Lesson Learned

The most important lesson from my childhood that I want my daughter to learn is this:

“Be yourself. If people don’t like you for who you are, that’s their problem.”

Today I read this post on LinkedIn that suggested being yourself is indulgent and unprofessional. The writer’s words were “Express your individuality on your own time.”

The writer claimed that “just being me” is a bad thing.

Pep Talk

I’m built for something different.

When you know that about yourself, said Coach Curtis Frye, You are able to compete because you know you have something to offer. 

It’s not a direct quote, it’s translated from my notes; the notes that deliver this kick-ass message:

I am not afraid of hard work.

So why am I not WORKING?

How I Got in the Game -- The April Platform Challenge Anniversary Post

I tweet every blog post “I #amwriting The Life on Clemson Road.”

In that statement alone, I’m expressing how far Robert Lee Brewer’s April Platform Challenge 2012 has brought me.

Let’s break it down: I tweet.

What? Not too long before April 2012 I thought Twitter was a self-indulgent busybody software of the highest order of narcissism and shallowness.

Now, I host Tweet chats for the Wordsmith Studio group every Tuesday, follow the Twitter feed for #thevoice and every major awards show, and participate in #litchat and #pitmad to discuss others’ books and pitch mine. 

It’s about the conversation.

I will write an entire post on Twitter etiquette, by the bye, since I have been in meetings with people who seemed to think the Twitter conversation was more important than the people in front of them. Ugh.

Okay, part two of the phrase: every blog post.

I blog? What?

Yep. Shhhh… you’re reading it now. 

Another Opening Day

I am trying to learn Chi Running wherein one ceases to suffer and instead runs like a child with joy and stamina that flow from our Chi or energy source.

My heart pounds and I feel every step. Every. Step.

“Breathe,” I remind myself, “lean in.”

Photo by LJR

 

Another Opening Day.

It’s been a year. I’ve been on this new journey for a year. Not the Chi Running thing, that’s about three days old. But the journey to define myself as an independent entrepreneur, to eschew corporate shackles for wide open spaces.

My birthday just passed and I’ve been on this journey since I served my old cube mates cupcakes and then said goodbye to them forever. I ripped them off like a band aid. Raced into the unknown.

They told me I was brave. I felt brave.

Now it’s been a year and I feel less brave.

Of all these new things we’ve tried, moving to a new city, building a new house, kid in a new preschool, husband in a new store, the hardest has been mommy in a new job. It hasn’t panned out like everything else. It hasn’t been fine. Wonderful. More than we could have asked for.

It’s been scary.

It’s been uncertain.

 

Saving Daylight

I went out for a run at 3:30 in the afternoon. I usually go at 9:30 in the morning but it was raining so I held off until 3:30.

Not too long ago I had a single time slot for a workout: 5 a.m. If I got up and went I was proud of myself, if I missed it there was no second chance and I’d berate myself all day.

Now, though, my days are much more fluid.

I eschew schedules. Always have.

I have a certain number of things that need to be accomplished and I will put them in logical order and work through them. I will work until they are done. But the same thing every day? No, thank you.

I didn’t used to have this freedom. I had to have my butt in a chair every day by 8:30 a.m. I was stuck in that chair until 5:30 p.m. That was me paying my dues.

But now I have control over my own destiny and I’m a little bit like the new pilot asking in mid-air, “where to?”

Happy Birthday, Life on Clemson Road

A year ago today I put up my first blog post. It was called, accurately, “The Rookie’s First Post.”

Since then Life on Clemson Road has taken a number of turns. Some good, some bad.

The theme for 2012 had been land the plane, but instead of buckling down and tying up loose ends, I ripped life out at the seams and sewed it up in another place.  

Like everything I ever experience, I have learned from this journey. Here are some of the lessons from this year we spent beyond the rainbow:

I don’t need everyone in the universe to read my blog. I love those of you who do!

I have to write. No one will do it for me.

I have something of value to say.

I cannot make other people want the life I want.

I cannot expect anyone else to work as hard as I will to be better than I am.

I have to go easy on myself sometimes. And take myself less seriously.

Life does not bring one challenge at a time. They arrive in batches.

Anniversary Coming Up

Next Tuesday (Feb 27th) will be Life on Clemson Road's one-year anniversary. Or birthday. Or whatever other kind of milestone name we want to give it. Seems like only yesterday I was writing the rookie's first post. 

I don't feel much like a rookie anymore, but I am still pleased with the journey I've shared and the support I've found online.

So, leading up to the anniversary I am going to be Tweeting. FB-ing, G+-ing, Pinning, and otherwise ridiculously pimping some of my favorite posts over the last year. 

If you're a friend and fan, please help me share the love. If you're new here, welcome!