[sharonpdx]

steps in some direction

never entirely sure which direction ... but to move forward is something in and of itself, perhaps.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover.                                                  {Mark Twain}

Submitted my proposal for a training on Time & Stress Management for Early Childhood Leaders to the NAEYC 2006 Annual Conference committee yesterday.  If accepted, I'll be team-teaching with Kim, my coworker, Western Region partner and friend.  She's a bit intimidated at the prospect, which makes me want this proposal accepted all the more: to present again at the National Conference, and to coach her past her fears toward confidence in presenting to this audience.  Fingers crossed (toes, too) - I'll let you know when I do.

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In other news, the 5 "traditional" scrapbookers chosen for Andie Smith Designs'  Design Team were announced today - and my name is among the five!  Andie's designs are entirely digital -  she already had a digital DT but wanted to throw some traditional (or as she says, "paste-eating") scrapbookers into the mix, too!

After spending 2005 designing for My Scrap Shoppe, I was planning to devote 2006 to myself - but I'm glad I went for this...  I'm thinking it's just the thing I need to stretch myself and continue developing my design style!   Andie is a fantastic mentor, talented photographer and also a good friend of mine, so this should be a lot of fun, too!  I look forward to learning more about graphic and digital design and becoming fluent in Adobe Photoshop Elements...  it's about time.

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Finally, in a related story: Jerod loves the term "paste-eater."  I think he may start introducing me to strangers in this manner.  Oh dear.   

living her dream

Received a lovely, lengthy letter from my dear friend Julie today.  In our past lives, we were coworkers who saw each other every day and scrapbooked together every Tuesday evening.  Now, she's living hours away in Parachute, Colorado, where her husband and his brother own a sporting-goods store.  She is truly living her dream ... raising their daughter Kayla as a stay-at-home mom, with the freedom to spend their days together as they see fit.  In her letter, she shares that she checks out my blog every day... I can't tell you all how good it makes me feel to hear that from you - from all of you who tell me that.  It allows me to picture you and think of each of you as I type each post.  Julie, this one's for you.  And if you come to Denver one more time without calling first, so help me.

Julie really got me to thinking about this dream concept tonight.  For many months, this dream was out of her reach.  But together, she and Kevin took several deep breaths and a huge leap - and made it happen.  MaryFrances is working toward her dream, operating scrapbookeronline while continuing in her job at Harvard.  Where am I in progress toward my dreams?  What are they, really?  (well, besides owning an Ann Taylor Loft store and using it as my personal closet...) 

When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to deliver a sermon to the entire congregation during my church's annual youth day.  I'll never forget one parishoner who told me, with firm conviction: You must have a job that allows you to write, and to speak.  I think of that often, and am pleased that role as a corporate trainer meets those basic criteria.  But many dreams - they're quite scary to say out loud.  Sometimes I throw them out there to a group of people almost like a joke; "When I have my own line of luggage," I say... or "That is definitely going in my book." 

My dreams are in fact, quite well-defined.  Write and publish a book.  Develop my own line of luggage.  Create my own consulting company.  Be recognized as a power player in the training industry, and perhaps the early childhood industry.

Thanks, Julie, for the encouragement to think about what I'm doing toward those dreams.

This is the quote that has been pushing me forward since the new year began:
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has genuis, power, and magic in it. 
Begin it now.
{Goethe}

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And another thing...
Some of you who visit keep your visits anonymous.  Others of you, like my wonderful mother, and dear Heather, post replies often. I am grateful to all of you.  Though Mom, keep bringing up threats of photos that could put a damper on my Rollergirls career and I might be less pleased...

in my next life...

...I will be a Rollergirl.  Specifically, a jammer in the TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls Austin League. 

I have completely fallen in love with Rollergirls on A&E.  Lux is currently my favorite rollergirl, though from next week's previews I think I'm going to like Miss Conduct, too.

I'm currently accepting suggestions for my Rollergirl name... Venus Envy, Cha Cha, Sister Mary Jane and Punky Bruiser are already taken, but feel free to draw inspiration from these when generating ideas.

It appears you also get to pick your number, too... Miss Conduct is Infinity, Venus Envy is 9.5... seems any number is free reign, so I'll entertain ideas there, too. 

Seriously, I'd make a fantastic Rollergirl.  Jerod isn't 100% convinced, but I am. 

surprised!

I'm still in shock: Marcy posted a thread congratulating me for my mention in the February 06 Creating Keepsakes magazine - and I seriously thought she must have been mistaken!  Then I read further and saw that Val had found the mention in the mag, too ... I pulled mine out, heart pounding, and there it was, on page 163: a mention in editor Tracy White's list of 10 submitted pages that caught her eye this month!  I submitted this layout to CK for their School Pages call and was disappointed when it wasn't picked up; this is an unexpected - and wonderful - surprise!

                                        

What a great way to start the New Year!