Wanted: energy to clean the house!

This week I decided to let my cleaning lady go because 1) she & her partner were not doing such a great job and 2) for $65 every two weeks, I could do a much better job. I was off yesterday and was supposed to take care of the cleaning then but for some reason it didn’t happen (i.e. I didn’t feel like doing it). Here I am Saturday morning trying to muster up the energy to do it and I’m not finding it. I need to find another cleaning lady! The whole point of hiring one was to free up time for me to concentrate on my writing and other projects at hand, so I have to stop myself right now from justifying the savings with me doing it myself. Even if it only takes two hours a week, with working full-time outside of the house right now, two hours is very precious time.

This week I’ve been riding a small roller coaster of emotions which I’ve been attempting to contain by meditating on a regular basis. The meditation seems to be working! When I find myself getting annoyed with work and wanting to quit ASAP, I reel myself back in knowing that I’m not there forever, my goals are on track, and I will be a success in achieving those goals, but it will not happen overnight. Deep breathing is critical at this point! My current job pays well, but the work is a drag and I get fed up with the office politics (one of the many reasons why I want to work from home). Even when I make it a point to remain disconnected from the politics, it’s still all around me and the negative energy tries its best to suck me in. The office where I’m at now does not have a telecommuting policy in place and they are really dragging their feet in implementing one. Several other government agencies have a policy in place, but nearly all are offices located in D.C. (a nearly two hour train ride – driving with traffic would be nearly as long – one way), so I hope to fight to get telecommuting in my agency. Realistically, I hope to be on my own in the next year and a half, so the point of implementing a telecommuting policy at the office is moot.

I also finally cleaned out my attic last week and found a letter my father had written me years ago. More on this later, along with the details of the first ever yard sale I will be having! Take care…

Welcome to the Treadmill Tribune!

No, the Treadmill Tribune is not about purchasing treadmills or using them for indoor running. It serves as a metaphor for me. I often feel like life is like a treadmill – you’re running in a forward projection, doing something good for yourself, seeming to make progress in improving yourself, but you get off and realize you really haven’t gotten anywhere! For years I have been dreaming of working independently, not having to be tied down to a schedule inflicted upon me by my employer. The work I have been doing, while profitable, has been and still is, completely unfulfilling to me. Upon reading Sully Erna’s The Paths We Choose, I realized I had been settling in life. His story is one of perseverance, believing in yourself that you can make your dreams come true by working hard and ignoring the naysayers. He never gave up on himself, and although it took awhile, his dream became a reality and he is now quite a success. I realized after reading his book that there are people out there making a living doing things they love and are passionate about. Why wasn’t I? I wasn’t because I allowed myself to flow with the status quo, believing that grown-ups don’t dream – reality is working 9-5 and paying the bills and trying to do something enjoyable on the weekends. NO MORE! I cannot go on spending the majority of my life commuting 45 minutes one way, each day, to a 8X8 cell (sorry, cubicle), chained to a chair for nine hours a day, plugging away on a computer with work that does not inspire me, does not interest me, nor that I even believe in. Change is happening and it is happening NOW!

The Treadmill Tribune is a forum for adults to unload their frustrations with life and share their dreams of their future and what they are doing to make their dreams a reality. I will be sharing my life and dream plans along the way. Likewise, I want to her from people who are living their dream and how they accomplished it. I originally planned on narrowing the blog to just other women who do not have children and feel the way I do, but I realized we could learn a lot more by including everyone. With that said, this blog is for adults only. No, there will be nothing pornographic about it. But those with children – mentally find a babysitter and come here for you only. Even though you have kids and the thought process is to put them first, here I say no, put yourself first. Realize your dreams and inspire your children to do the same. We will also discuss ways to make your life better in terms of fitness, nutrition, spirituality, and the like.

Life is too short to shrug off dreams. Get off the treadmill!