just choosing somewhere to start...

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    1. Becca,

      I've always been a "one thing at a time" person. I'm going to try to suck it up and fix it all. But I'm giving myself 30 days to prove it can be done ;-)

      Thanks for coming by Clemson Road!

      Delete
  2. Kasie, I love the picture above, but most importantly the words! I too am at a point in my life where I need transformation, so being reminded that I am the hero of my own story is very fitting. In the next few weeks I will be looking back at where I have been and deciding what the next best steps are to where I want to go. I'm looking forward to reading the words of your journey ... and will keep you updated as I work through my own. Love you, and hope to see you next weekend, Sheila

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sheila. I can't take credit for the photo but it definitely spoke to me.

      There's a great line in the movie The Holiday where a veteran screen writer tells Kate Winslet's character, "You're leading lady material, I can tell. But you're always acting like the best friend."

      Last year I decided to stop being the best friend. It's been a long and lonely road. But I'm getting used to being the Hero of My Own Story.

      Delete
  3. Once again, you have a struck a nerve in me, my darling daughter. I have had this on-going conversation with myself in recent months regarding not only what I am, what I do, and what I have, but also truly looking inward to determine what I want my life to say about me to others, especially those I love. I am convinced that when I work at being the best I can be then I am the hero of my own story! Thank you for pushing me to grab the brass ring and teaching me to not let go just because it sometimes causes a blister! Blisters heal when the new skin settles in!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, mom. I know you're my biggest fan and I'm very grateful for that.

      Whenever we take a moment to reconsider our path we get the chance to feel proud of what we've already accomplished. You have a beautiful path to be proud of. I'm looking forward to watching and participating in your journey for a long time.

      Delete
  4. Change is good Kasie, but dissatisfaction is a killer. I'm really good at always creating scenarios of lives better than mine - more successful, happier, richer, sunnier...etc - but I tend to stop myself and remember that I have food, shelter, warmth and even love and that's more than maybe 50% of the human population has. But change is good. :)

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Veronica.

      I took some time to think about what you said because I do think I'm prone to grass-is-greener syndrome. I have a cycle. I start off motivated, working hard, staying healthy and slowly, over time, slip into laziness, bad habits, and just getting by.

      I need to succeed in my business and to do so I must work much, much harder. So this turnaround is more like a kick start than dissatisfaction.

      Thanks for the reply, thanks for coming to Clemson Road, and thanks for giving me something to think about.

      Delete

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