New Beginnings

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So, some exciting things are happening over here at positively b.e.e.!

This past Friday was my last day at my regular 9-to-5 job. I've been spending my spare time reaching for some personal goals, and I am finally at a place where I can take the leap and really go for them! I've been taking classes, developing plans, talking to people, reading a lot, and working very hard at all of it. I thought it would take me a lot longer to get to this point than it had. This is something I've wanted to do for a long time, though, so I'm doing it. 

My colleagues gave me a great send-off, including a nice going away party, beautiful flowers, handwritten cards & notes, and even a really special goodbye breakfast. (You can see some of these in the above photo.) They really are the best!

Here are some of the questions I've been getting:

Where are you going?
To my couch. Or my desk at home. Or to visit my parents, other family, or friends. Or to the local coffee shop. Or to the car dealership waiting room while my car gets an oil change. The skills I have to offer and the problems I can solve are all doable from just about anywhere!

But...why would you leave your awesome job doing awesome stuff at that super-awesome place you used to work at?
Because it's time. It was a really good run, but this shift has been in progress for a long time, and several things synced up to make me realize the time is now. I am grateful for the years spent at my last job, and at various places along my career. I've learned new skills, made lasting friendships, and had awesome colleagues along the way.

So then what will you be doing?
Proofreading, copy editing, writing, and transcription. You'll note that these things are very portable. Additionally, I will be focusing on continuing to bring great content here at positively b.e.e., and have plans to expand my offerings.

How does your husband/family/whoever feel about this?
I have an amazing support system. My husband and parents have always encouraged me to aim for the stars, go for my dreams, and follow my heart. I recognize that I am very lucky to have them cheering me on, but I also recognize that I would do this even without their support. (I might not have done it *quite* as soon as I am, but I would do it anyway. I'm just built like that.) I also have friends, colleagues, and acquaintances rooting for me.

And really, most people have been incredibly supportive. Indeed, many of them said they wish they could do the same. Some of them HAVE done the same and given me some inspiration and advice. And others have told me they also plan to do the same in the future when the time is right for them.

A few people, though, reacted a little differently. Did you notice that some of the questions I got seemed just a little bit unsure? Maybe it doesn't come across in text, but in person, some people seemed almost afraid for me. Indeed, one person was a little negative about my next move, as if to dissuade me from taking the leap. But I firmly believe that if we never try, we never succeed. I cannot and will not live a fear-based life making fear-based decisions for my future. I've done that for long enough; it's time for a change.

There is freedom waiting for you,
On the breezes of the sky,
And you ask "What if I fall?"
Oh but my darling,
What if you fly?
― Erin Hanson

Ok, but...why?
How many times have I said there's no better time than now to live your best life? To always strive to be yourself and do the things you want to do in life, because life is short and we are only promised this moment? That is a major reason. If I'm going to sit here and talk about how we can fulfill our lives, live our dreams, and be happy in this world, then I need to have some integrity and walk that walk, too. 

There have been a few times in my life where I have been offered opportunities that I'd had to turn down, because I didn't have the bandwidth to accept them while still working in a traditional 9-to-5 setting, and I was too afraid to leave the security of a traditional job. I have now freed myself up to say "yes" instead of "no."

Indeed, after I turned in my resignation, I was approached by several people with invitations to collaborate on projects, so while I thought I'd be taking some time to ramp up, instead I will be hitting the ground running, which is exciting for me! :)

And, just because I will be working in a nontraditional setting does not mean I'm going to sit around all day eating bonbons and watching soaps. I will still be working hard. I just won't be going to someone's office to do that.

Oh, one other question I've gotten from a few people:

Great! This is wonderful news! What can I (we) do to help?
To anyone who has asked this: THANK YOU. I appreciate your support! Tell everyone you know that I'm out here doing this. Share this blog. Tell your friends and family. If you know any writers, business owners, website developers, bloggers, ANYONE who needs a skilled proofreader, copy editor, or writer, send them my name! If you have ever wanted to write your memoir or a book but don't like typing, did you know I can type it up FOR you? Want to write a letter that sounds businesslike but don't know how to go about that? Talk to me. I can help. These are just a few examples of things I have done for people.

Additionally, I hope you will consider using my affiliate links.

