One Little Word 2020: Space

If you're new around here, welcome! If you've been here before, welcome back. In either case, I'm so very glad you're here.

Today is the start of a new year and a new decade . . . a fresh start, a new beginning . . .a new hope (Star Wars anyone??) Since 2008, I have selected a word to guide me in the upcoming year. One little word, that I choose to explore within my goals and dreams for the year. Ali Edwards is the mastermind behind this process, and a constant source of inspiration for me.

So Long Summer . . .It's Been Swell!

Wow you guys - I did NOT intend to take the entire summer off from the blog. What started as a meal planning slump, morphed into a writing and planning and "doing" slump. Suddenly, the whole summer slipped by without a post. But I'm back - mostly because I missed you. Yes, YOU.

The whole reason I started a blog 13 years ago (YIKES!), was to connect with people. To reach out to other women and moms that were just like me. Or weren't just like me, but something drew us to each other's story. I still crave that connection. I want to share every single great thing I find with you. I want to inspire you to go back to school, or not stress over your kid's homework, or make something new for dinner. All. The. Things.

And in turn, I want to be inspired BY you . . .I want you to share a part of your life with me, so that my own life is richer for it. Connection. Stories. It's what life is all about.

This is 50 . . . A Self-Reflection on Aging

It's been a while since I've done a reflective, personal post . . .but this morning, when I pulled out my journal to do my daily writing, the words just flowed . . .and I felt a move to share them with you.  So here we go . . .

This is 50 . . .so many ideas swirling around about this number, this season, this time in my life. It seems both profound and yet just another day, all at the same time.

Baby steps forward, always improving upon what I know and what I've learned. More comfortable in my own skin, yet the skin feels and fits differently. It looks different. No judgement - I'll be 50 soon, I've learned to try and leave judgement behind - it serves no positive purpose.

49 Things I Am Grateful For on My 49th Birthday

Birthdays roll around once a year. Like it or not, every 365 days we add another number to our age. For years, when we are kids, we can't wait to get older. As we move into early adulthood, that eagerness begins to wane. Sometime around 30 the groans begin. Before you know it, you're 40, and then 40something . . .

I've always considered age nothing but a number, it truly is about how you feel. With 50 as my next approaching number in a short 365 days, I'd be lying if I told you I haven't considered what getting "older" means to me and how it makes me feel. Want to know a secret? I feel pretty good about heading into the second half of my life.

Celebrate the Powerful Women in Your Life {Zenni Optical Giveaway}

This is a sponsored post created in partnership with Zenni Optical. As always, all opinions are my very own.

Women leaders are everywhere - in our government, in our community, maybe even in your own house! They see the big picture for success – for themselves or others – and have the courage and strength to get the job done. When I think of women leaders, I think of women like Hillary Clinton, Indira Gandhi and Melinda Gates. Whether you agree with their views or not, there is no doubt of the success and power they wield within our world.

As women, at least in my own experience, the battle is almost always uphill.  Men entered the workforce first. Men rose to power first. Men made the rules. But when women began to enter the workforce in droves during World War II, the world was forever changed. Not that there weren't powerful and successful women before that. There have always been the wise women that have guided the world, sometimes from behind their husbands or fathers when necessary. But before the war, it was uncommon for women to work outside the home (again, NOT a deal breaker for power or success).

Snow Days . . .An Evolution in Parenting

The promise of a snow day. . .Will it? Won't it? How much? As a kid, I can remember how exciting it was to have school closed for snow. Spending the day with my mom (my dad always had to work), getting bundled up into snow clothes and just playing all day long. I am sure if I asked my former-teacher mother about those snow days, she would have different memories.

With my own kids there was a time, when they were babies and I worked for large companies outside of the home, that I would be panicked by a snow day. What if day care was closed? How was I going to get to work? Let's be honest, in the United States, we talk a good game about family values, bu very few companies (if any) truly support them. It was enough t o cause a sleepless night, a frantic white-knuckle drive and sometimes, a faked sick-day. A mother has to do what she has to do.

Then there was the looming day ahead . . . a day full of trying to entertain a toddler or pre-schooler. It's not easy, you will never hear me say that. In hindsight, I probably didn't take as much joy in those days as I should have. They were precious in my busy office-job life. 

These days, I work from home, so my commute is very short. I don't have to shovel out. If the kids are off from school, I can let them sleep in and plan a day of french toast (provided I went to the store for milk, bread and eggs), video games, puzzles and jaunts into the snow. Because my kids are older, there isn't even the hassle of helping them into and out of snow clothes - only the occasional snow pant tucking, or glove pulling.

