Find Your Joy! This year I've decided it's time for me to dedicate some time to myself in pursuit of things that bring me joy. Be it they might be considered silly, weird, nerdy and downright uncool by some (mainly, my children)I have jumped in full force and am embracing joy. It's good for the soul, the psyche, the mind, the body and sometimes the skin too. Though it's not as recent as just this year, my participation in my book club has ramped up. I love nothing more than getting together with a group of smart, witty, wild women to drink wine, swap war stories, battle scars and yes, even talk about books. These discussions bring me great joy, in a way that community can. I don't see them but once a month, other than the occasional running into one another at the grocery or the local coffee shop. I've hosted the book club, recommended reading materials and gone to almost every one the meetings. Like most women, I love to have someone rub, scrape, massage and paint my toes. Regular trips to the nail salon are a must. An hour or two alone with a bunch of cheesy magazines that I love reading but can never bring myself to buy in public, is also part of what gives me joy. Great joy. Hair appointments, waxing appointments (yes, in some weird way they too are part of the joy equation) also contribute to joy. Good grooming really can bring joy. If you don't believe me, try it. Meow. Committing myself to working out and attending fitness classes doesn't really bring me joy when I'm actually working out, but afterwards I feel joy. Doing something healthy that nets some noticeable results is joyful. It is. My greatest joy this year, however, involves lots of sequence, a red wig and disco music. Recently I joined a dance group called The Disco Amigos. Though the thought of their mother dancing in public makes my family cringe, it is something my kids are learning to accept; my friends don't necessarily want to join me, but they get it. Dancing with others who aren't afraid to admit they love disco is joyful in itself. Dancing is something that has always given me joy. I'm having a wonderful, joyful life. Go ahead and find your joy. Life is so much better when you do.

Quit Braggin!

I'm not much of a braggart when it comes to my own accomplishments, mostly because I don't think I have that many. I am willing to shamelessly brag on how smart, weird and funny my kids are and how talented, kind and wonderful my husband is. However, when I do something well (especially if it's a surprise) I have to force myself to share my good news. So, here goes. I've been asked not once, but twice, to give presentations to different groups about web stuff. Me. The late-to-the-ball, non techie, Luddite.

Believe me, being web savvy is not second nature. I've come to learn just enough to get myself in trouble and invited to do a seminar. I remember taking a "computers 101" course at a local high school with mostly new immigrants back in the late 80s. My former roommate was conducting the seminar so I should have felt comfortable. But I didn't. I remember the trauma of switching from typewriters to computers at Journalism school and I was freaked out. I was convinced I was never going to land a job.

I once was offered a job which was advertised as having strong knowledge of advertising and publishing. Check and check. By that time, I'd been in ad sales for about five years and two of them were in publishing. What I didn't know was this job a) involved tons of flying (I HATE airplanes)and b) was completely digital. I would have to create and execute PowerPoint presentations to publishers in the U.S., about a product that used to include hard copies, but was now all online. First of all, I'd never, ever opened PowerPoint once in my life and second of all, I ONLY knew had to email. For reals.

I'm good at sales and was able to sell my many other fine points during the interview (I had a family to feed) and told myself I'd learn on the job. By day two on the gig, and I'm not even kidding, I knew I was in WAY over my head and went straight to the boss. And, told him so. Despite being the only one with a job at that time, I was willing to give it up and look for something else that would be a fit. My boss desperately wanted a woman in the department and convinced me I'd have all the training I needed and would be wonderful at the job. Needless to say, I lasted about a year and a half before I was on medication for depression and ready to take an admin position or work at a restaurant again, just to get out of it. Thankfully, I found a wonderful position with another magazine.

Fast forward several years and I'm in another country looking for work. By this time I had done a good job of getting my writing portfolio together, with national newspapers and magazine stories under my belt. I found a position as a web editor and thought I should apply since I write and had been keeping up with my blog (WelcometoCharlotte-meg.blogspot.com). I figured I might have a decent shot at it, though I was well aware that I wasn't necessarily much of a web person and I don't love to edit. Regardless, I would be writing every day and it was a job in my field. The editor liked my writing and said I'd be able to learn the web program as I went. Where had I heard that before?

