#oneword 2014

As I look at my blog posts, I see that I never published my #oneword 2013. Shame on me! Well, this year, it will be posted.

Last year, I struggled with what my word would be. I was struggling to find the right word to inspire me for my (fruitless) jobsearch. This year, the word is easy. My #oneword is JOYOUS.

For most of my life, I have been what some would call an optimist. I usually see the glass as half full and that there is usually something positive to be found even in bad situations. The last few years have been very stressful for me. I have a negative nelly in my life. I was able for the better part of a quarter of a century to ignore the negative energy. But with the loss of my job, the lack of employment opportunity for me and the death of my mother, I allowed the negativity to take residence in me.

I honestly do not understand how people stay in this mindset. I was absolutely miserable. Then I remembered ( with a lot of help from inspirational memes and such) that being happy is a choice, and I was choosing to be miserable.

I have my health, I have two healthy, smart and good-natured children. There is a roof over my head and food in my tummy. I have great friends and a wonderful family. I am intelligent and I have a lot to offer. I am free and I choose JOY!

I vow to greet every day with a smile. I will enjoy my children's laughter and join with them. I will embrace the possibilities of each new day. I will be silly and self-deprecating and lose the inhibitions that stop me from dancing in the rain. ( I still won't sing at the tops of my lungs because I respect your ears but I will sing) and I will wish upon a star. I will swim because I love it and not be ashamed in a bathing suit.

2014 is going to be a most JOYOUS year! Come find your Joy with me!

Welcome 2014! New Year, New Me ( or old me, with a coat of paint)

I have not been a good little blogger. To be honest, I was not believing that I had anything worthwhile to talk about. This happens to a lot of out of work people. We question our own worth because our worth is tied into our employment status. But, for most of us, that is not our only contribution. I am a mom, and I have two awesome daughters that I love and take care of.  I am a good friend ( at least I like to think so) but I need to stop hiding because of my unemployment. I am a good citizen. I vote, try to keep up with current events and political what-not. And, OMG, I have read nearly every article ever written on how to get hired, so even tho I haven't been hired, I am a de facto expert on the subject.

I have come to realize, however, that I do have something worthwhile to say. I have skills and knowledge to be shared and I am going to do so. If I want to be respected for what I am and what I know, I need to respect myself for those things. I need to take my life by it's horns and make it into what I want it to be. No more hiding, no more waiting and definitely no more letting others determine my worth.

I am starting to formulate a plan. I know what my strengths are ( and my weaknesses) , and I am going to use them, for myself and for others. As the plan comes together, I am going to blog about it and about other things. I love the beach and anything related to it. I love photography. I love baking and throwing parties and I love kids. I love the idea of crafts, but I am not very good at it. I am trying to learn how to be organized. I have (relatively late in life) become obsessed with women's shoes. I, like most people, want and need to lose some weight. I love to read! and I have always wanted to write.

So here is one of my resolutions: to start blogging regularly. At least once a week. I will schedule it on my calendar, like an appointment, so I won't forget. So here we go! Wish me luck! Keep me accountable! Happy 2014!