Quote of the Day - 17 October 2018

Don't go through life, grow through life ~ Eric Butterworth

Welp, following on from yesterday, this is another apt quote for me.

I recently started a career planning course at work, and as part of the process met I with another participant today to go through some of the homework together - a great way to keep myself accountable, and actually do the work.

After quick introductions, we were soon talking about our roles, the things that drive us, and why we were doing the course. During the course of our conversation, she noted that whilst the changes were unpleasant, they were an opportunity for growth... and could also lead me towards something that I never knew I could do.

So I don't just have to "go" with the new working life that has been presented to me. I can grow through it; learn new skills, become more employable and even potentially find something that makes my work soul sing.

So thanks to a new connection I made today,  I've decided that I'm going to dive in and make the most of what has been put in front of me - wish me luck!

Did this quote resonate with you today? 

Or do you have another quote that you would like to share?

Quote of the Day - a new beginning

Internet browsers. Everyone has a favourite, and it can be nigh on impossible to get someone to change their mind about which one they prefer. Me? I'm a Chrome girl through and through.

For the last 3 years, I have been using a dashboard called Momentum, which I found on the Chrome web store. It has daily background photos and quotes that appear when you open a new browser tab. There's also a whole bunch of other tools to help you manage your day: to-do lists, countdowns times, world clocks, weather, and heaps more.

If this sort of thing is right up your alley, please check it out!

(This isn't a sponsored post! I just love using Momentum and wanted to tell you about it. Feel free to look into it, or not... it is entirely up to you)

I love it primarily for the photos and the quotes. Almost every picture I've come across has been stunning and for the ones I don't like so much, I can change them with a click of a mouse button.

I have also been writing down all the quotes that have had some meaning to me on a post-it note and sticking them on the wall of my office. Just as a little bit of daily motivation and something to perk me up when I'm feeling flat.

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For something a bit different on this blog (and as a way to get me into the habit of writing regularly!), I want to share the daily quotes with you and offer some insight as to if, how, and why they are relevant to me on that particular day.

So, let's get started!!

Today's quote:

Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly ~ Robert H. Schuller

{picture found here}

This really resonated with me today; I returned to my old workplace last week (I had been on secondment in a different department for nearly a year), only to find that my role had been completely overhauled with very little consultation with me. I'm working through my thoughts and feelings about it - trying my hardest to see it as a positive thing and not to take it personally. It's using up a LOT of energy. And during this process, I've been understandably feeling pretty demotivated.

As soon as I read the quote, I had a whole bunch of feels. Which rather than pushing down the feelings to deal with later (much later, and preferably with a glass of wine!), I decided to sit with them... and yes, there probably was an element of procrastination going on! ;)

I realised that there is a lot of fear inside me around these changes. They were not of my doing, they were not what I wanted, and I am completely out of control about what my job is. It doesn't help that I'm not getting a whole lot of direction either.

Once I had sat with that idea of fear, and acknowledged that it was valid and had a right to be there, the feeling then turned into a bit of excitement. I have an opportunity to make this into a great role; one where I embrace all the changes and tackle them head-on. There will be chances for training and upskilling, and when has that ever been a bad thing?!

I have been talking about and been grumpy about these changes for nearly a week. And I have continually said to myself "I just need to reframe my thinking about this". Well, today I think I have turned a corner in how I think about this situation. I think I am now the start of the path to acceptance.

I think that today I have discovered the grace to accept that which has been handed to me, and I can feel the stirrings of the courage that I will need to stand up for myself and to make the changes required to help me be happy and fulfilled in my role.

If for some reason it isn't possible to do that, then I can look for a new job - and that is something I do have control over.

Did this quote do anything for you? Did you hear another quote today that inspired you, or helped you come to a realisation?

Tell me all about it in the comments below!

Gratitude Project - 8th November

Today was a day for feeling unheard and under appreciated; either that or I have a serious case of the "End of Year Grumps"... it's 50/50.

Things I am grateful for today:

1. The return of my workplace bestie! She's was on holiday last week, and I hadn't realised how much I missed her. Work is far more manageable now she's back - I've got someone to vent to, and to have morning/afternoon tea with!