Maybe it has more to do with me and my attitude . . .with age comes wisdom, right? And as we work at this parenting thing through the years, I like to think we get better at it. We learn to not sweat the small stuff - like a snow day - but save it for the big stuff, like learning to drive and first dates.

So today, I'm pouring another cup of coffee, comfy in my pajamas and re-evaluating my to-do list. I am sure there are several things that are really not mandatory for today and I can put off until tomorrow, when everyone is back at school, and order returns to my routine. For today, it's a snow day, and I many need to get out and play.

catch you soon -

Slowing Down ~ Reflections on Being Unstoppable {#unstoppablemoms}

I don't know about you, but this time of the year fills me with reflection and a yearning to make positive changes in the year to come. When I look back at all the things I accomplished this year, I am filled with gratitude for the friends and family that support me, including you reading this blog.

I wrote this post as part of my participation in a blog tour for The Motherhood on behalf of the makers of Children’s MOTRIN® and received compensation to thank me for taking the time to participate. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

There's no doubt that being an Unstoppable Mom can be exhausting! But just like everything else, that doesn't stop us right? The show must go on.

This year was a whirlwind of new things for us as a family. Our oldest son began and fell in love with a new sport, Lacrosse. So not only was I a Baseball Mom last spring, but a Lacrosse Mom as well. And let me tell you about the learning curve. I know nothing about Lacrosse, so it's all new to me. What's a Midi? Why is the goal so small? He's planning on playing in two leagues this coming spring, so I still have some time to learn!

Our youngest son moved up to a new school this year, so he's experiencing all the joys and fears of being in a new and bigger place. He adjusted so quickly and is having such a great year. And how come even when we know they are adjusting and doing well, it doesn't stop us from worrying or from asking them a million times, "How's it going? Do you know where the nurse's office is?"

And for me this year, I discovered the benefits of incorporating Essential Oils into our journey toward a healthier lifestyle. So in between blogging and my wonderful social media clients, I'm learning about how essential oils work and sharing their benefits with family and friends.

So see, part of being an Unstoppable Mom, is going with the flow and experiencing the new things to the fullest. Sometimes it's so easy to be afraid of change or the new things that come into our lives, but they are what keeps us moving forward! 2014 was a wonderful year and I have much to be thankful for. I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store for me, and with all of you and your wonderful #UnstoppableMoms tips, I know it's going to be great!

Did you know that the makers of Children's MOTRIN® are also inspired by all the things we moms do? We may not always realize it, but we moms ARE amazing in so many ways! We're on call day and night and have so much unique knowledge that can really help other moms. That's my favorite part of being a blogger - helping other moms and women just like me. That's why the makers of Children's MOTRIN® are asking moms like you and me to share this knowledge in the form of tips and tricks that help keep us going! These can be your own tips or those from other moms you know, and can be about everything from how you create a quick meal for your family to how you keep your kids entertained on a long drive.

The makers of Children's MOTRIN® are asking moms like you to post your tips and tricks to the MOTRIN® Facebook Page under each week's Kelly Ripa question video. For EVERY POST, Children's MOTRIN® will donate $1 to Safe Kids Worldwide, a global nonprofit that provides moms with the tips they need to help keep their children safe. You could even win a giveaway for $100 gift card just for posting! *

Good luck, and let me know how you stayed unstoppable this year?

catch you soon -
*No purchase necessary, open to legal residents of the 50 US & DC, 18 and older. Void where prohibited. Promotion ends 11:59p ET on 12/28/2014. Sponsor will donate $1 for each approved submission made as part of the promotion, with a minimum donation of $30,000 and a maximum donation of $50,000. For official rules and complete details, visit www.unstoppablemoms.com. Sponsor: McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNeil-PPC, Inc. To learn more aboutSafe Kids Worldwide, visit safekids.org

A Look Back at Nineteen Years of Marriage

 I was not one of those little girls that dreamed about getting married. I didn't play "bride" and I'm not even sure my Barbie had a wedding dress (she MUST have - right?). But despite all that, I am lucky enough to be celebrating 19 years of marriage today - to the same man. That's a long time, and I am a lucky girl.

I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by friends and family that have had both successful and happy marriages, and some not-so-great marriages. I have friends going through really terrible divorces, and my heart aches for them. Not because my situation is so storybook (because it isn't - marriage is hard yo), but because the process of ending something and beginning new can be hard and scary. There is something for me to learn form all of them, and I'm grateful.

