Category Archives: about-me

Joy in what you do

A private Facebook group of which I am a member had a great discussion recently about, “What would you do for a living if money were no object?” I loved all the various answers that were given, but I found myself holding back and really soul searching the answer.

I’m either blessed with or cursed with an interest in a wide variety of “jobs.” I actually enjoy building spreadsheets and doing office-type work. I find a deep joy in photography and in writing. I like to organize events (even if you’d never know it the way I will stress and complain.) I want to work with my university. I’m a listener and briefly considered psychology as a second degree. And I love bartending and the bar business. The list could go on and on.

At the end of the day, I could only think to say, “Help people.”  If money was no object, I want to help people. But not in any sort of set conventional way, per se. So I can’t say, “Oh I’d go work for this organization.”

No, when a bride just can’t afford a photographer, I’d love to do a wedding for free. When someone needs someone to talk to, but can’t afford professional help, I want to sit and listen and give them a shoulder to cry on. When a band needs a ride to the airport, I want to load them up in my truck, gear and all, and take them there. A fundraiser needs a flyer for their event, I want to make it for them. I  would be that go-to person who makes life so randomly easier for people.

A few days later, in the same group, a member lamented being alone in a new city. Advice quickly came in on how to meet new friends.

Suddenly, I realized, my want to help people is exactly why I do some of the things I devote way more time to than I probably should, because they DON’T pay the bills.

When I moved to Nashville, I had a small set of built-in friends through my husband. But I knew I needed and wanted to set out to make my own friends. I needed that. And the first place I turned to was my alumni group… they offered me a chance to make friends who WEREN’T tied to my husband, but tied to me. And it made such a difference for me as I settled into life in Nashville..

And that is why I devote more time to that club than I do almost anything else. Because it helped me… and I pray that by keeping the club alive and growing it that I can help others.

The photo prompt for today on Instagram was, “Joy is…” The photo above is what I took for the prompt, because I looked around me and I realized joy can be finding something you love to do and doing it. I love working with my alumni group. I love taking photos. I love blogging. I love working on business stuff for my parents’ business. And I love a good cup of coffee.  Right there in front of me was all things that give me joy.

So maybe… maybe at the end of the day, I’m already doing what I would do even if money were no object. It might be obvious even to me, but its my driving force at heart. And that’s pretty cool to realize.

1-2-3-4

1234About a month ago, maybe two months at this point, I started noticing the recurrence of “1234” around me. Mostly the fact that I had to crazy habit of looking at the clock at either 12:34 or 1:23. Or more recently 2:34. All. The. Time.

It actually have gotten to the point in which if I am confronted with any variation of that number, I go, “Of course it is!”

So anyone who knows me well know that I am a big fan of Googling things. (Hey, I’ve already diagnosed myself with every disease known to man at some point.)  And here is what I found…

From ANGEL NUMBERS – Joanne Sacred Scribes:

Number 1 encourages you to step forward and start something new, different and life-changing.  Number 2 sets you on your course with balance, faith and ability, and number 3 sees expansion of concepts and life-themes, and expressing and communicating from your authentic self.  Number 4 encourages stability working steadily towards goals.  Angel Number 1234 can be seen as a number of progression and/or steps along a journey or life path.

From Angel Therapy:

When you repeatedly see the number sequences 123 or 1234, it’s a sign to simplify your life. The perfect sequence of 1, followed by 2, then 3, then 4, signals that it’s time for you to make your life more predictable and simpler.

Finally from Spiritual Path:

1234, 234, 345 – If you are repeatedly seeing ascending number sequences such as 1234, this is a sign from your Spirit Guides that these are progressive thoughts. You will see this sign when thinking about an area of your life that you are concerned about and want to change, or when thinking about a particular subject. Seeing this number sequence immediately after these thoughts is a sign that your thoughts are progressive; your life will progress by following these thoughts and you will have your Spirit Guides support in its pursuit.

So long story short, I get the feeling my guardian angels are telling me its time to make changes and move forward. But where do I go? What do I do?

Perhaps this is a good time to do an update on my life and then where I see things going from here.

I’ve written about our plans and dreams to open a bar. That plan and dream is just as strong as ever. In fact, this whole number thing started not long after we got our business plan shipped off to investors. It also happened not long after we found out the building we’d had our sights set on was no longer an option. From a business sense, I totally understood. From a personal sense, its a bit overwhelming to know something you’ve spent a year working on, and are thousands of dollars in debt for, is on hold and you have no true direction at the moment.

I’ve chosen to accept this as a sign that building wasn’t meant to be, but the urge is still there. The dream is ever alive, and it WILL happen. I just feel like I have a lot more to learn before we dive into such a big endeavor with both feet. We need to be in a better place. We need to take steps to BE in that better place.

Snapchat-1558766510991349381So meanwhile, my husband is back to driving tour bus full time. He’d gone back to playing music as his focus for a period of time, because, frankly, he is a musician. Period. We will forever be a musician. It’s part of his DNA. I love that fact, and I’d have it no other way.

However, as I mentioned, thousands of dollars in debt. And while the music could pay our bills, it doesn’t dig us out of that debt. Thankfully, he’s found a permanent “seat” with a wonderful duet. They love him, and he loves the group. He even now has a brand new bus to drive. I think he’s pretty happy. In his heart, he’d obviously prefer to be playing music, but he’s absolutely found the best world he could be in driving.

As for me and that number sequence thing… I have so many directions I love and want to go! And somehow, three of them are really starting to come to light more again.

For one, I want to focus on writing. What do I want to write? I don’t know. But I’ve made up my mind I want to write and now I’m waiting for that spirit guide that has been throwing me numbers to give me some direction on that.

Until then, my love for photography is strong as ever. My 365 I’ve been doing on Instagram this year has been so much fun, but I’m missing quality time with my DSLR. This weekend, I get to embark on my first job as a second shooter for a wedding. This has been on my wish list of jobs for about four years, and it kind of came to me. I’m terrified. I’m excited. I’m thankful. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Snapchat-8421524050292611585-editedFinally, I’m a bartender. I can’t turn it off. I’m not the best bartender to ever sling a drink, but I think I’m pretty good. And I enjoy it. I’ve just been hired on a sub-bartender and tour desk attendant at my favorite brewery in Nashville. Another thing I’ve thought about for years applying to do… and trust me I got the ribbing from others about that. “You are finally here!” I love it. This brewery for some reason has a part of my heart, and I’m excited to officially be on staff representing them.

Meanwhile in all of this, I’ve officially been named President of the local alumni chapter, and I’m still active with the golf tournament benefiting CASA. I stay busy, and I love that. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Simplify my life (as Angel Therapy above)? No, I don’t think that’s the answer. I think the answer is to just be more proactive, and move forward. Something I am very excited to be doing.