Merry Christmas

This has been such an amazing year!! I can't believe how many changes I have had in my life and how much I have learned about myself. I got a new chance at a life this year that I haven't had in years past. There were some years that I was so uncomfortable about the way I looked and felt that I found myself just enduring life. Now, I feel I am living and enjoying what life has to offer. I was brave enough to reach out to a possible career, have lost the body weight of an entire person, and have even met someone promising!! I also have a new little dog who will be celebrating his first Christmas tomorrow!! I'm lucky to have both of my "boys." My life is totally different and even though bad things will still happen from time to time, I feel like I have more self-esteem and confidence to deal with them much better than before. Thank you to my grandparents who believed that I deserved and was capable of a better life. Thank you also to the rest of my family for listening to me perseverate about food and the scale!! Thank you also for sharing in the joyful moments with me. It doesn't feel like I have had that many in recent years. . . this seems like the first year of peace in a long while and you guys helped me feel that way!! I hope that anyone who reads this will feel peace, joy, and happiness for the next year. If things are not going well in your life, hang on and just get through them. They do get better and the people around you will help if you let them into your life. Please know that all of you are important and in my thoughts/prayers. Peace, Michelle

Promotion

So why am I not excited?? I got a call from the HR director an hour ago (she is my boss) because she didn't want me to be surprised in the morning when I get there and find out that I have been promoted. She has been talking with the CEO (Amy) about the work I have done and has been really excited about my competence. The CEO suggested Monday that I should be promoted and my boss asked if she could keep me longer because we are both happy as it is. She is taking me anyway. The thing is, it is a huge honor. I realize that and am really grateful. The problem is, I LOVE HR and am learning so much. I was promised that I will still be able to assist the HR director in my down time. It's just so confusing to be there three weeks, just get settled and get moved! AARGH. . . any words of wisdom?? The other bad thing is that my hours would be 8-4 instead of 7-3!!! I love 7-3!!! The other girl will handle 9-6.

An A kind of day!!

I checked to see if grades were posted for my last course today. They were. Let me just start by saying that this was my first 400-level course at U of P and it was the first class where I actually got a B on a paper instead of an A!! I cried over that B!! My motto about school is . . . if you're not going to do it well, then move on because you're wasting money. Despite the B on that paper, I got an A in the course!!! I'm still at a 3.9 GPA and so happy about that. Those of you who knew me in high school knew that I spent my time practicing, not studying and didn't have great grades. Things have changed!! Next course will be an easy image editing course, which will be a nice change from all the writing-intensive courses I've had in a row!!! So. . . another class done!!! WAHOO.

Ahhhh

They fired two account managers today for underperforming. It had me a little down because it's right before Christmas; however, these people have been given plenty of warning! So after work, I decided I was going to the gym for a really good workout. I haven't been as often the last week because I have been sick. Still sick, but needed the work to see if I can get the freakin' scale to move again. I did 30 minutes on my legs and then I got on the treadmill for an hour. I actually did three jogging segments, but they were only about a minute long!! I figure it's still better than it used to be. The thing is. . . after I had done my hour I would have gone even longer; however, I had somewhere to be at six. It was the first time in a long time that I actually felt a high when I finished!! Isn't that cool??? I'm really grateful because this time last year I could barely walk across the room without getting out of breath!! Today I walked three miles!! It's a pretty incredible difference in just 10.5 months AND for having a cold! Thank you again grandma and grandpa for this second chance at happiness!