John and I met, in the parking lot of The Philadelphia Art Museum, on a January night in 1991. We were both attendees of a very memorable ski trip, organized by a mutual friend - we had never met before. He wasn't my typical "type" at the time, which is probably why it all worked out so well. Four years later, he proposed at the top of the Empire State Building and I said YES. That was before Twitter or Instagram - so there are no "selfies" from the event. But I remember it, as if it was yesterday. Down to the gigantic issue of Modern Bride I bought at the newsstand on the street the very same day.

We planned a fall wedding, and in front of family and friends exchanged our vows. We are both children of divorce, so whether that has impacted the way we approach marriage or not, I don't know. Marriage isn't easy, and we have had our share of issues. We work them out - together.

We have two wonderful boys and we work together to give our kids all the love and protection we can, with a supportive and nurturing extended family. I remember the first day we brought Ryan home from the hospital, set him on the coffee table and looked at each other, "What do we do now?" I asked him. We are very lucky, and I know that, even on days when I take it all for granted.

I am not the perfect wife - I probably never will be. But I work hard for the life and family that we have together. The love I feel is deeper than I can find the words to describe and to me, that is really what marriage is all about.

So dear reader, are you married? How long have you been married?

catch you soon -

Finding Yourself - My Journey to Mindfulness

Somewhere in the middle of being a mother, wife, consultant, friend, volunteer and everything else, I've lost myself. Or I should say, I've lost touch with myself. There's precious little time for dreaming and just being and both of those things are crucial to a full well-rounded life.

This feeling of "unrest" or "restlessness" has been brewing for a while. Feeling overwhelmed by the day to day demands of my life. Not taking time for myself. And that's a choice - let me make that clear, my husband and kids fully support me doing my own thing. I just got into a cycle of putting everyone's needs before my own, and lost touch with myself.

So part of my journey this year, is to get back in touch with myself. What are my dreams? Where are John and I headed as our kids grow up and become more independent? It will be wonderful to spend time together as a couple, without our focus being on the kids.

So how am I getting back in touch with myself?

• Sticking to "office hours" as much as possible.
• Saying "yes" more to playing with my kids.
• Stopping what I'm doing to really listen to how the kids and John's day was.
• Making time for "couple time".

You could say that I'm becoming more "mindful". . .attempting to be more in the moment rather than rushing off to the next thing. But as I get older, I realize that we won't always be around, and I don't want to miss anything. I am blessed with this wonderful family around me, even when it's difficult. But it's all part of the journey.

When you feel at odds, how to do you "regroup" and get back in touch with yourself?

catch you soon -

5 Benefits of Family Video Game Time

Video games get a lot of negative attention these days. Too much screen time can be detrimental to physical activity and other mental stimulus (like reading). But there are also benefits to the strategy and hand-eye coordination that video games teach, not to mention what playing games (even video games) as a family can do for family wellness.

The kids recently purchased the Lego Marvel SuperHeros game for our WiiU. Owen needed someone to play with, so I stepped in. I am no gamer. The kids laugh because I am typically the player pushing all the buttons and trying to figure out which one is making me jump. (then I fall off the plane anyway) But I realized that in playing this game, we were working together. Ryan came in to offer tips and encouragement, and even John had to help us get through a few levels.

It became a family game. And we were playing it a LOT. I worried about too much screen time, but the benefits we were getting seemed to outweigh the negatives. Plus with all that snow, outside, we weren't going anywhere. So I did a little research on how playing games as a family made us better  people and a better family unit.

Here are 5 Benefits of Family Video Game Time that I came up with:

1.  Opening up communication. It may not be easy to talk to your child about how they problem-solve on the playground over the dinner table. But if you are Captain America, and your child is Hulk, you can get a glimpse into their problem solving and strategy skills.

2.  Family bonding. Sometimes it's not easy to find common ground with your kids (especially when they become tweens and teens). Playing a game together can be that common ground, and give everyone a space to bond.

3.  Getting physical, improving balance and coordination. With active games like XBox Kinect and WiiU, you can walk tight ropes, dodge soccer balls and have a dance party. When you play with your kids you can all improve your skills together - watch as everyone's best scores rise with more practice.

4.  Hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Some of these game require hand movements while keeping your eyes firmly on the screen. With full-body motion on some games, you can even work up a bit of sweat trying to keep it all together.

