Saturday Morning Chatter - Go For It

Just the other day, I updated my Facebook status with "Ever feel like your standing still while others are running circles around you?" That's how I've been feeling lately. I have several irons in the fire, tons of feelers out there, and working on projects right and left, but nothing has really taken off. My husband says it's because I don't focus on one thing, but I have the philosophy that if I don't work in several things at a time, how will I ever know what I'm actually good at. Right now, I feel like I'm failing at everything.

There was a time in my life where I felt like I fearless. Willing to try or do just about anything. Now that I'm 41, married, and have a child, I feel like I'm such a coward. I have people who rely on me and I can't possibly do something to jeopardize them or their future. But at the same time, if I don't take that flying leap, I will never be a success for either of them or me. I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. Standing still while others are running circles around me. I think my life could be a true cliche.

Then my mom and I had this amazing opportunity to meet Ina Garten. Ina came to Kansas City to talk at the University of Missouri-Kansas City about her self-made brand and entrepreneurial spirit. She talked about how she left her government job in DC because she didn't feel challenged anymore. She and her husband Jeffrey headed to Westhampton Beach, NY to look at a space she had read about to possibly pursue a completely new venture in life. After making a low offer on the space, they returned to DC where she assumed that journey to NY would end. Turns out they accepted her offer and she was the proud owner of her next challenge in life. A challenge that brought nearly 30 years of challenges, personal gratification, and incredible success. 

Ina's life has been one leap of faith after the other. She is a woman who likes to challenge herself and take flying leaps without over-thinking or analyzing every step. Listening to this was like listening to my own voice. I too am a girl who doesn't think before she leaps. I just leap, when I can. I don't analyze every step. I don't plan out my life and tell myself I have to be somewhere at certain age because life gets in the way and totally derails such ideas. But right now, I feel I've lost that spirit that I used to have and I'm trying to re-ignite that spark.

While Ina was speaking, my mom and I would look at each with that knowing look. Ina could have literally been talking to only me. If I were sitting down to coffee with this icon, she could have just simply said, "Andrea, you just need to go for it." And that's what I'm planning to do. I'm tired of just planning. I'm tired of just talking. I'm tired of just typing. I need to just do. And, I need to follow my crazy inner voice and stop listening to the buzz around me. I need to focus on my own career choices that involve working solely for me. To start that business, or businesses, that drive me, excitement me, challenge me, scare me, and move me to be the person I always knew I could be.

I'm currently working up a business plan for something I would never really have thought about doing until I had sleepless night(s) last week. My mom is all in with the idea and I'm literally reaching out to everyone I think might be interested. I've put pen to paper and I like what I'm seeing. I'm excited. I'm motivated. I'm challenged. I'm moved! It's everything I would expect when trying to get a business(es) off the ground and I like it. "If you build it they will come", right? And I owe it all to the amazing spirit of one incredible woman, Ina Garten! 

Saturday Morning Chatter - What is Love?

It's Valentine's Day, loves! What are you all doing to celebrate the big day of love? Are you spending it with a spouse, partner, or significant other? Making it a Galentine's Day? Whatever it is you're doing, I hope it's filled with everything love! And maybe a box of chocolates.

When I think of love, I think about my family, Starbuck's, chocolate, champagne, and shoes. Always shoes! My love of shoes runs so deep, I have no room for them all! I also think of romantic comedies and romance novels. Those crazy stories of love lost, love obtained, and love ever after. Much like the love that's always flowing on the Bachelor/Bachelorette series! Seriously, who finds love in a month? And, who finds it on bear skin rugs with roaring fires behind them. As my girlfriend and I love to say, "Nothing says love like a box of wine and space heater." That true love, my friend, true love!

But again, I digress. I do that a lot. Back to those romance novels. When I was growing up, the Sweet Valley High series was all the rage! Who didn't love reading about the trials and tribulations of Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield. Those gorgeous, blonde, California twins with their golden, sun-kissed skin. They literally referenced that in EVERY book! Jessica liked to play the field while Elizabeth was holding steady with Todd Wilkins. I must have read those books over and over. Jessica the trouble maker and Elizabeth the brain. What those girls didn't get into together, or should I say what Jessica got into and what Elizabeth did to help/fix/rescue. Fun fact, I still own them!  I think I have up to volume twenty, but I will need to confirm. They're still great reads, even as an adult. And if I had a daughter, I would definitely pass them down to her.

So for your reading pleasure, an excerpt from something I am playing around with. Nothing concrete, but kind of fun at the same time. A little real life/a little make believe.  

Is there such a thing as love at first sight? Do we only get one chance at love? Can you fall in love more than one time in your life? These are questions Alexandra asked herself often. She wasn’t sure she believed in love at all, but there had to be answers, right? There were always answers. The first time she “fell in love” she was 13. A silly crush on a boy that didn’t know she even existed. But does anyone know what love is at 13? Sure. You love your parents, love a pet, even love your favorite doll, but does anyone know what love is at such a young age? The second time she fell in love, she fell hard. 

 At seventeen, Alexandra was living the life of most average teenager girls. Passing notes during class or in the hall with her best friend Emma. Giggling over the phone during nightly calls to talk about the notes you passed during the day. Agonizing over the perfect outfit for the next day and wondering if anyone will remember that you wore something similar the week before. And never really looking over your homework for the next day because that would totally eat into your social life. Aside from girlfriends, fashion, and the occasional studying, Alexandra was all consumed by her love of ballet. She took class several days a week, danced with the ballet school’s student company, and tried her best to maintain a competitive edge among the other girls. For Alexandra, life was good.

Who knows what this is or if it will amount to anything at all. It's been fun though. Trying to think like a teenager, especially a teen in this day and age, has been a challenge. However, I can't imagine that my inner teen isn't all that far removed. But I will love finding out!

Have a great weekend all!