Hilarious!!

My workout has a first name...it's P-I-L-A-T-E-S!

3 Simple Rules in Life

Gratitude: Day 17

Holy Moly! Lazy Blogger strikes again! I totally forgot to finish my 30 Days of Gratitude! 

Today, I am grateful for:

1.) Finding a really awesome, reliable and trustworthy handyman and construction guy. He's been busy working around my house installing new closets, fixing doors and fences and all kinds of good stuff. So happy I found him!

2.) Finding a really good massage therapist at this chiropractor office. His name is John and he is really awesome! He really knows how to work out the knots and gives a very thorough deep tissue massage with zero pain or discomfort.

3.) New beginnings in 2015! I am getting a new puppy, starting Pilates instructor certification and have stayed committed to my resolution to eat at home more and eat out less (and to eat healthier of course)!

I dig this!

White People Observations

Have you ever noticed how white Americans have managed to turn "Mexican" into an insult or derogatory term? It REALLY irks me. I know a lot of Mexicans (personally and professionally). They are amazing people and their culture is rich and proud. It pisses me off when people use it as an insult. It is a nationality for crying out loud! It is probably similar in some parts of the world where being American could get you kidnapped or killed...so guessing those cultures use "American" as a derogatory term or insult.

Republicans successfully made the word "liberal" into a bad word. It has only been recently that liberals are proudly claiming they are Liberals again. I want the same thing to happen for Mexicans.

Harry Potter refused to NOT say Lord Voldemort for fear of the name only increases fear and distrust of the person. Avoiding using the word Mexican is the same concept. 

My Mexican friends describe themselves as Mexican or Mexican Americans (if they are citizens). I refuse to shy away from  identifying them the same way they identify themselves and other white Americans should do the same. And they should especially stop using the word Mexican as a derogatory term and they should stop lowering their voice to a whisper when they say things like, "he is Mexican"...they are only perpetuating the Racist belief that being Mexican is something to be ashamed or embarrassed about. 

Okay...off my soapbox for now

Gratitude: Day 16

One year ago today, I turned in my resignation from the most high profile role I have had in my career with a major consumer packaged goods company. I was burnt out and had had a tremendously right year from a personal perspective and was just ready for something completely different. I knew what I was walking away from and I had no job lined up other than the idea that I wanted to become a Pilates instructor.

I gave my company 90 days with the promise of additional flexibility if needed while they worked to fill my role. 2 weeks after resigning, I was sitting in our corporate office in Manhattan talking with our VP of sales about what I was going to do next. He expressed his appreciation for my contribution as well as concern for the financial risk I was planning totake entering into the fitness industry. 

I must have had a very puzzled look on my face as to the direction of our conversation because he then decided to get to the point of why he called me into the office. He said he understood my desire for change and my entrepreneurial spirit but that he was afraid that I may dip my toes into the fitness industry and might not like it and want to return. His concern was that they may not have a role for me where I wanted to live when I came back so he wanted to discuss options that would allow me to pursue my Pilates certification and still keep my career in tact.

I was stunned...I had not resigned to negotiate and was not expecting this at all. Through several conversations, I was offered a role in a city I selected with a pay increase and full relocation benefits.

It was the beginning of a major turn around in my life and so many amazing things have happened in just 365 days since I turned in my notice on 11/12/13.

Today, I am grateful for:

1.) The amazing company I work for and people I work with every day.

2.) The awesome opportunity they have given me to keep my career while pursuing one of my personal dreams / goals at the same time.

3.) All the positive changes I have experienced in the last year.