5.  Using our brains. Gone are the days where a video game is simply pushing a button repeatedly. Many games include strategy, logic and reasoning skills. While this a great thing for our kids, let's not lose sight of the fact that using our brains, can help keep us sharp as we age.

Do you play video games with your kids? What's your favorite right now? How do you think they benefit your family?

catch you soon -

Snow, Ice and Power Outages - My Family's Story

I like to think of myself as a pretty prepared person. We have lanterns, extra batteries, food and bottled water. I keep gas in the car, and if I raid the kids' piggy banks, I can come up with some cash on hand as well. Where we live in Pennsylvania rarely sees true "disasters". We are very, very fortunate.

But the world is changing and the weather is getting wilder. We rode out Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, we lost a refrigerator of food to a previous long-term/warm-weather power outage, but than our lucky stars, that's about it.

This time, as the temperature in our house dropped and the news was reporting ever growing numbers of people without power, I knew we had to get out of dodge. It would take PECO and the wonderful volunteer lineman and crews that came here a while to restore all that power (my guess was 3-5 days). I knew that, because my dad used to be one of those guys and I can appreciate all their hard-work. 

One of the kids had a friend over on Wednesday, so my plan to flee was slightly delayed, which worked out well. As we hunkered in on Wednesday in sweatshirts and under blankets, I made my plan to flee in between playing games. We're lucky that my parents live close enough to go to, but far enough not to be affected by the same situation (this time).

I put 5 freezer bags of snow in my refrigerator in hopes of  not having to toss everything in there when the power got restored. I had some ice packs in my freezer already.  I also didn't open the doors more than necessary.

We each packed a bag to get us through that day and 2 more. I figured if necessary, I could take a trip back or do laundry at my mom's. Pillows? Check. Books, gadgets and chargers? Check.

We were off.

Well, for about 20 minutes through unplowed, snow-covered streets, littered with fallen limbs, until I realized I had left my purse with my driver's license, cash and credit, at home. We turned around, and did that white-knuckle gauntlet two more times before we got to the outer edges of the ice storm damage.

It was smooth sailing into New Jersey - in fact, I couldn't believe we had left the set of "Frozen" and driven into a green/brown landscape. My dad was bringing home dinner as we arrived - perfect timing.

My parents fed us and entertained us for three days and two nights, wile we waited for PECO to restore our power. I poured over the internet, looking for information about our area. I checked our Township Facebook page every ten minutes to follow what was going on. Will there be school? When will the power go back on? The questions far out-weighed the answers. John stayed behind, needing to be at work, and also to watch over the house.

Our story had a happy ending. We got power back late Thursday night, and the kids and I returned home Friday evening. The kids missed school on Friday - they had a delayed opening, but we just couldn't get back in time. Many of my neighbors and friends are still without power, going on 5 days, so I know how lucky we are.

But I still had this strange sense of being a refugee, forced to flee my home, with an uncertain future. It made me realize (as so many of life's moments have the power to do) how lucky we are, and how much we need each other. We're a family - no matter where we are, or what we go through. We work best as a team.

catch you soon -

Gratitude and Taking Time to Tell Others That They are Awesome

"It's the small things."

We've all heard it, many of us have probably said it. But what does it mean? What are those "small things?" I think of it as gratitude. We all have so many things to be grateful for, even on our worst day. A sun to warm the earth (if you really need to stretch to think of something), a polite sales person, children that clean up their toys (a mom can dream-right?).

All of these things are small things that we can be grateful for. A few years ago, my One Little Word was "gratitude" and I used a gratitude journal app to record something I was grateful for each day. Oprah started this "trend" several years ago, as a way to see the world around you and take in the "bigger picture."

So now that we're grateful for people in our lives, how do we thank them? Thank you notes, while still important, are a bit "old school". And it seems too stuffy to break out an ivory engraved card to say thanks to your husband for picking up your favorite dress at the dry cleaners. But just saying "thanks" isn't always enough.

So how about if you left him this?

How fun could that be? This is just one of 50 perforated sheets in the new book (FYI I received a copy of this little book to share) by Alexandra Franzen, "50 Ways to Say You're Awesome". Not only are there 50 of these cool tear-out notes, but she also gives you suggestions of how to use them. It's a fun and colorful book with endless possibilities for paying it forward.

Think about all the possibilities of saying "Thank you - you rock!" The book would make a wonderful birthday, shower or anniversary gift too.

