Life Lessons in 2012!

Life Lessons in 2012!

I finally got to see Stonehenge this year! Whoo hooo!

I've learned quite a few things in this kooky year! Here are my top 5:

#1. Be thankful!
In everything, I give thanks to GOD! For my life, family, work, friends, clothing, success, failure, opportunities and experiences. I must have been a grumbling version of myself in 2011 but I have learned that with thanksgiving comes a special kind of blessing. Peace follows!

#2. If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again.
And maybe just once more! It's not failing. It's an opportunity to learn more about that endeavor,  practice more and get better. That's what I've learned from certain tests. I still have to try again on one of them....darn!

#3. Do your best.
That's the only thing that will make you feel peace at the end of each day, week and month. To be able to answer the question, "Did you do your best?" in the affirmative is a huge weight off one's shoulders. I do need to learn to value my free time more though. I can't let others use up MY time when they don't really value the sacrifice on my part.

#4. Don't jump at the first opportunity!
I have learned this in the last quarter of the year where I thought I should take the first job offered when it was not really going to add to my career plans or be the right fit for me. A few weeks before I was due to start, opportunities dropped into my lap in a deluge! Now I had to turn away things that I really was interested in for my lack of self-control (and maybe even self belief!).  Give it a week before you say yes next time.

#5. You still have the power to say "NO".
This is something we all tend to be discouraged from as children. As children, we really didn't know enough to give an informed negative answer to whatever problem or opportunity we were presented with. As adults, we feel guilty for saying no! Well, I realized that 8 months in the wrong jobs was too much time to let go. Instead, I reached a compromise with myself: 4 months only and then focus on my career goals during working hours...lol! What I actually did was turn down the second part of the offer mentioned in lesson #4. This gave them 4 months leeway and gave me back my time! Finally, I am being empowered by the word "NO".

What have you learned in 2012?