Seeing Things Clearer

{Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life}

There's nothing like writing down what you are thinking and realizing how silly you sound or how wrong you are. It's funny what putting pen to paper {or in this case keyboard to laptop}can make you see or hear or feel or understand. It has a way of showing a new or different perspective. 

I was catching up with a friend and telling him where I was in life, career wise, settling down wise and so on. I told him that where I was working had lots of room for growth but my heart wasn't in it. I continued to tell him that my passion/heart was in nonprofits/charities and one-for-one models like TOMS Shoes. My interests were in the needs and problems of third world countries like hunger, clean H2O and equal rights for women and children. I then told him that I didn't know how to get involved.....

In the same paragraph I told my friend that for whatever reason I just wasn't ready to settle down quite yet. I wasn't  ready to buy my first house or have children. The only hiccup was I really liked being back with my family. For those of you, who don't know, I traveled/lived someplace other than Lima, Ohio for about eight years. I missed a lot of holidays and birthdays and anniversaries and it is really nice to not miss them anymore. The only problem with being home is that home is quiet and small and doesn't offer a lot of the things that Nathan and I want in our lives. 

It depends on who you are talking to, that causes you to see things differently. The friend that I was talking to is very motivated and goal-oriented. He knows what he wants and how to get there. He has no excuses. So obviously as I am writing him I hear my excuses....don't know what I want to do, don't want to leave my family but don't want to settle down, don't want to stay in my current profession for life.....Thanks Scotty for making me see things a little more clearer. 

As I am writing I see the holes in my reasoning. I may not know how I'm going to be involved in third world issues but I know I'm interested and it's my passion. As much as I don't want to move, I have nothing holding me back. I know that my current profession is not long-term. At this point I just need to start researching every company that I like what they are doing and find interesting. I need to research companies in Ohio to see if  something is close to Lima. I just need to jump in with both feet and stop making excuses. There is always going to be sacrifices in life when pursuing your goal and I may need to start......

I'm not going to make any life-altering decisions however I'm going to stop making excuses and start living. The toughest decisions in life are never easy. 

Check it Out

I blogged the last two days at A Compassionate Heart, Reaching Out. I'd love if you checked them out=) It's another part of me that makes me who I am.

Why SHINE?

So I just posted my word for 2012; SHINE. 


Here are some definitions of shine:

1. 

intransitive verb emit light: to give out light

2. 

intransitive verb be bright: to be bright or reflect light

3. 

transitive verb direct light of something: to direct the light emitted by something

"Shine the flashlight over here."

4. 

intransitive verb excel: to be very good at or do very well in an activity

5. 

intransitive verb be obvious: to appear clearly

6. 

intransitive verb have radiant quality: to appear to have a specially bright or radiant quality as a result of good health or a strong positive emotion

"Her face shone with happiness."

7. 

 transitive verb polish something: to make something bright and gleaming by polishing it

NOUN 

1. 

brightness from light source: brightness or radiance emitted by a source of light

2. 

bright surface: the bright or gleaming surface of something

3. 

act of polishing something: an act of polishing something to make it shiny

Let Your Light Shine.....I kept seeing this or thinking it at the end of 2011. And I knew my word was Shine. For me, shining isn't about being a superstar or noticed but doing things right or with compassion that bring about awareness. That was probably a little confusing........I want to think about others more and do more to help the world be better. And by doing these things I hope to bring about concern, awareness, compassion, love, and giving. When I shine, I hope that, that makes others want to shine. So like I said I don't want to shine to be a rockstar but to {inspire}others to shine, for others to see what they have to offer. 

 Another way I want to shine is at my job. One of the definitions of shine is to be very good at or do very well in an activity. For a couple different reasons I want to shine at work; first I get paid well for what I do and I want to earn it and show that I am grateful for the blessing. The best thing you can do to show you appreciate your job and your boss is to do your job well. I also want to be an example for the people I work with. With hard work and a good attitude you can go far in life. I don't always succeed at this; thank goodness tomorrow is another day!

Matthew 5:15-16 {Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.}

2 Corinthians 4:6 {For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.}

Daniel 12:3 {Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.}

I will admit my faith/Christianity/religion/relationship with God-however you want to phrase it has hit a winter season. I won't pretend to be the perfect daughter of the most High God. I've hit a patch where God is on the backburner way more than He should be but I still want to Shine for Him. I still want to become more Christ-like everyday. When people see me I want Jesus to shine through me. 

I got on Pinterest and started a board for my 2012 word....feel free to stop by and check it out=) Have you picked a word yet?

http://pinterest.com/kelnspin/one-word-2012/

S-H-I-N-E

I decided on my word for 2012.......................
.................................................................................can you handle the anticipation..................
.........................................................almost...........................................how..............................about........................................................NOW

shine

One Word for 2012

Last year I heard about "One Word." One word very simply is picking one word you want to focus on for a year. Instead of having resolutions, focus on a word. I really liked this idea when I heard about it and last year I chose Inspire. I've been thinking and thinking about what my word should be for 2012.....one word has really stayed stuck in my head....but is it the one? I honestly haven't tried too hard to think of another one b/c I really like this word or at least I think I do....?

What would your word be? Or what IS your word?