What would you do with limited time? September 17, 2009
What would you do if you knew you only had a limited time left to live? Do you know when you are going to die? What if your time is up tomorrow, next week, next month, or in a couple of years? What would you do with your life? What would you feel as important?
Challenge yourself: Make a list of things that are important to you. Are they material things, or are they relationships?
Energy Surrounds Us. April 12, 2009
I think that people wonder why I am happy with just being me. Sure, I want to have grand success in whatever I do. However, I don’t attempt to be someone I am not. What does that mean? Well, I don’t try to fit in to a “click” or a group of people who act a certain way and accept eachother’s behavior. I don’t look up to movie stars or other celebrity figures because I know they are only doing their job…getting paid an exorbitant amount, but just doing their job. I say things that I wish to say, with cooth, when I wish to say them and don’t “dance around the point” because it wastes my time (as well as everyone Else’s time).
The thing is that I don’t think that people expect someone to just be themselves these days. I think they expect them to have some hidden agenda or something. It’s really sad.
Am I the most popular mom on the block? No. I don’t expect popularity. Popularity is fading. Loyalty is lasting. I don’t actually fit into the standard mold for a mom. I really don’t fit into the stereo-type mold of an LDS mom. However, I am aware of my surroundings and most of the time don’t walk around doing stuff like a robot (unless I’m really tired or sick) just because it’s what everyone else expects of me. And really, who set up those expectations? I think that there are a lot of moms wandering around attempting to “keep up with the Jones’” and not doing things their way, even if their way would be just as good, if not better. When did people start worrying so much about what other people think instead of what they know? What do I mean by that? I mean…
I know that I am honest
I know that I am secure in my marriage
I know that my kids are clean and well cared for
I know that my home is clean and, while often times cluttered, well cared for
I know that I act Christlike in my dealings with my fellow men
I know that I have a personality and I actually like myself and I think that is important to show our kids
I know that this is my reality and I have every right to form my reality in the way that I want it to be
There are many other components to this and sometimes I am better at it than others. However, with daily practice, I find that the last item on the list encompasses everything else. I know that this is MY reality. I can wake up and have a good attitude, or I can wake up and have a poor attitude. That is up to me. I can sleep in and waste my day, or I can wake up and accomplish something with my time. These are the attitudes that form MY reality.
I do find that I may want to change my life or that I am confused about certain aspects of my life from time-to-time. That is normal. However, by catching up on my sleep, getting plenty of exercise, and praying to my Heavenly Father for guidance and support, I find that I can get back into the groove of living a life that I am happy with myself for living. Reading my scriptures on a daily basis is great help, and doing things like reading “The Secret” are also helpful. They create that positive self talk that I attempt to consistently own in my millions of thoughts per day. Another thing that really helps is taking a walk outdoors. I think that the air (clean or otherwise) is different than it is indoors and the scenery is varied, which helps my psyche to change and become more well-balanced when that balance is out-of-whack.
We are all on this Earth for a very short Human Experience. I want my portion of this experience to be my best possible and done on my terms and in MY reality. Everything around us is built on energy. The energy is constantly circulating. So, imagine that you think a lot of negative thoughts. What would your energy output become? Negative. If you think a lot of positive thoughts, your energy output becomes positive. Whatever reality you think you live in you do. This means that if you think you live in a negative environment you do. If you think you live in a positive environment you do. Just get your thoughts so that they stay on the positive and that energy will circulate and come back to you one hundred fold. I have experimented with this over the years and it is so very true. You can manipulate the energy around you. It takes practice and I am constantly working on it, but it is true.
I am still concerned about my husband’s employment status and wish I felt better about what to do. There is a job with Novell that I would do very well that is the Director of Product Management, Identity and Security. I am thinking of applying, but I don’t know if they would look past my resume that has me volunteering so much (as in NON-paid volunteering). Plus, I’m not sure that they’d want someone who has been at home with kids for the past years or who was sick with Lyme disease for the past 8 years. Aside from that, I’d be extremely proficient at the work they list in their description. I would go back to school (online) and get a degree in whatever they’d want me to get one. Plus, I learn like a sponge and can read up to 1500 pages in 3 days and retain the majority of what I read (but how do you prove that in an interview). Also, my 145 IQ would be useful to them, but how do you prove that without looking like an arrogant moron! If anyone reads this and has ideas, I’d love to hear from you. However, I know that the majority of who I am writing for is me, myself, and I.
Also, my 12 year old son is beginning to act like a teen and I don’t quite know what to make of it. He has been such a sweet loving boy and is now telling me “no”. Kinda like the “Twilight Zone”. I am just attempting to keep the lines of communication open with him. I love my kids! I’ll write more about this another time.
