Things I've "been meaning to do"...

This blog comes to you today because the night after I decided to resign from my job, as I was drifting off to sleep and a thought came to my mind: I want to go visit Aunt Shirley in Florida ... it's something I've been meaning to do...

The day I resigned, three weeks ago today, as I was driving home from work, I phoned a long-time friend-confidante-spirit-sister and before we hung up, she said, "One thing I will suggest, take some time for yourself and do some things that you want to do..."

In the last several days (well, one week to be exact), I have enjoyed many of these things I have been meaning to do. Things I never accomplished, did not have the mental or physical energy to do while working in my last very-demanding-not-very-fulfilling corporate job. It's funny; you get a real mixed reaction when you tell people you resigned from your position and now you're filling your life with things you want to do versus your life being filled with things you have to do. The older folks seem to understand (I'm generalizing here, I know). The fearful ones instantly break out in a cold sweat and a somewhat-half-shaped smile crosses their face, "You what???". Your friends know you have been unhappy, and most of them don't convey their shock, even if they harbor some.. Then you have other friends who pat you on the back, put their shoulder under your arm, lend their ear and say, "Atta girl! Good for you!" ...

Something I've been meaning to do ... One - Volunteer for Junior Achievement. I have been to the JA office two times in as many days and it feels GREAT! I shared with one of the other volunteers telling her I had recently resigned my position in the corporate world to pursue my passions in life... she got a big smile across her face and said, "That's wonderful.." I have two 4th grade classes on board that I'll be teaching in the next two week; 5 lessons, and I cannot wait!

Yesterday was a fun day full of doing more things I've yet to do... I went to SEARS to pick up a vacuum brush (that's been on "the list" for at least 6 months), then to the library, picked up groceries, and made it home by noon to start preparing a few meals. I got Ann's Chicken started in the crockpot, then started some chile verde on the stove. I even got creative and made two batches of chile verde --one for Lyd and one gluten-free (it was an experiment that went pretty well), then I baked some chicken drumettes we had in the fridge. Around 4pm, I realized I needed to finish up the Ann's Chicken, start some steamed rice, and prepare the burritos. Well, the Ann's chicken was ready for some white wine so I opened up a bottle we had in the fridge and, off and away! I figured I would serve the white wine with dinner, since the bottle was already chilled. Then I started a fire... it was a perfect night for a fire. This was another thing that I had been meaning to do for months. I kept meaning to pick up firestarter logs, and well, then, I kept meaning to get up early to get to work so I could get home early, so I could start the fire and there could eventually be coals for roasting marshmallows.. well, you know how it goes... Anyway, when Lydia got home, I had two wonderful meals prepared and she got to pick which one appealed to her. I can't tell you how long it's been since I really got to unleash my creativity in the kitchen, and boy did it feel good... And the marshmallows roasted over the coals of the fire, boy did they taste good ...

Today's experience in doing something I wanted to do was two fold (well, many fold, as I'll share in a moment) -- but one thing that warmed my heart unexpectedly multiplied into two, and then three.. After leaving the JA office, I took off to deliver some Ann's Chicken to my mother-in-law's fridge. Only upon arriving, I found my key did not work... So I dropped by her neighbor's house, Ms. Joyce, and borrowed her key. When I returned it, she invited me in and made me a cup of hot chocolate. (She even had marshmallows.) I think she needed (and enjoyed) the company, but to be quite honest I probably needed it more. I love older people; there is something so peaceful and heart-warming to me about them. She asked if it was my day off, and I said, well.... no; that I'd resigned my job and was setting out to find my heart's work/my passion.... and do you know what she said? "Ohhhh, God's going to bless you!!!" It was such a wonderful visit. She is a sweat lady and has a precious little puppy and I am so glad I was able to stay for a visit, and not have to rush to the next item on "the list". When I was talking with her, something she said gave me an idea for a service project/non profit that I'm in the throes of researching (stay tuned).

"The list" keeps getting shorter and shorter, and I keep getting happier and happier. I love all the time I have to read books, work and re-work my resume, look for exciting jobs (and journal about why the job is appealing to me), do the laundry as I please, clean the kitchen when I want.... It's awesome that when the creative mood strikes me, I get to do it (whatever it is), and for a long time now, that creative mood's been gone...

Thank God it's back.