I wanna be like you when i grow up...

"I wanna be like you when I grow up," is something I hear from people often when I tell them my job title and where I work. The industry I am in fascinates most people.

The truth is, I don't want be like me when I grow up.

I realized I don't love what I do when I cringe inside when folks say that ever knowing quote.

At first, I was always flattered. I still am, a bit. But people don't really know what I do. They have their own vision. I have mine.

Lets get this out f the way. I AM GREATFUL. I APPRECIATE WHAT I DO. I"ve LEARNED A LOT AND AM VERY BLESSED.

But there is more to life than a title, repetitive tasks, furloughs, and benefits that I don't use cuz I don't always get sick.

The other day I wrote a list of jobs I could try out. I also made a list of what My dream job looks like. It would be awesome if one of the careers on the list coincides with my dream job characteristics.

On my vision board I wrote out(yea I write on my vision boards):

1. Opportunity to rack up a lot of sky miles - Unlimited travel, whenever I want is a must
2. Be in control of my own hours/make my own hours
3. Have great mobility. I like to move around. If its a beautiful day I like to be in it. If its rainy I like to cuddle up with the animal I am going to adopt
4. Make $500 a day. I believe in it.
5. Work less than 30 hours a week.
6. Learn to be a stronger entrepreneur and bizness owner
7. Work as if I don't have a job. I have that much fun!
8. Feel fulfilled while in this career, having fun, exploring a new wonderful world, being blessed and spontanteous!

Thats a damn good list isn't it? I know its possible and I think about it everyday.

Today I realized I am not as EXCITING as most people think. I have had two weeks off from work and I haven't done anything spectacular. Well, I haven't done anything mind bending. Okay so i have done some interesting things:

I gambled in North Carolina. Won and lost what I spent.
I went to a whiskey tasting. Not my cup o tea but fun. The guy next to me was Hilarious.
Went out to eat a few times cuz I love food
Spent time with friends
Met with my financial advisor (this kinda depressed me a bit)
I crossed a suspension bridge in Tallulah Gorge.
Finally saw Tallulah Falls.

But I expected to do some really world changing, mind blowing activities while on vacay. I have one more week to go. LIFE is meant to be LIVED so there's still time for those types of experiences.

Oh, I forgot about the CAREER list.

WARNING: My imagination is unlimited and i'm open to ANYTHING safe, fun, safe & interesting.

1. Dominatrx.
I watched an episode of "Secret Diary of a Call girl," and was impressed. Also heard an interview on Fresh Air with terry Gross with a woman who wrote a memoir about it.

2. Mary Kay Consultant.
I went to a "business meeting" about becoming apart of the pink cadillac team. It's more of an amazing company than thought before I went to the meeting. Really enthusiastic women making a way for themselves.

3. Internet Marketing. Been researching the world of Katie Frieling. Not sure what products she actually promotes but her personal development blogs and videos are uplifting.

4. A Digital Nomad or Location Independent. I read these blogs religiously: Location Independent, Nora The Professional Hobo, ( I WON A BOOK FROM DOING A SURVEY ON HER SITE!!!!) Plug In ID and the man who started it all Tim Ferris and The 4 Hour Work Week

5. A professional podcaster, blogger, and wordpress consultant. Sorry Blogger. I still love ya though! I got an answer to an Ad I placed on Craigslist. This could be the start of something freelance. Only problem is, I want to do business online, email to email. This guy insists on me calling him. I don't feel comfortable with that right now. I asked for specifics. He gave a number. Thats not specifics.

6. Personal Everything Assistant for my family member who wrote her first book. Great stuff. But no cash flow yet. It's been fun though, and I use a few of my talents in a creative way

7. Flight Attendant. I have applied so many times. I quit applying because I got the position I now have but now I'm re thingking it. That was almost 5 years ago the last time I applied. We shall see what unfolds.

8. A Healthy SkinCare affiliate and advocate. I'd like to promote positive self esteem and well being through skin care. I have acne. I deal with my face everyday, so it's something that's near and dear to me. Like they say: "Your problems are your solutions."

9. An Anonymous online novelist. I could write up my own "Secret Diary " of something eh?

10. Web site owner and designer. Believe it or not, I do OWN a website. or WEBSITES. I have three so to speak. Another passion of mine is World Music. WeGlobalMusicNetwork. Great stuff. The dream is to have this be financially lucrative and a ticket to world travel. I finally bought the .com because I want to be more serious with it. The other site is this blogs actual .com but its under construction. I also have had a hand in creating the website of a new local author. So I shall update you on thos projects as often as possible.

11. English Teacher overseas. I have applied to be a JET. Japanese teaching program. Didn't get it. Afterall there were 5,000 applicants. I applied through another program to teachin Japan and Korea. I have one more to apply for. I have been procrastinating though. My dream is not to teach but I figured its a great chance to travel.

12. FILL IN THE ________________.

So what did you think you wanted to be when you grew up? What do you do now? What are you wishing to REALLY be?

I may be ranting but I want you all (all one of you?) to see all the blessings in your life. Thats what will keep you smiling.

Thank you so much for reading this blog. I appreciate it.

Peace

Unique

Collage and Breathe ~

Yesterday I created my new vision board. A Collage of what makes me tingle with a red background. I watched a movie I LOVE while doing it to keep the good vibe up.

Afterwords I made a Lemongrass Netti pot mix and refreshed my face, my mind and my pores while listening to a spiritual podcast.

Then I meditated for about an hour or so.