What are some unique ways you've told people they're awesome?

catch you soon -

disclosure - I received a copy of the book mentioned above to facilitate this post. I was not compensated for my time nor for this post, and as always all opinions are my very own.

#vlogmom | Mother's Day

This week's #vlogmom prompt was a group effort from all the moms at #vlogmom:

"Give us your thoughts and insights on Mother's Day"

So here are some of my thoughts and insights on Mother's Day:



What do you think about Mother's Day?

catch you soon -

#vlogmom | Growing Pains

This week's #vlogmom prompt comes from Kelli, who blogs at Momma Needs A Beer. Kelli asked us, "What is something you've outgrown?"

Here's my take on how I've evolved as a person . . . or not. . .



So share with us, what is something you've outgrown?

catch you soon -

If I Were President. . .

Photo courtesy of Dresden from www.creatingmotherhood.com

Madam President. . .

My friend Jessica over at Found the Marbles, had an idea for a great link up today in honor of President's Day:

"If YOU were President, what laws would you pass?"

How many times do you say, "there ought to be a law. . ." only to remember that there IS in fact a law. . .like using your turn signal - come on people - EVERY car comes with them - STANDARD.

But sometimes, there isn't a law, and there really should be. So for a minute, let's imagine I had Super Powers to pass laws with no regard for the House or Senate. . .what would I pass you ask?

There Ought To Be A Law - When the sign says, "10 items or less" it MEANS 10 items or LESS.

There Ought To Be A Law - No Uggs with shorts.

There Ought To Be A Law - You can only use ONE parking space per vehicle (hmm that might already BE a law - hard to tell some days)

There Ought To Be A Law - Clipping your nails and other personal grooming habits should ONLY happen in private places - not on say, a train.

There Ought To Be A Law - No Line Cutting - wait your turn like everyone else. This law should apply to ANY line - people, cars, etc.

There Ought To Be A Law - Everyone should get to go to Disney at least once.


So tell me readers, if YOU had super Presidential Powers - what laws would YOU make?

catch you soon -

One Little Word 2013 - Check In

Since this is the sixth week of 2013, I thought it was time to check in with my One Little Word and see how it's going.

If you recall, my chosen word for the year is FOCUS. My overall goal is to try to focus on the things that are most important to me. To let other things go, and not get mired and caught up in things that truly don't matter to the big picture.

In the first six weeks of the year, I have chosen to focus on a few things:

Fitness and Health - I am walking 1-3 times a week, incorporating yoga into my routine, attempting to remember to do a #plankaday, drinking more water and remembering to take my vitamins. While none of this is new or earth-shattering. . .I am "focused" on these few things for ling-term change and benefit.

Career - I have kept up with my Editorial Calendar for my blog, falling into a Meal Plan Monday and #vlogmom Thursday posting ritual, while preparing additional content for the other weekdays.  I am using a Daily Hit List to keep up with daily to-dos. I need to better focus on acquiring a few new social media clients, and writing gigs.

Family - I have kept up with meal planning, and incorporated a monthly calendar into my routine for long-range planning. Meal planning saves us time and money and is a definite win. We are working on more family time, relaxing and just hanging out and enjoying each other more often. Trying to focus on just being a family.

These are the three areas I've worked on my FOCUS for so far in 2013. I believe in making a few well-chosen long-range goals, then taking small focused steps to achieve them. Life is constantly throwing us curves, and we need to remain mindful of our goals, and think about the best way to navigate the curves and get back on track.

Did you set goals, make resolutions or chose One Little Word for 2013? If so, I'd love to hear how you are doing and how you keep yourself "focused" on achievement.

catch you soon -

#vlogmom | My Teenage Life

This week's #vlogmom prompt comes from Jenn over at MommyB Knows Best.  Jenn asked us, "What three things would you tell your teenage self if you could go back in time?"

A totally fun question - right?  Here's what I would tell that young woman. . .



So tell me. . .what would tell YOUR 16 year old self?

catch you soon -

'Tis the Season?

I was out at a local mall today shopping with a friend. . .and I witnessed quite a scene.


We were in a nice, nationally known store, browsing around.  A saleswoman asked "What she could help me with?"  I replied I was fine thanks, just browsing and off I went.

Next thing I knew I could hear a man's voice arguing about the store's Guarantee Policy.  The saleswoman very politely and knowledgeably explained to him that the guarantee was for any product defect, not normal wear and tear.  He continued to argue with the woman, that these slippers were 12 years old and worth $100.  She looked up the number (from the inside of the slippers) in the computer, rebuffing his rude comments, and explained to him that number in the computer showed that pair of slippers for $34.00.

