Every Day, I'm Hustling

Today, is Day 3 of my 30 days of hustle project, which as I explain in this post, is to write for at least 30 minutes every day for the next 30 days. Specifically, I need to spend time keeping up with this blog and other writing projects. Here's how this works: Each day, I get an email from Jon Acuff, author of New York Times Bestseller START. Each day, his email gives me an assignment toward reaching my goal.

Here's my overview:
Day 1: Determine what one thing to do in the next 30 days. I'm going to spend 30 minutes every day working on my blog and other writing projects.

Day 2: Why am I doing this? I'm doing this because being a writer is one of my dreams, but I've been too busy or lazy to really make writing a priority.

Day 3: How? To achieve my goal, I will: 1. Wake up by 5:30 every morning. 2. Set a timer to go off at 30 minutes. 3. Write first, edit later.

So far, I've been pretty good at getting up early. I have written 30 minutes each day, and I'm working on the editing piece. I'm a perfectionist, and before I type or write sentences, I usually have mulled them over and over in my head. Sometimes, if I'm not convinced that what I'm writing is perfect, I will not write it down for fear that it's not worth writing. If I've learned anything though, it's that doing is always better than intention. So, with that in mind, I'm working hard on letting go and just writing what comes out. As my creative writing professor told me in college: "Most of what you write will be garbage, but in the midst of all that garbage will be a few golden nuggets worth keeping."

I'm setting my fears aside and putting myself out there, and I hope to see results. One thing I do know is that I'll never be a writer if I never write. Here's to living out my dreams!

Kimberly

Meant for Good

Five years ago, I hated my job. I had spent the past year and a half working in electronic banking. Who knew an English degree would land me a job in electronic banking? Anyway, the job was pretty neat and interesting at first, and it was paying the bills, but after some changes in management and a new supervisor who was clueless and unwilling to learn, working there became unbearable. I remember telling God every day how much I hated my job. I told him so much and so often, that He finally took it away from me (read: I was fired).

God warned me though. It's one of the few times that I knew clearly that something would happen. It was so clear in my spirit that I could feel it, which is why the news wasn't so shocking when it happened. I was relieved.

The day I was fired, I was making plans to go to an interview in my hometown in Georgia. I was in Louisiana at the time, and I was stressed out about two things: 1. Asking for time off and 2. Getting a flight to Georgia. Thankfully, I decided not to fly because time suddenly opened up for me to drive home. As far as asking for time off, I did ask my supervisor for time off, and she said it would be fine. It was kinda dirty to make me work the whole day though, but anyway.

Word travelled fast about my firing. My old supervisor (who hired me for the position, but then left due to management changes) called me almost immediately after it happened to give me advice on what I could do or should do. She encouraged me to talk to HR to ask for the chance to resign instead, which I did, so officially I resigned.

I was reading about Joseph today, and it reminded me of this situation. First of all, I think Joseph was kind of a punk and that's what got him thrown in a pit and sold as a servant. He was a bit prideful about his visions in the beginning even though they were true. I mean he was already the favorite and now he's saying he's gonna rule over all of them. Anyway, after Joseph becomes powerful and rescues his family from famine, Joseph's brothers were worried that once their father died, Joseph would treat them harshly or kill them. Instead, Joseph tells them not to worry because what they did to harm him, God meant for good (Genesis 50:20-21).

I didn't see it while it was happening, but God meant my firing for good. Shortly after I was fired, I had found a new job (not the one that I interviewed the week I was fired). The person who fired me was fired because after I left, some of the essential processes were not being done because I was not given the opportunity to adequately train someone else to do my job. I wouldn't say that I'm glad she lost her job, but it did pave the way for my hard-working co-worker to take on a supervisory role, which makes me glad. She deserved that position in the first place, so I feel like God set things right.

As for me, I was set on a trajectory that took me from testing to advising to becoming an advising coordinator. I also left a relationship and eventually met the one meant for me. I can clearly see that what others meant to harm me, God meant for good. And I have this great life lesson to pass on to others about setbacks and journeys.

Kimberly

Sick Days and Snow Days

The past few weeks have gone by pretty fast and quite slowly. I was doing pretty well with keeping up with my workout routine, but then I got sick and took a few weeks off. Then, Snowmageddon 2014 hit Atlanta, and everything just stopped. I was still battling my cold, but luckily I had a few days to rest. I still have a residual cough that's driving me nuts, but hopefully, I can start running again next week.

Mostly, what I've been doing is thinking about life. My life. Our life. And I can't help but feeling how small my life feels sometimes. I'm not dissatisfied really. I have a lot of things to be happy and thankful for. I guess sometimes, things don't turn out the way that I envisioned. I can't really put my finger on this feeling or what's causing it. I just feel a little stuck or lost. Anyway, what I need to do is get back on track with my 30 before 30 goals. I've got a lot crossed out, but a long way to go and only 192 to get things done.

To help keep me motivated, I've joined Jon Acuff's 30 Days of Hustle with the goal of spending at least 30 minutes every day writing on the blog and on other projects. My biggest struggle is that I have something that I've need to write for a long time. It's been on my heart for a year maybe. It's just so personal, and I cry every time I try to write, and then I just stop because I don't know how to continue. I hope that I can power through.

No time like the present I guess. Time to get to work.

Kimberly

In the Moment

After some good times with family and friends to ring in the new year, it is now back to reality. My reality was waking up at 5:45 AM, reading, then waking up again at 7:20 with my iPad on my chest, my husband snoring beside me, and my dog keeping my feet warm. And I did not want to leave. This is not a good start to my day or year, but that's okay because it's behind me, and I'm now ready to move on.

This year, my resolution is to be present, in the moment, and taking things one day at a time. I want to spend more time with people, more time living, and less time thinking and dreaming. I also have some goals for myself, which are all basically improvement in each area of life--spiritual, physical, emotional, social, and financial.

I chose my resolution and theme of the year because of my planner. My planner only has space for two days at a time. At first, I was a bit concerned because I like seeing a whole week at a time. Then, I thought that this could be a good reminder to take things day by day and to focus on one day at a time before worrying about the next.

Here's to moving forward and doing better.

Kimberly

So Long 2013, Hello 2014!

In a few hours, the new year will be here, and I'm so excited. So, today here's just a little reflection on this year.

2013 is the year:

• I married my love.
• I took Mike on his first cruise.
• Painted my first painting worth hanging up.
• I challenged myself to the 30 Before 30 Challenge.
• We adopted a new cat, Oliver.
• Josey grew into the big girl that she is.
• I visited my birthplace in Virginia.
• I went to New York and experienced the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade first hand.
• Mike and I shared our first married Christmas.
• Mike and I share our first New Year's Eve together.

Now, the year in pictures.




Couple's Shower February 9, 2013



Our Wedding Day- March 2, 2013




My First Painting Class

Josey is so big now!

Oliver is the orphan we found under Mike's car.



Oliver's favorite hiding place.

Josey stealing hearts and covers since December 2012.



Oliver and Butterscotch getting along.

Fun at the Air and Space Museum in Hampton, VA.

The only picture of Peter on our whole trip to New York. He was noble enough to go home and take care of the break-in at my parents house.

Thanksgiving Parade Fun.

Our first Christmas.

Here's to an awesome 2014!!

Kimberly