I woke up ready to get some work done and while I driving to the bookshop I felt verrrry light and open. I felt damn GOOD!

Point is: every now an then you have to pamper yourself, get closer to spirit and let go in order to let new situations come in.

You don't have to do what I did at all. Whatever meditation is to you, try it and be aware of the synchronicities in your day.

Peace and Love,

Unique

Quarter Life Crisis: The Rant

The quarter life:

Out of college and in a new job. Moving up the ranks and excited about change. Looking for new ways to grow and wanting to explore what more scrumptious things life has to offer.

Ok now what? The year goes by, life continues to happen and a few things kick you in the butt. Your tired and ready for excitement. So, you search, you grind, you dream and have goals.

Ok now what? You live at home, you have no assets, you look back to highschool when you had specific goals to attain by this time and now you wonder: What the hell is going on!??

Now you search your brain for bright ideas and spontaneous actions.

Nothing.

Ok now what?

Yes, this is a rant. Maybe i'll feel better after it. Hopefully.

These feelings come and go for the majority of us. I guess it's apart of our world and helps to vibrate new desires that will change our present outlook.

Cue the corny cliche: "A new day is coming and the sun will rise again!"

Peace

Vacate Like A European

Im taking 3 weeks vacation. Well, not taking but using the hours I have earned. Gone are the days I take two or three days, or even one solid week - minus the weekend.

There are a lot of people in America that get a certain amount time off annually once we become an employee of a company or organization. Those people also accumulate time as they work.
If you accumulate and work hard and need a break, why not go for the gold and use the hours your obliged to?

I went to Jamaica about two summers ago, and met a few British citizens. They would ask me how long I'm staying in town and I would answer "oh 3 nights four days. I'll be home by Friday."

They just stared at me blankly.

So I ask them the same question. Their answer? "oh about two weeks or so." Or so? Immediately I'm thinking, wow how do or how can you afford that much time off? I was the only guest at the hotel just getting "a taste of Jamaica."

I mean how can anybody really visit an island and get to know it through and through if I'm not even staying long enough to get off the resort and explore?

So why do we Americans take such shitty breaks?

We care too much about what other people think. We also over analyze what may or may not happen while we're gone. And don't forget the folks who are just plain scared of losing their job. If they fire you while your on vacay then you didn't need to be there any way.

A vacation/time off is a great prescription for BURNOUT.

I was burnt out. Tired of the same routine and ready to shake it up a bit. So, I decided to refresh from taking a non traditionally long break.

So. How much vacation is enough?

I say take as loooong as you need. I used to think about being mindful of fellow employees, their work load, what they may or may not be able do and what not. But, that's HOGWASH.

When they are out on vacay, i'm pretty sure they are not thinking about me.



Tip #1:
Breaking away means breaking COMPLETELY away. Don't worry about the office. Like attracts like so if you worry then something drastic may happen.
I feel people will rise to the occasion and begin to be more SELF RELIANT. And if something does happen then it's supposed to. Leave it alone.

Some people take a hiatus, a gap year, a mental break (because the doctor says so), or do months or a year long work related break or job in some other city.

Tip #2
There are all kinds of break away opportunities. I had a former employee who went away on a fellowship for a year. She broke away from our office into another one. Gaining experience she can bring back to help us grow. (though she never came back. lol)
Then there's the hiatus. That's time off for specific reasons, mostly a huge SICK LEAVE opportunity but why wait til you get ill or a family member gets ill? That's not a vacation. YOU DESERVE BETTER. Another popular break is a GAP YEAR. Usually recent highschool or college graduates take a gap year abroad and explore the globe before buckling down into a "scheduled" life of classes or cubicle life.

Tip #3
What do you need? A mental break? An island oasis? Family time? Answer that question first then plan (a bit)how long YOU believe YOU need to take care of YOURSELF. I decided on three weeks because after 5 days I still need time to amp myself back up to going back to the office. One week is enough to relax, but another is added to change some thoughts and habits. The third week is to put the new me all together.

Tip #4
Employment is shaky in this part of the world and folks are being fired, furloughed or just plain QUITTING. If one of the above, use a long time off to make smooth transitions into another job or frame of mind. With furloughs, you can combine your furlough days with your LEAVE HOURS and make, making no money worth your time. I have been furloughed 4 days already and (tentatively) have 2 more days to go.
If fired, most people panic; But this is the best time to try something new. Delve deeper into a hobby that can become a new living or take a class and learn something (there are free courses for those with little budgets). Take a break before hitting the pavement and clear your head. It's a chance TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE!
Quitting a job means its a done deal. You've had enough. Lets say you have a new job. Why quit one day and get back in the office the next? Make that transition as smooth as possible and take a break to BREATHE. Your body and mind need to relax and need to be prepared to take in another environment. - Which leads me to the last tip:

Tip #5
New environment means NEW ENERGY. New energy can boost you up or down, change your outlook on your life and open the door to more and great opportunities to grow in your personal success. Energy is in all things and helps make the shift into another perspective of your world.

So, TAKE A BREAK ALREADY!!!!!

Shoot, I sure am.

Peace,

Unique

AStore Presents: Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

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It's March and that means celebrating the life and whimsical stories of Dr. Seuss! From Green Eggs and Ham, Whoville and Seussical the Musical, Dr. Seuss has drenched us with fun classics and oodles of colorful characters. This store is dedicated to all Dr. Seuss enthusiasts, who's, things and children of all ages! Happy Birthday Theodor Seuss Geisel. We thank you and appreciate you!

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