For example, if you were going to order something on Amazon, anyway, it doesn't cost you any additional money to use my Amazon Affiliate link, but it does help me out. You simply click on the link and buy whatever you normally would buy, and Amazon gives me a small percentage for the referral at no additional cost to you. If the Amazon link you click on is to a specific product (such as the fortune cookies I feature on Fridays), you don't have to buy that product; you can just click on that link, search on whatever you wanted to buy, and buy it. It's that simple, and will help me in my goals of bringing better content to you here.

So that's the scoop!
I'm super-excited by the changes taking place in my life, both within me and career-wise. I look forward to the next part of the journey.

Oh! And I almost forgot: I know it's Monday (and not Fortune Cookie Friday), but I'm going to include a fortune here in this post. I got this in a fortune cookie years ago, and must have tucked it away somewhere to be forgotten forever. Last week, though, it dropped out of a notebook as I was rearranging items on a shelf:

I mean, REALLY: does it get any better than that? Talk about getting a little confirmation I'm on the right track. Do I think fortune cookies are psychic? No. Do I believe in coincidences? No, not really.

Hey, it works for me. :)

Leave a comment below: what new beginnings are you embarking on this spring? Let's inspire and celebrate each other!

🐝

 ~~ positively b.e.e. is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Follow me there!

Fortune Cookie Friday: Make Your Life A Mission

This post may contain affiliate links, by which I may be financially compensated. See Disclosures & Policies on my About page.

Ok guys, if you read the last Fortune Cookie Friday post, you'd have seen that that one referred to life being a play.

And then:  THIS cookie was the next one I opened:

Make your life a mission, not an intermission.

What is up with the theatrical references lately?! That's pretty neat!

Just last week, we talked about how, if life is a play, that you should choose the role that you want in it, before the curtain comes down.

This fortune is a great follow-up to that, isn't it?

And it's pretty simple, to me: don't treat life like an intermission. Life isn't simply a break where you run and get some coffee or a beer, or maybe go stand in line for the bathroom before the lights flicker, signaling that it's time to rush back and re-take your seat for the next act. Blink, and you miss it. Intermissions always go too fast.

Treat life like your mission. Don't waste it on mundane things. If you don't like where life is going, then make a plan and tackle it. Start by writing a mission statement. What would you change in order to feel like you were living fully?

A mission statement can be a simple one-sentence statement, from which other things can then grow. I'll start with the sentence that I had in my head when I started this site:

My mission at positively b.e.e. is to disrupt negativity by focusing on positivity, light, joy, and gratitude.

And now it's your turn: what's your mission? 

Comment below or on social media if you want to share your mission or any additional thoughts! And if you want any of your fortune cookies to be featured on Fortune Cookie Friday, feel free to send me pictures of your fortunes.

Have a great weekend! 🐝



~ positively b.e.e. is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Follow me there! ~

Awaken! 2018

This post may contain affiliate links, by which I may be financially compensated. See Disclosures & Policies on my About page.

If today were your last day alive, what is your one regret?

I'll let you percolate on that while I start from the beginning.

On January 20th, I had the good fortune to attend Awaken! 2018—a full-day Intuition and Spiritual Awakening retreat. The event was hosted by Kim Chestney of Mystic Studios in conjunction with Green Heiress Holistic Health, which is a beautiful yoga studio & shared healing space in the cute little Pittsburgh-based community of Aspinwall. I had seen something about it on Facebook, but wasn't sure I should sign up. I was feeling a little "gun shy". After a day or two, though, I bought a ticket. I couldn't stop thinking about it, and sometimes, you just have to go with your intuition. I'm glad I did, because it sold out fast, and it was a great day! Below is a summary.

After greetings were made and refreshments had, we were led into the main studio where we were seated in front of a harp. We were washed in beautiful sound by Stephanie Miller, a harpist who practices under the name Music for Life, LLC, in a segment called an Energetic Attunement Sound Bath. It was a beautiful way to start the morning. Stephanie offers a unique service called Vibroacoustic Harp Therapy: she can connect her harp up to a sound bed that has haptic feedback, so as you lay on the table, you literally feel the music as you hear it. I might have to check that out in the future, as it sounds really cool!

After that, we got down to the business of awakening our intuition. Kim Chestney, author of The Psychic Workshop: A Complete Program for Fulfilling Your Spiritual Potential, started the day off by asking us the above question: If today were your last day alive, what is your one regret? She encouraged us "to your own self be true." Throughout the day, we would learn to break the chains of fear that bind us and recondition ourselves to trust in our intuition.

