2014 was an amazing year full of personal and professional
accomplishments. So much so, that my
friend/colleague Jenn and I decided that we wanted to do it again! In order to make sure we were not resting on
our laurels, we even decided to title it our “Best Year Yet” and produce a
series of programs so that our library’s patrons could get in on the act too.
This is the year that I have decided to finally cross some
personal issues off of the list. You see,
career has always been my main focus. I have
always been very driven, but the level to which I focus on my career goes far
beyond a strong work ethic. It is what I
use to define myself. It truly gives me
joy, but I think I also use it as a hiding place so I do not need to be in the
spotlight. As a librarian, it is all about
helping others.
Before you snicker at the idea of the mousy librarian
breaking out of her shell, let me enlighten you. I am the OPPOSITE of what anyone would
consider a mousy librarian. I am
passionate, loud, and silly. I am all
about the digital age and am always looking for new services and ways to
integrate them into my building. I am
sure we will talk more about what I do and how I do it, but really, I am trying
to avoid that here, aren’t I?
Anyway, I really want to spend some time on life outside of
the office this year. In fact, I have even
given myself permission to sit back at work a little bit to allow myself time
to concentrate on getting to know and become the me I want to be. My boss supports this. The slowing down a bit, we have done more in
the last two years since I have been there than in the last 15 years
combined. Truth be told, I think she
believes that I can slow down even less than I do. So even if I end up going at only 90%, my
output is still going to be yards ahead of the typical employee and everyone
wins. Again, we are not supposed to be
talking shop here!
Really carving out a spot for myself in my home has been on
my top ten goals for at least the last dozen years. I am not saying I want to be Holly Homemaker,
but I definitely want to make it much more so than it is now. Right now, my house is functional at best. I want to come home and love every nook and
cranny. I want to have a cute reading
nook and cool collages on the walls. As cliché
as it sounds, I want my home to be my castle where I can come and escape and rejuvenate
after a long day. Not just a stop to
spend time with my family before I go back to work or leave to run the errands
that make up life.
Writing is another thing on my list this year. It is something I have always loved and have
gotten away from. Partly because of
time, partly because I get to do a lot of it you know where, and mostly because
my confidence was shattered after a creative writing class in my undergraduate
career. This year I am taking it
back. Hence, this blog. I hope at some point this year I will find
myself branching out to a little bit of fiction or poetry just because I can,
but I really like blog writing and feel like this is a creative outlet that
speaks to me at this point in my life.
And, I hope it will speak to you a little bit too. I share because I need to be held accountable
to myself to actually do the work. I also
hope that my words may help you. I want
to hear your stories. It is not easy
being a 21st century women. We
all juggle that balance of the responsibility of what needs to be done right
now versus what we need to accomplish for our long term happiness. And sometimes we just forget to put ourselves
into the equation. Well, that is over
for me this year. I am putting myself in
the forefront. While I am not sure what
will happen, I am pretty certain that it will be crazy, hilarious, and a bit
stressful if my life today is any indication.
Trust me, there will be no shortage of funnies.
So, for now, welcome!!!
In my next post, I will describe playing big as it was taught to me by
Tara Mohr in her book, Playing Big: Find
Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message as well as the other texts that are
guiding my path through this year of finding myself. After all, it wouldn’t be me if I was not
bringing a bunch of books along for the ride!
Talk Soon,
Melissa
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