Archive for January, 2010

New Beginnings. one more time…


2010
01.26

Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be.     ~ Marsha Petrie Sue

I lost my day job today.  Out of the blue, my life, as I know it, has changed.  The familiarity, good or bad, of getting up and going to work on a regular basis will no longer part of my day.  My routines will be shaken and stirred (martini, anyone?).  I will need, quickly, to find a way to get my groove back.

It’s not, you see, like I don’t have a zillion things to do!  It’s not at all that I don’t love being home and calling the shots on my day.  It’s more about the insecurity, the newness of it all, the disruption to my being.

Literally, I have worked at a “real” job since I was 13, summers and after school through my high school years.  I am a worker!  It’s part of me.  It’s what I do.  Do I now, at the age of 62 and in this economy, stand any chance of getting another position of my liking??  I dare say, probably not.  And maybe that’s okay, as filling my time with meaningful and enjoyable tasks has never been an issue for me. My website, this blog and my Etsy shop could certainly use some attention, some TLC!  It’s ironic – with fervor I read the “I Quit My Day Job” feature on the Etsy site and think….someday…well, today is that day, although I didn’t “quit” my day job.  I wonder if the euphoria can be quite the same, but I’m sure the initial insecurity is akin.

I think, in a matter of just a few days, I’ll adjust quite fine and figure out rather nicely how to structure my day to make the most of it.

But for today, it sure feels a little uncomfortable.

A Clean Slate


2010
01.12

I love the start of each new year.  For me, it’s like a clean slate – a time to renew, revitalize and revamp.  As much as I enjoy the holiday season, there is a calmness when it’s over and I relish that.  This year has been no exception.

It’s a time of new beginnings.    An opportunity to collect my thoughts,  consider things I want to change, redo, and/or ponder the possibilities of.  Projects to plan,  appointments to make, new directions to travel.  All in an effort to put a fresh face on things, make it new again, alive, interesting, fun…..

I love setting up a new calendar for a new year and opening a fresh business notebook for ideas, sketches, and strategies.  I actually look forward to such activities as rearranging the kitchen pantry, reorganizing closets,  and putting the workroom where I did all my wrapping and shipping into some semblance of order once again.  Ah, for me, change is often good!

This past weekend, we dismantled Christmas.  All the decor that I’ve accumulated over the years was spread out in the family room and surveyed.  It was interesting to see how my “look” had emerged over time.  I weeded out and repacked that which I wanted to keep into plastic storage crates from Target and taken to the attic for storage till next year.  A big accomplishment!  Off the “Reorganizing TTD” list…..

In the revamp category, I did some thinking about my blog.  It’s time for a little revitalization – definitely want to work on making it more interactive and informative, now that I’ve figured out the “platform” and how to manuever it to some degree.  With my online and Etsy shops, and getting a start on Facebook, it’s time to pull the package together and offer to viewers, and shoppers alike, something new to “play” with.  Watch for some changes in the days ahead…

The NY Gift show is just around the corner – it is a mecca of all beautiful things, artfully presented, and pure eye candy.  I’ll make my room reservation today and do some buying for my online shop, just in time for the seasons ahead.  In the downtime, I’ll be planning the start of my handcrafted categories in my Etsy shop.  So exciting!

Yes, although cold and often dreary, January can be a great month.