This time, I did learn on the job. A lot. I got familiar with all kinds of software, online publishing programs and yes, even PowerPoint. Best of all, I had earned some confidence when it came to my abilities as both a writer AND a techie. Did I love having to edit and fix web problems? No. But, I learned a very valuable lesson which I've carried with me everywhere I've been since. Make IT guys (let's be real; they're 99% guys) your friend. They are almost always nerdy, hilarious, sarcastic and very very smart.

I digress. Let's fast forward another year and I'm back in New Orleans, at another job as a media specialist, requiring me to create a brand new, semi custom website. At my previous job, we had gone through a website re design so I knew I could do this job...with help from a team of programmers from India. I'm no programmer, but I do know some basic html and CSS. Plus, I had a "Dummies" book so how hard could it be? I severely underestimated the challenges of working with a team of guys with heavy accents on a different time zone. Wow.

In this position, I probably learned the most. I am now very comfortable PowerPoint and even discovered some other programs that work with it and create even more spectacular presentations. I have learned more code and another new software program. Do I know how to edit photos, audio and video clips? Check. Am I a social media maniac? Yup. Can I create web pages on my own? Check.

I'm now at another University as web content editor and loving it. I'm responsible for social media and am killin it. Our followers, fans, likes etc are increasing 10 fold. I create pages, menus, write stories, take meetings, make suggestions...I love it. I guess the enthusiasm is paying off because I've been asked to conduct a "how to use social media for your business" seminar as well as a "create great presentations with SlideRocket" one too.

I'm not quite ready for either one, though I could get the social media one together rather quickly. As for the latter, it's a bit terrifying to consider but so very flattering to be asked. Whether I do it or not, the point is, I've been asked. I've got some skills and others recognize them. So, I'm braggin.

No Time Like the Present

Every year I make the same boring, lame-ass resolutions to lose weight, be nicer to my kids, curb my road rage and expand my vocabulary that most of us do. Though all of these endeavors would make me a nicer, calmer person, truth is they are flaws that are most likely never going to be fixed. Yes, not cussing in the car with my kids would make me a better parent. Losing weight would boost my self-confidence. Learning new ways to describe things would be very pleasing. But really, "Meh" is what I think of these. And so, I don't ever lose any sleep over the fact that I haven't kept them longer than a couple of days.

However, there is one resolution that came to me via epiphany. I think I may have actually heard some angels singing "ahhhh" when I decided to embrace it; I am going to do whatever task pops into my brain at that present time. How does it work? I remember (while brushing my teeth, one of the most mundane tasks possible) that I need to take a certain paper to work. With toothbrush clenched between my teeth, I walk over to the desk, pick up the paper and put it in my work bag. Right then and there. Here goes another one - I'm working on a document for tomorrow's meeting at work and suddenly it dawns on me that I forgot to send photos to a co-worker. I minimize my document, open outlook, create a new email, attach said photos and hit send. Boom. Mission accomplished.

Some people would say that this particular method is for those with ADD; or maybe it won't allow you to get anything done at all. I'm here to say "Can I get a witness?" I get shit done. More shit. Yes, it's a bit helter skelter, frazzled and lacking in any real rhythm. Know what? I don't care. I get shit done.

I have remembered to send letters, post mail, keep up on reports and keep my life fairly organized. I'm doing less planning and more spontaneous acting. On my day off this week I got groceries, a pedicure, posted a letter, walked the dog, paid a bill and did two loads of laundry before lunch. I just went with the task at hand. I was going to the grocery and thought "My toes are disgusting. I'm going to see if the nail salon is open." I made a quick detour and voila, it worked. I still got home at my set designated time AND I threw in a pedicure. I just had to hustle a little at the grocery store.

Today it's January 19 and I've kept my resolution. That's got to be a record on its own. I love my resolution and I plan on keeping it for a while. Or at least until January 2013.