I haven’t written a super personal post in a while, and this is definitely in that category. If you’re here for politics, rants, raves, etc – this isn’t any of those. This post has to do with my decision to focus only on laughter and joy in all things.
Those of you who know me in real life know that I have had a lot going on in my life, for years, that has made me an unhappy, grumpy, unhealthy, workaholic stressball much of the time. Something happened to upset my mental apple cart three years or so ago, and where before I’d been content to tow the line of the status quo, at that point I began to crave something better for me, in all things.
“What happened?”, you ask. Well, the biggest thing (though not the only thing, definitely the catalyst) was a car wreck that put me out of commission for months. How the people closest to me handled it surprised me, in some cases disappointed me, and overall started forcing me to think about what I wanted to be surrounded by in friends, partners, business, clients and more. I started making little changes, but they never seemed enough. Some of the changes were ill advised. some I chickened out of the first time I tried them and had to go back and try again.
Time marched on, and as I worked all of this out, every positive change became easier. Until now, years later, on the anniversary of my accident, I am exactly where I need to be right now.
In business, I tried to be involved in two businesses for a time, to help a friend, but splitting my time like that to spend 40 hours a week or more on EACH company, never sleeping, etc. drove me crazy (and her, I’m sure). So I decided it was time to go back to just my own business. That’s the change that took twice to “take” – first to try something new (a second business) and next to find the way to move on to what was really best for me. I am infinitely happier in work again now, since I did that in November last year.
Now that I am focused solely on my own company again, my eyes are open to all of the changes I didn’t make last year while I was juggling my time. Expect a revamp of Uptown Uncorked – name, web site, services, more. It’s long over due. I am so excited to make my work fit where I am right now in life. I want my work to work for me to enable my life, not the other way around. Heck, I even fired all non-paying clients and slow paying clients in November as well – starting 2011 with only those clients who are willing to work on their successes as hard as I am.
Speaking of life, in July, I quit smoking. I used a charity as a reason, and it worked. It worked with flying colors. I feel so, so much better. I started eating better – mostly protein and vegetables with very few carbs. I look and feel much happier. I’m working exercise into the equation. I’m leaving the computer more and more often to do more and more things like I used to like to do all the time. I’m reading more. I’m spending more time with my friends, talking to them more often.
In December came another decision, also long overdue – the decision to end that long relationship I’d been in that had been making me (and him) stressed and unhappy for so long. It had really been over, or dying on the vine, for years – since my car accident. It just took a while to see it. This one took a couple of tries as well, once last summer, and now, one that stuck. Happily, we’ve been friends far longer than we’d dated, so I think the friendship can be saved – but it took a hit. That makes me sad, but I know we are both so much better apart.
2011 has started off with so much joy and laughter, with people who make me smile from the inside out, and with so much hope for work and life and the future. I plan to continue this trend of focusing on joy. I hope you do also. I can’t wait to see what comes next 
Stay awesome.
If you have known me a while, you know I am not a sap, or a crier. I’ve always been a tough chick, a tomboy. In fact, in my distant past, occasionally kind of a brawler – not a bawler. First to get angry or sarcastic, last to get weepy. First to pick the action movie for the date, last to pick the rom-com. Well, not anymore, folks.
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