Now, this is what intrigued me about this workshop since I saw the event on Facebook. I've been on my own spiritual journey for the last several years, having twice now been a speaker at healing events, talking about how I kicked fear in the teeth, learned to accept love again (especially from myself!) and started living life. Additionally, since becoming a Reiki Master last summer, I've found my awareness opening up, including having more of a relationship with God in my daily practice. I've found I have more enthusiasm, creativity, and energy. I feel more balanced. I feel more alive!

But, I was still holding myself back from achieving my dreams, and while I kept getting the impulses to DO something about it (Kim would call these "God winks"), and I have started putting plans into place to reach those dreams, I still needed that final kick in the butt to GO FOR IT, so this all seemed to align with my higher goals.

This workshop definitely kicked the doors down, for me.

After her initial talk, Kim introduced us to Susan Amarose, DMQ, RMT. Susan took us through some exercises in QiGong (pronounced "Chee-Kung"), which combines a system of coordinated movements, breathing, and meditation to promote healing, protection, and energy clearing. I was struck by the similarity to Tai Chi, which I practiced for many years in my late teens and 20s, and from which I experienced many benefits. I found the exercises to be REALLY great for my energy levels and sense of peace and alignment, and I look forward to some free workshops that Susan will be offering in February and March. Check them out on her site!

We had a delicious lunch provided from a nearby vegetarian restaurant, and I really appreciate that a nice, long break was allowed for. We had a whole hour to eat, relax, chat with each other, or go and meditate in one of the rooms. You weren't being crammed full of new knowledge at a breakneck pace, you know? There was never a sense of urgency in the timing of the talks. The entire day had just such a lovely, peaceful pacing.

After lunch, Kim taught us about all the different types of intuition, where it comes from (e.g., direct connection with God), why it's important, and then led us through some quizzes to show us where our leanings are. From there, we then split up into smaller groups and did a series of intuitive exercises together.

We rounded the day out with a short beginner yoga session with Nicky Dunlap (even I—NOT exactly limber!!—could do most of it), and a final closing segment to recap what we learned and encourage each other. Kim announced the winners of some beautiful raffle baskets (everyone was entered when we arrived), and gifted all of us with beautiful strands of mala beads that she made. Then it was hugs all around, the event was a wrap, and I floated out of there on a cloud of positivity and hope.

In summary, it was an AMAZING day! The lectures were enjoyable and informative, and the energetic sound attunement and QiGong exercises set the perfect tone right at the start. The exercises were enlightening, and, while I found them to be useful and validating, one of the things I valued most from the workshops was the sense of camaraderie, of working together with these other women in the class, each of us giving of ourselves to help free the others from whatever was holding us back. There was true connection with other souls that day. And connection is important to our well-being. That will be a future post, by the way; it's something burning in me to write about, so stay tuned for that.

A final takeaway: I saw people enter that morning carrying their worries and concerns with them—some frowns, some tiredness, some uncertainty—but by the end, those people were walking a little straighter, feeling a little stiller, connecting a little deeper, and radiating more peace.

Check out some highlights from the day in the video, below. Take a look at Green Heiress' website and consider attending an event or signing up for a class. Feel free to contact any of the presenters I've linked to and ask them questions.

I'm about halfway through Kim's book, and enjoying the heck out of it. I'll do a full review of it when I'm done. In the meantime, I have signed up for the intuitive salon sessions and will be attending the free QiGong sessions as well. Come join me!

Awakening highlights:

Kim's book:

 ~~ positively b.e.e. is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest! Follow me there! ~~

Happy New Year!

As 2018 begins, so many people are looking forward to a new year full of promise. We are all eager to have hopes and dreams fulfilled!

For myself, closing out 2017 was the end of an interesting year, in many ways. Like any other year, there have been pains and illnesses, but also many, many joys and blessings. I finished the year by writing in the final pages of my last gratitude journal, and am starting my new journal today.

My wish for all of you is that 2018 is ABUNDANT in blessings, joy, interesting stories, and love. May all of YOUR dreams be fulfilled!

What will you write about this year?

Comment below if you'd like to share any resolutions or goals you are setting for 2018!




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