I am at home sick with my 8 year old son who is sick with a cold. We should be at church. I always feel so guilty when I miss church…especially Sacrament meeting. I love to go and feel the Spirit. I know that my Redeemer lives. This Easter Sunday I am so grateful that He died for my sins that I can repent and go and live with him again. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that the Bible is the word of God. I appreciate all of those who came before me who wrote the records that are contained in those books. They are most valuable to me. I also hope that the times wind down as quickly as I feel they are and that the Second Coming of Christ happens soon. I really want to be a witness of that time and live to do the work during and following that time. I know that some may think that is crazy, but since I know I only get one Human Experience, I want to make it as long as possible…150 years or so. My husband tells me that I don’t really want that because I’d be lonely. However, I really do. I know I am not alone no matter how many or how few people there are around me.
Until next time…I’d love feedback on my questions, concerns, ideas.
Confusion March 30, 2009
I know people out there may think that I must think I am so very special because I feel that I can conquer the world. However, I don’t. In fact, I struggle. I struggle to be supportive of my husband who seems to have focus issues, but is a very good man. I struggle to be the mom that my two boys need and not judge myself with other people’s standards projected into myself. I struggle with my intellect because I know I can do anything. My mind struggles with my heart. I know that being a good mom will give much more long-term satisfaction than going out and getting a big job. I know that keeping a neat and clean home will give my kids an example for how they feel comfort and how they will keep their own homes when they get older. However, I have gotten so involved in volunteering in my community and have gotten overly involved, including putting my name in the run for Mayor.
Here is a copy of my resume as an example of what I have been involved in…and it doesn’t even cover everything.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/natashacall
video resume: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkaB9TsPB3E
writing sample: http://issuesoncall.blogspot.com
Objective:
To work for a company utilizing my passion for research, writing, current events and my speaking and presentation talents
Qualification Highlights
- Passion for current events and all sources pertaining to those current events
- 13 years of computer desk-top publishing
- 15 years of sales experience
- Public image and presentation skills
Capabilities
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Experience:
Freelance Marketing, Writing and Editing, Saratoga Springs, Utah 2008-present
- Successfully develop low-cost marketing plans for customers.
- Write/edit dynamic web content, paper media content, blog content
- Suggest metadata, social networks, blog ideas, various web layouts for marketing
- Represent clients at various conventions and events as a spokesperson
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Professionally network for clients to exchange links with complimentary companies
- Motivate clients to talk and think positively, as well as instill in them a personal confidence for the marketing of their products and/or services
- Promote client services through prize drawings, SEO, social networking on the Internet
- Extensive use of online tools to promote client services
- Client examples: http://www.usa-c.com/cms2/index.php, http://digitalartimpressions.com
Issues on Call (http://issuesoncall.blogspot.com), Saratoga Springs, Utah 2007-present
Owner/Researcher/Writer/Editor
- Specializing in articles related to political issues, current events, controversial issues
- Extensive topic research utilizing various online and book form resources
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Exceptional awareness of current events
- Knowledge of various government agencies and facilities in the U.S., as well as global
- Manipulated my blogger template utilizing JavaScript and HTML to include widgets and advertisements, as well as appropriate metadata.
Saratoga Springs Civic Events Committee, Saratoga Springs, Utah Jan.-present
Interim Chair, Integral Organizer
- Successfully organized civic events committee for Saratoga Springs, Utah
- Recruited other volunteers to positions for “Saratoga Splash”, and other civic events
- Created a successful theme contest for ages 5-12 to create a theme for Splash’09
- Created sub-committees for aspects of “Splash”, including the Model Airplane Show, Neighborhood Events, Electric Lights Boat Parade, Talent/Entertainment, Baby Contest, Sports Tournament, Parade, Vendors, Brunch, Safety, Logistics, Fundraising, Fireworks, Carnival, Advertising
Alpine School District, Harvest Elementary, Saratoga Springs, Utah 2008-present
Legislative Vice President, PTA
- Sought out by the school PTA President and President-Elect
- Communicate with parents to help them understand PTA education issues
- Extensive coordination of events at the elementary school
- Participate in Legislative activities around the state that involve the Utah PTA, including the PTA Day at the Legislature, where I networked with my representatives.
- Participate in monthly board meetings arranging and facilitating for the enrichment activities of the elementary school
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Saratoga Springs, Utah 2008-present
Asset, Team Member
- Volunteer during emergencies and disasters in Saratoga Springs, Utah
- Successfully completed extensive training in triage, search and rescue, disaster psychology, emergency response, earthquake, tornado, flood, biological terrorism, hazmat.
