Bored During the NEW Normal?

I’ve been growing, how about you?

My friend, Tim Maudlin tagged me in his story of the same name. He was invited by Rasheed Hooda (another friend :) to share how the NEW normal in our world has affected my life.

As I write this story on June 18th, it is exactly 3 months ago today that SIP started…My first day off in a long time — March 18th. It seems like so long ago, much longer than 3 months.

Part of it could be the change in seasons. I started SIP walking in the sunshine on cold early spring days. In my long down coat, all bundled up. And tonight I walked in my summer attire on a beautiful warm, breezy evening.

Have any of you scrolled back to your SIP stories, and just reminisced? I’ve done it at times when I am looking for a particular article. I smile and think back to when I wrote the story and what was happening around that time.

A lot of nice memories…during a time that I considered (still do) a gift of time. Not to minimize the pain that has been felt by many, just making the best out of what was given to me.

A time when I slowed, was able to focus more on myself and create. Create articles, create NEW friendships with awesome fellow writers on Illumination. Create my NEW business, NEWLAND WELLNESS.

Create more joy in my life as my friend Trista Ainsworth has shared with her 30-day writing challenge as she spent time bringing more joy in. This has been a joyful time for me! Doesn’t mean butterflies and rainbows, there have been sad, even scary times during this time for me as well.

But I choose to focus on the joy.

During this creation of a NEW normal, SIP was a gift of time and moving forward, now is the time of reinvention. Tim mentioned the same thing — and he also shared that since May of 2019, he has been reinventing himself.

I can relate! I’ve been reinventing myself for the last 5 1/2 years. As many of you know, that is when my ex left — after 29 years. I had never lived on my own or supported myself…my, how I have “grown”…

…bringing me to where I am now, following a calling from my heart. To create a business helping other women mid-life reinvent themselves as well. To not just give up, but to dig in and live a life of meaning. To be empowered.

To make the second half of life, the best half. To be strong, healthy, and well, vibrant, youthful — to be ageless.

To feel some control in these out of control times — to find peace.

It was back at the end of May that I shared a story inspired by a few friends and their articles of pain, power, and pleasure. I shared the uncertainty of my job with such a long SIP. I also questioned in another article how I would juggle my day job, my business, and my time on Illumination.

The Universe answered — my place of business took a big hit during this time. In fact, we are first opening today, with me starting next week. Pre SIP, I was a salaried, full-time employee. I return as an hourly, part-time employee.

In this time of reinvention, it is also a time of faith. I’ve been down this jagged road before — the scary times since being on my own. I’ve made it out, stronger, and smarter than when I entered. I will do it once again!

While my mind says, “What the hell are you going to do?!!!” my heart says, “What you’ve been creating, your business.” And now to move full steam ahead! I guess I could say I’ve been given another gift of time, in working 20 hours a week instead of 40 to focus on my passion.

If you have been reading my stories, by now you know that music speaks to me. Shortly after the news about the change in my employment, as I was having a moment of stress, a song popped into my head.

…I won’t let you down — Freedom…

…I will not give you up — Freedom…

…You got to have some faith in the sound — Freedom…

If you haven’t guessed, it’s George Michael’s coming out song — Freedom. Though I’m not coming out in the way he was, I can relate, as I continue becoming who I am meant to be.

I’ve had a theme of freedom in my life now for years and I feel like the Universe is telling me, it’s got my back —that it’s with me and helping me.

This song really resonates with me:

But today the way I play the game is not the same…no way

…think I’m gonna get myself happy.

I think there’s something you should know…I think it’s time I told you so…

…there’s something deep inside of me…there’s someone else I’ve got to be…

To me, those words sum up how I feel about my job. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for my time there, love what I do — but I’m not doing what I love.

And it’s time to start! I went from a top leader at WW with an amazing time in meeting rooms all over. I took people to deeper levels, bigger pictures. Now I’m at a place that I needed to go to make the connections I did to move me forward. Connections such as my business coach Tom Anderson.

I thought I would only be there for 6 months and it’s 2 1/2 years later. It’s not the same game and time to get myself happy. There is someone else I’ve got to be…

I’ve gotten comfortable there. Dreaming of something more, nervous to take the risk. Feelings of imposter syndrome, which is very common in coaches — and as the frame above states, There’s someone I forgot to be.

I’m returning to who I once was, but not for WW, for my NEW company…

What messages are you noticing? Maybe like with me, it comes in songs…Start listening and looking at things another way. Which is why I shared my process with this song.

And as Tim shared in his story, unlike a friend of his in a FB posting he saw, he’s anything but bored. I agree — it’s been a time full of opportunity!

And speaking of opportunity, I’m tagging you my friends to come and join me on Illumination’s YouTube channel. I would love for you to post your bios there — to actually see and hear you.

I’m putting in this link for mine ONLY because I share what Illumination means to me. How grateful I am to our amazing leader, Dr Mehmet Yildiz, AND how grateful I am to be with all of you!

I’ve written about it numerous times, but words cannot express — I hope you can feel how much gratitude I have for each and everyone one of you…

Before the tags, here art the links to the articles I referenced:

Tim’s inspiring story:

And Rasheed’s witty rendition:

As I read Rasheed’s I see he was inspired by another friend Joe Luca. Here’s his funny and very thought provoking piece:

And Trista’s articles on Joy — all lovely. I chose this one, which is her last:

I want to thank YOU— all of you for our journey together! I hope to see you soon on YouTube: Tim Maudlin, Timothy Key, Rasheed Hooda, Joe Luca, Desiree Driesenaar, Gurpreet Dhariwal, Selma, Henery X (long), Francine Fallara, Keno Ogbo, JeffHerring.com, Thomas Anderson, Sandra Szubert, Trista Ainsworth, Amy Marley, Paul Myers MBA, P.G. Barnett, Terry Mansfield, Chowa Sekai, John Ross, Indra Raj Pathak, Kathryn A. LeRoy, Ph.D., Aurora Eliam, CMP, Jessica Cote, Erin King, Kevin Buddaeus, Salam Khan, Ksenia Sein, Livia Dabs, Dipti Pande, Mary Holden, Bill Abbate, Alison Tennent, Ann K Frailey, Chris Hedges, Karen Madej 💛(I realize Karen, Chris, Alison, and Ann are on the channel already, but including them in my gratitude). I hope I didn’t leave anyone out… And to those NEW to me that have read my articles — thank you!!

Before I close, I recently signed up for Tony Robbins Comeback Challenge, a 7-day free event on FB. If you need some help reinventing yourself due to these times, the challenge starts on Tuesday the 23rd. Who better to guide but TR… Go to the Facebook group now to join if you are interested.

Until next time ~

Sending you love, light — much gratitude and more love!

Be Well,