So, am I allowed to change my word for the year? because everything in my life is now pointing to RISE… and less to SEEK.

The catalyst was last night, when I received a package from Barnes and Noble. I don’t order from B&N. It’s not that I don’t shop in their stores; I think I even have an account. But I could not remember ordering something – and since I never (or rarely) do, then I kind of figured I would remember it.

And there, in the package, was a book from one of my mentors and guides on this journey of life.

It is titled The Rise, and it is authored by Sarah Lewis. The subtitle? Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery. 

The gift of failure. I can’t tell you how that phrase spoke to me. In the last 3 years – since I left my first University position for one that was, quite frankly, a huge mistake, I have felt like a failure. I felt like I completely betrayed my values, my family, my goals, and my vision for my life. I felt as though I had failed in that first position, so I jumped rather than trying to figure out how to make it better – how to make it work for me.

And then I failed again.

And again when I took another job that wasn’t right for me.

I spent so much time denying who I was, and what I love, that I failed over and over and over again.

And then I realized, in the last 6 months, that I needed to have those failures, that I needed to go through those unimportant-to-everyone-else-but-important-to-me changes, crises, and shifts, to get where I am today.

And I am in the right place. At the right time. Doing the right things. I have affirmation of that every single day. Both within me – in the deepening sense of contentment that I am in the right place at the right time – and from others, who are immensely supportive of and enthusiastic about what I am doing.

I am rising.
I am strong.
I am taking back my life.
Moving forward.

So while I am still seeking, I’d like to think that for now – for this year, 2019 – I am rising.
I am rising from those failures, and moving on.

I’m starting a new thing (I know! Crazy!). I joined this group called the Peaceful Posse on Facebook; it’s a bunch of bloggers who try to take a more positive perspective on life. I read several of the blogs of the leaders, and one weekly practice they have is to write and share a weekly gratitude post.
I’m not quite ready to share (I don’t know how many people I’d actually want reading my rambles!) but I do want to move into a place where I am more regularly expressing gratitude for all the good in my life. So here we go… for last week (2/10-2/16):

• My mother in law continues to recover amazingly well from her recent femur fracture, surgery, and stint in rehab. She is a rock star. 
• The bus drivers, plow people, and others who do their jobs so that I can get to mine. With the snow we have had this winter, this is especially clear to me! 
• Having parents I love to talk to – and getting the opportunity to do so regularly. 
• This is going to sound awful, but… having a concert that we were supposed to attend Tuesday (Elton John… a true bucket list item!) rescheduled to October. It’ll be on a Saturday – not a weekday – and it’s a better time of year to travel, particularly to Milwaukee. And, selfishly, I could use the time in the office. I hate to say it, but it’s true…
• Submitting another pilot proposal last week. I’m still astonished that I seem to know what I want to do now. What a concept. 😉 
• Ordered new towels. 
• Caffeine. Always always always. 
• Three wonderful meetings with students – Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday! Monday’s was particularly awesome – a student who is SO energetic, engaged and interested. I loved talking to her and I can’t wait to talk more. My honors student, who is also a rock star. And a student from last semester with whom I share a connection…and, dare I say it, may be becoming… a friend? 

On my way in to work this morning, I was struck by two things…
1. It was a beautiful morning. It’s snowing. We have about 5-6 inches on the ground. But it’s not cold. It’s not super-windy (yet… I think that comes later…). And you know what? It’s February. In Wisconsin. it’s supposed to snow. And it was beautiful and quiet and peaceful.

2. I am so, so grateful for the random people who do their jobs so that I can get to mine. No, I probably didn’t HAVE to be in the office today. I could have rescheduled my meeting. I didn’t have to be here to get work done. But I wanted to meet with my student. I wanted to see her face when we talk about her next steps and how I hope I can help her achieve them. I wanted to see my coworkers (this, for me, is a big big step!). And I’m so grateful… to the bus driver. The guy who always, always, has the longest stretch of sidewalk that I have to walk on to get to the bus stop cleared. The people who clear the paths here at the University. The people who cleaned the building last night (and, thank you, emptied my recycling bin, which was embarrassingly full…). They do their jobs, and then I can come do mine, and work with my student. I don’t know the name of the bus driver – although it’s a goal, since I see him every day! I don’t know the name of the random snowblower dude. I don’t know who they are – but I am so grateful to them.

So that’s how I’m starting my day. And you know what? there is something beautiful in every day. I need to seek that out – to shift my mindset from “I have to” to “I get to”. I know about 10 years behind the trends here on gratitude and thankfulness, but.. it makes such a difference to come in to work with a smile and a mental “thanks” to all who helped me get here.

Now time to get that work started…