- Asset to the local Homeland Security operations
- Specific duty – to address the media in the case of an emergency
Saratoga Springs Neighborhood Outreach, Saratoga Springs, Utah 2008-present
Neighborhood Watch Captain
- Successfully organized Neighborhood Watch (new development), dividing the neighborhood, approaching neighbors about program, setting-up neighborhood captains
- Arrange meetings with the city Police Department, Neighborhood Outreach Representative and neighbors, incorporating personal door-to-door communication
- Successfully facilitate relationship between neighborhood and city Police Department
- Facilitate the meetings and encourage neighbors’ communication with one another
- Encouraging neighborhood emergency preparedness
- Participate in city emergency preparedness program
- Example of my community activism – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0G7TZxuLUE
Alpine School District, Saratoga Springs, Utah 2008-present
Substitute Teacher
- Successfully follow lesson plans provided by the teacher(s)
- Encourage children to accomplish the goals the teacher(s) have set for them
- Keep the children safe and care for their wellbeing throughout the day
- Testing and/or following the curriculum provided by the teacher.
Alpine School District, Harvest Elementary PTA, Saratoga Springs, Utah 2008-Mar., 2009
Knowledge Bowl Commissioner
- Coordinated grades 3-6 benchmarks with 30+students, focusing on “the arts”.
- Extensively researched and created study guides and other study materials
- Successfully created a blog for study located at http://harvestknowledge09.blogspot.com
- Example of materials produced – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cha5gzqBiQ0
- Prepared the students for competition held in March’09.
- Approximately 15-20 weekly volunteer hours on preparation and delivery.
- Coordinating and communicating with parents of involved students.
- Successful competition as the first year that Harvest Elementary has competed in “The Arts”, and only the second year in Knowledge Bowl.
Alpine School District, Harvest Elementary PTA, Saratoga Springs, Utah 2007-2008
Knowledge Bowl Coach, Grades 5-6
- Coordinated grades 5-6 benchmarks with 6+students, focusing on “Science”.
- Extensively researched and created study guides and other study materials
- The intense study period was in preparation for competition held in March’08.
- Approximately 15 weekly volunteer hours on preparation and delivery.
- Coordinating and communicating with parents of involved students.
- Successful competition as the first year that Harvest Elementary has competed in “Science”, and the first year in the Knowledge Bowl competition.
Freelance Interior Designer, Saratoga Springs, Utah 2007-2008
- Space planning and sales of interior design services to residential and business customers
- Home staging for placing on the market
- Home staging videos for clients as links to their house listings on the Internet
- Edited flyers and online information regarding the clients homes
- Example – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpafeLginYg
- Example – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TBNxa6WwmY
I am really good at everything I do…I would never do any of it half way. But I question whether I should be running for Mayor. My husband lost his job on Monday, March 16th after having a good review. This is the third time in the past 5 years or so that he has lost his job. …back to the focus…
I was running for Mayor because our city has had some issues and I feel that I can do something to change things to the better. Well, since then I have had the opportunity to find out that the City Manager makes $110K per year and the Mayor only makes $700 per month. Does that make sense? Not really when you find out that the city manager doesn’t even live in the same county and has let the city run itself into the ground…hence, no accountability equals a lack of caring where the city puts its money. Plus, I find that the mayor job is that of a passive mayor. During city council meetings the mayor cannot vote. Also, I have had the opportunity to have encounters with many city council members who have alternative agendas and a major axe to grind with someone like me who is sticking up for things the way they should be and is not on a power trip. It has been quite eye opening and I really don’t know what to do. I don’t plan on lowering my standards to that which I see currently in office in the various offices. So, I don’t know if people will vote for me…I won’t lie to them, I won’t tell them only the things they want to hear, I won’t talk poorly about others…seems kinda fruitless.
Also, I am attempting to work on a website development/SEO company with my husband. However, it is causing him not to focus on getting a job…we will need a real job before we have enough income from this company. I am almost done with the website and it should be up and running soon…if I can get my husband to focus on it. I am finding that I am doing the house work and the web development, and he wants me to find a job, and he wants me to start this company, and he wants me to be a good wife, a good home maker, a good mom, and everything else. It is amazing! I know he would not like it if he read this, but oh well. I think this is better than other ways I can take out my frustration. I guess he figures I can do it all too since I never complain and I DO it all.
What can I say. I am very frustrated and feel torn between what I should be doing and what I could be doing. I am sure I am not the only wife and mother out there that feels this way. However, I have not had a full life of being able to do it all. I have (fall 2007) recovered from an extended sickness (8 really sick years, Doctors say probably 30 years total) with late-stage Lyme disease. Before getting tested for it, I was in a wheel chair, couldn’t speak clearly, had horrible tremors, seizures, etc. They thought I had everything from Parkinson’s to Alzheimer’s. So, I am now at a point of starting a second chance at life…not something people get very often. Since I am so lucky, I feel it is extremely important that I use all of my talents and all of the studying and reading that I did while sick for greater purposes. But, what do I do? The confusion is getting me so frustrated.
