Encouragement

This blog post is the third installment of a collaborative 5-part series entitled The Mother Within. Start at the beginning here. I graduated college in California in 2008, just as the economy was beginning its downward slide. I loved the design degree I was earning and had numerous interviews throughout the state that would hopefully jump-start my career in the field. But one-by-one they called me back to cancel the interviews. As the economy crashed their workload disappeared almost overnight. No work meant there was no need for any new employees. A few months later I was on my way to living in Louisiana.   I got an internship and I was happy to have work. But I still needed another part-time job to...

This blog post is the second installment of a collaborative 5-part series entitled The Mother Within. Start at the beginning here. "Am I enough?"  "What's my purpose?" "Can I have it all?" Questions we may all ask ourselves at some point in our lives, no matter our situation. These arise when we doubt ourselves, compare ourselves to others, experience fear, feel like we're stuck in a rut, or just want to be better. This was the topic of a recent group discussion within RSMB, which included mothers from all walks of life, leading us to believe this is a very common thought process.   While it has been my choice to share my time between work and family, I have had moments where I ask myself...

This blog post is the first installment of a collaborative 5-part series entitled The Mother Within.  "What is my purpose?" I must ask myself this countless times a day. I know I must be good at something. Everyone has something they are good at, I’ve heard. I once listed out the things I felt I excelled out and came up with: Googling, reading, finding indie bands, dressing my kids, putting on makeup (on myself only), looking up various things on Google Earth and decorating my home. That’s it. SURELY there are real things that I have talent in. I just can’t for the life of me find what they are. I have always felt that I was meant for great things. Even as a small...

In our little family, fitness and being active is a non-negotiable. Throughout middle, high school, and even college I've dabbled in softball, track and field, basketball and my personal favorite, competitive dance. I couldn't wait for my son to turn three (!!!) so I could watch him run up, down, and around the soccer field. In his six years, he's played soccer, basketball, and baseball and I didn't want to just be a bystander. With him being an only child, he needs someone to practice dribbling and passing with. If my husband and I didn't make working out a priority, we wouldn't be able to do it. In high school, we started dance practice with running two miles. In college,...

I'm not sure that I've ever kept a New Year's resolution. Most years, I avoid making them to avoid the disappointment. On years that I have made them, they've been vague (lose weight, save money) and lacking conviction or plans for follow-through. But I've decided that 2017 will be my year. I will overcome the personality flaws that have blocked me from growing in the past, and I will make these goals my b...well, you know what I mean. A quick Google search on goal setting pulls up about 17 bagillion hits on the importance of setting SMART Goals. Because life wouldn't be worth living without acronyms. So, what's a SMART goal you ask? There are a few different variations,...