Well, the situation escalated, both of them becoming more frustrated, with the man finally telling her to "stop blathering at him",  and she finally lost her composure.  They bickered for a few moments, he became very calm again once he realized he had her upset.  He asked for a card, she asked him to please leave the store.   He continued to argue and she called security.  When security arrived, he spoke with the saleswoman and finally convinced the man to leave the store.  The man was still talking to security when I finally left the store.  The poor saleswoman was in tears and fearful of losing her job.

Obviously, this is a shortened version of the situation - and only what I over-heard and deduced as my girlfriend and I lurked around in the corner with a few other customers feeling awkward.

I understand the gentleman's frustration . . .however, he acted rudely and belligerently.  The saleswoman was polite and patient, while explaining the policy repeatedly for far longer than I would have been able to.

What's the "right" thing here? I think the unhappy customer should have left - taking their slippers, and tried again, perhaps when a store manager was working.  The saleswoman kindly offered to call customer support for them right there in the store, but they kept arguing with her and I think she finally hung up.  He was a large man, and I also think the other salesperson in the store should have called security earlier in the situation.

What about the customers? The man asked a couple of customers for their opinion on the situation, and the Saleswoman asked him to please not bother the other customers.  The customers said they couldn't help him.

Have you been in a situation like this? I have worked in retail and dealt with unhappy customers.  I have also been an unhappy customer and asked to speak with a manager.  Was it just a case of having a "bad day"?  Is the customer really always right?

catch you soon -

Grocery Store Man Aisles - Brilliant or Insulting?

After I dropped the kids off at camp this morning, I was listening to Morning Living (Martha Stewart Radio) and Betsy and Brian were discussing "The Man Aisle" . . . apparently a grocery store in NYC created a "Man Aisle" to help men shopping for their families.  I needed to learn more. . .

Google search "man aisle" and you get 5 million results.  Seriously??

A photo in the Huffington Post, indicates the aisle is stocked with chips, sugary cereal, BBQ Sauce, Beer cookies and more.  Not a piece of fruit or vegetable to be seen.

So if studies show that more men are doing the grocery shopping for their families. . .is this helpful? And why is it necessary? Are we assuming men can't find their way around the store? John is quite capable of going to the store, finding what we need and bringing it home.  Not only that, he can kick my butt in cooking it too.

Now I have friends that will put "diced tomatoes" on their list.  The husband gets to the store and is overwhelmed by the selection of canned tomatoes.  If he isn't the regular shopper - give the guy a break - there are a LOT to choose from.  Is that an excuse? No. . .it depends on how you divide responsibilities in your house.  John may not know what brand of diced tomatoes I prefer, but I don't know what kind of oil is in the car. (ok he doesn't either, but that's a different post)

So what do you think? Should grocery stores be more "gender neutral"? Are we taking this all WAY too far? Are we being "mean" or "insensitive" to men?

What say you? Please leave some thoughts - here or over on Facebook and let's talk.

catch you soon -

Finding your "IT"

Last night I was talking about life with some really smart, really good friends.  We started talking about "it". . .you know, "it". . .when you make it. . .when you've gotten to where you want to be.

I looked at my friends and said, "It isn't something static.  My 'it' is a moving target, it's not the same today as it was a year ago."

Going to college and coming of age in the late 80's/early 90's, we had a goal.  Graduate college, get a job, make a lot of money, eventually get married and have a family.  You went to college with a purpose - to be a Journalist, an Accountant, a History Teacher.  There didn't seem to be any options - this was the path I was on and everyone I knew was on.  There was always the military and a few other options, but seriously there was one main path.

I don't know about you, but life doesn't seem so clear cut these days.  First of all there's a lot less money for kids to go to college.  Those graduation jobs are elusive and don't pay what many recent grads expect.  Marriage and family? Maybe. Is it just because I am older (maybe even wiser?)?

Perhaps it's just a mid-life crossroad or reflection on my part.  But my past "it", the one I always thought I wanted. . .isn't anywhere near what my "it" is right now.  The "it" I have right now, the me of 1995 couldn't even imagine would be a possibility or something I would want.

I guess what I'm saying is "Don't Go Chasin Waterfalls". . .that "it" that you've been after. . .may not REALLY be what you want.

What's your "it" right now?

catch you soon -