Do I look for a job? Or do I work for myself? What would my Heavenly Father want me to do, want me to be? I have prayed about it, and continue to pray about it. Should I run for Mayor? How will I get sponsors for my campaign with the economy bombing like it is? What would be the best job for my talents and my skills? Do I tell people that I have 145 IQ?…okay, I wouldn’t do that. That would be completely out of my character…brag, boast, belittling others…no thanks. Those hidden skills and talents like being able to read a 1500 page book withsmall print in 3 days and remember the information, my IQ, my lack of fear of anything…really anything…my adventurous spirit, my hobby of being a nerd and knowing all that is going on in my community, my city, my county, my state, my country, and most especially globally…my love of gardening, my love for music of all kinds (okay…minus rap), my desire for everyone around me to be happy at the disability of myself, my desire to treat everyone around me as Christ would do, my love for life, my love for people…even those who do me wrong…is there something wrong withme? Why is it that I don’t have a bunch of friends, that there are so many people who are just not interested in being loyal? Yep…I have a bit of information churning in my noggin and I am a bit confused at what to do with it. Where do I hone my skills, my talents? Is it possible for me to succeed in the way I think I can…that I can do anything?
Now that I have written this, I need to think about checking on my son. He is looking up some stuff on the computer upstairs and I need to be sure that he is not looking up stuff on YouTubethat I told him he needs to stay away from. He has this infatuation withviolence and Star Wars. He is 12 but he is already acting like a teen. I am trying not to act like my parents did withme…not trusting, disregarding my opinion because I was just a kid…I am attempting to show him mutual respect. Of course, he doesn’t have to worry about the stuff I did…plates, furniture, other things being thrown across the room at me, being hit, being emotionally abused, etc. My husband and I are very careful of that. However, my husband does disregard the opinions a little more than I’d like and he gives my kids a clear indication of when he is frustrated with other things by the tone of voice he uses when he talks to them at those times. Control. Control is the key. Also, the objective of mutual respect and teaching your kids that they have endless possibilities in their future for contributing to this earth and to society. I think that parameters are important, but never should they feel that they have a roof on achievement..a ceiling.
Anyway, I am getting myself into another area of things. This post is just supposed to show confusion…maybe this helps the visual:)
With this post, I leave a testimony of my church…the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I wish I could give others the feeling that I feel from the Spirit. I know that my church is true. I know that Christ died for our sins and that there is a plan in which we can be with him and our families forever. I know that we are not supposed to be miserable here on earth, but we are meant to have joy and happiness. With that, I know that we have the opportunity to make choices and then learn from those choices. I know that everyone on this earth is here for the same reason. We are here to gain a body, make choices, learn, have families, gain knowledge, and have the opportunity to make choices so that we can be back with our Heavenly Father again. He is a loving God. He feels sad when we are not making the right choices, when we are sad, when times are hard. I hope that I can make the right choices and be with him and with my family again. That is my ultimate goal.
How do I start? January 8, 2009
This blog is harder than I thought it was going to be. It is easy to write on my other blogs (http://issusoncall.blogspot.com, http://natashacall.blogspot.com and the others), but this one is just harder. What do I say? Will you find it interesting?
Sometimes I feel like I am not grown up enough to take the responsibility to run for Mayor. Then I think that I have had plenty of life experience to run. I have learned a ton over the past 38 years…a lot that may be helpful to others, either in running things or in the manner I behave. I learned that first and foremost the Golden Rule is the most important. I guess that goes along with being Christ-like. There are so many people who cast judgements without giving people a chance…either because of what people look like, dress like, say, or otherwise, without giving them time to show their true colors. That makes me sad! One of the only reasons I believe we are here (and one of the only things we can take with us) is to have relationships with others. Clicks are not the way to go. Those are judgemental and limiting.
I am about to take some time to play with my 8 year old son, since he is done with his homework. My 11 year old son is sick with the stomach flu…I feel bad and wish I could make him feel better.
Life is a funny thing. January 2, 2009
It’s funny. When I was a kid I didn’t have any idea that I’d have the experiences I have had. Ahh, naive little me.
Did I think that I’d go to hell and back before becoming healthy enough to run for Mayor of my sweet little town of Saratoga Springs, Utah? No one expects the worse of course. Then, once you have experienced the worse, you don’t expect the best. But that is where I am. The best. Even when things get a bit bad I feel blessed.
In order to understand my perception of a positive life, no matter what, you need to understand where I have been, where I am coming from.
Note:
My main blogs are located at http://issuesoncall.blogspot.com and http://natashacall.blogspot.com.
When you have a chance, please feel free to visit them. I have spent most of my time and energy on my blog at http://issuesoncall.blogspot.com.
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