2. The gym at work. I whinge and moan about going to the gym - but by crikey I'm happy it's only a short walk to get there for a lunchtime class. Occasionally I go out for a run, but I'm not always great about forcing myself to go. Having the gym "just there" and a workout buddy who won't let me get out of it means that I'm more likely to exercise than not - and I can feel less guilty about the afternoon tea snacks!

3. A cooler night for sleeping. Snuggling down and being cosy is my favourite way to sleep - the warm nights are ramping up and I struggle to get comfy when I'm too hot... the broken sleep is probably a big factor in my recent grumpiness. There's been some rain today and the evening has been cooler, and I am excited about the potential for a great nights sleep :)

How are you today? I hope you've been getting enough sleep and keeping the grumps at bay! How do you keep cool during hot summer nights? I'd love some tips :)

Gratitude Project - 2nd November

Today has been hectic, but I survived the stress and interruptions to have a pretty productive day. So yay for me :)

Things I'm grateful for today:

1. Podcasts; I LOVE podcasts! I listen to a pretty eclectic spread, and love the disctraction they offer during my commute - not to mention learning something new everyday.

2. My hard work being recognised. It's been an interesting 8-months at work, and I've done some serious stepping up to the plate in that time. Today, during a random conversation, I was told that it hadn't gone unnoticed... a very nice feeling!

3. Home delivery. On an evening when neither Mr M nor I can be bothered to cook after work, the option of home delivered pizzas seem like a godsend!

What's been going on for you? What little thing made a difference and changed your day today?

Gratitude project - 28th February

It was a long day at work - they usually are when you're trying to get everything done before you take time off. But it's done and dusted; I am now on two weeks leave, ready to spend pretty much all of it chillaxing with my bro and his family. I'm sure there's going to be a bottle or two to wash the conversations down with :)

Things I am grateful for today:

1. Getting my work done, and knowing that I don't have to worry about it for the next two weeks! Yay!

2. Tired children. They both went to sleep with little drama; such a relief!

3. Home delivery. No cooking and no cleaning. Best invention ever!

Did you have a successful day? What are your weekend plans?

Gratitude Project - 10th Feb

"Another day, another dollar", that's the saying... Today I felt like that but with a more negative tone. I love the people I work with (mostly), but my job isn't captivating. I've been given the opportunity to expand my roll - almost however I want - so I know that will change. I just have to power through the dullness until I make this job perfect for me!

Things I am grateful for today:

1. Exercise. As much as I complain about having to exercise, I love the feel of my body in motion; the strength of my muscles as I lift a weight; the relief when it's all over ;)

I have a goal in mind, and I hope to reach it by the end if June :)

2. My job. Despite my current lack of passion for my work, I am thankful that I have a good job with an awesome boss and a family friendly attitude. Especially on a day when it was announced that 2000-2500 will lose their jobs when Toyota stops manufacturing in 2017. 

Note to self: quit your bitching, at least you have a job!!

3. My delightful pink armchair! 

I *finally* got to sit in it for more than five minutes tonight. Such comfy bliss. Can't wait to do a test run with a cuppa and a book!

How was your Monday?

What are you grateful for today?

Not the best day on record....

*~*  language warning  *~*

One of my favourite childhood books, and so apt for today! Just substitute "Melissa" for "Alexander"...

Today has been a shitty day.

I am juggling full-time work with full-time mothering. For the last year, since I came back from maternity leave it has been a struggle, but I have coped.

But in the last two weeks, for some unknown reason, I have become a bit of a ball dropper.

Mostly, the dropped balls have been very minor.

Unfortunately, the thing that I dropped the ball on today was unable not quite so minor. Nor could it be resolved.

Fortunately, I have quite possibly the best boss in the world, so she sort of talked me off the ledge; and reminded me that everything is fixable.

I also have some fantastic colleagues who were happy to listen to my near hysterical "oh fuck, what do I do now" rant.

And I have my amazing Husband who, when I called him at work, almost in tears and said "I've dropped the ball, it's not the first time. I think I've really fucked up and I don't know what to do...", replied with a "Everything will be fine Babe. It's probably not as bad as you think. And when you get home I will be there to give you a big cuddle."

Ok, he didn't say the last bit. But I know that it was exactly what he meant - one of the joys of being with someone for so long; sometimes you don't always have to use words.

There is also some delicious red wine waiting for me at home too, which helps.

So today has been a bad day, but there is still plenty of time for it to get better!!

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Who do you turn to when you've dropped the ball?