Forced To Retire

I remember when I was coming up, I heard my parents talking about older people being forced into retirement. I couldn't help but to think that was the most disrespectful and the highest form of disregard ever.

I never thought it would happen to me. At least not this early. I'm only thirtysomething for crying out loud.

But today, it happened.

Today, I took my last appointment.

When I decided to take classes to become a licensed nail technician, I was full of excitement, hope and dreams that I could be successful.

I forgot to factor in one thing.

Clients.

You see clients can make or break you. Their positive or negative comments or the lack of either can affect your business tremendously.
When I first started, I had a lot to learn. I was not very good. I didn't understand the products I was using and I made a lot of mistakes! But as time went on I got better. I even relocated to a larger market. There, I found that my profession was respected and my services were sought after. I worked 6 days a week. I came in early and left late. It was amazing!

When I came back to Toledo, I thought if I utilized the same work ethic that I used there I would get the same results.

WRONG!

I didn't count on people having the attitude that having disregard for someone else was an acceptable way to live. I have seen the best in some people. They made appointments, kept them, showed up on time, paid in full, didn't ask for credit, tipped and then booked another appointment. And then there were the others.

The others are what put me in the place I'm in now. Well, them and the economy decline. I lost the majority of my clients because their income changed.

So today when I got a text message for an appointment I scheduled it. Fully expecting her to show up. Unfortunately, she turned to be one of "the others". Quite honestly, I'm tired.

So after yet another no call no show. I'm hanging up my brush and returning to the regular workforce until I start school. I appreciate my faithful clients and look forward to seeing them from across my table again someday.
Thanks!

I Like My Curves!

Spring is approaching which means summer is just around the corner. I like most people have reassessed my year so far to determine what areas should remain the same and where I should make changes.

Of course the issue of weight came to mind and I began to seriously look into gyms and home exercise equipment. I had more than enough help and advice, one person even told me that I could get a free 30 day trial to a gym, another option would be to join a local gyms version of the biggest loser and compete for prizes while losing weight all on a complimentary membership.
To my suprise, I began to almost obsess about this. I thought of rearranging my schedule to accomodate workout times, I even thought about going to the mall before hours to walk, I figured with all the older people that I would come in contact with, I could have some very interesting conversation while shedding the pounds. This obessession went on for a couple of weeks and then I had to cook for a couple of parties and plan Easter dinner. Needless to say that peach cobbler I made dismissed any notions I had about working out!

After I regained consciousness, I revisited this weight loss thing and decided that my main focus would be to gain stamina so I would not run out of breath when singing. That way, I won't focus so much on losing weight. Doing that can be a hinderance and you end up gaining or worse, doing anything to lose like taking dangerous supplements just to meet a goal.

Now usually when I am thinking on this level, it is late at night when the house is quiet. The television is on but I'm not really watching it, mainly because there is nothing on but infomercials. This particular evening, however, I happened to catch a glimpse of a diet pill commercial. I saw a woman in a bikini next to a slightly larger woman, still in a bikini. Same woman, same bikini, the difference? The little bikini wearing chick was just the larger bikini wearing chick after taking a diet pill!

WHAAAT! Who are they kidding?!?

Okay here's my problem, if you can wear a bikini, then you are not in need of a diet pill! And if these companies want someone like me to buy their product then they need to show a real woman with a weight issue. Shoot, I wouldn't mind being the size of the slightly larger bikini wearing chick! Lord knows if I put a bikini on right now I may get arrested for indecent exposure!

That got me to thinking, is it really a big deal if I can't wear a bikini? I mean I never wanted to wear one anyway. Honestly, I like my curves. When I was in high school, I had no shape whatsoever. And now I have hips! So I really don't want to lose them! I mean sure I've seen cute clothes in the mall, but I am not under 25 and have no business wearing belly shirts and skin tight jeans. I know women that are older than me that dress younger than my 14yr old daughter!

What I want is to put on a pair of jeans with no muffintop, and to walk without starting a thigh fire! That's it. Everything else can stay. I know I will never be pencil thin and trust me, I don't wanna be. I had a checkup and my doctor said all was good I just needed to lose a few pounds.

Maybe I'll go on a diet.

After I eat these cookies...

Living With Passion or Just Getting Paid

This year I made a decision to pursue my passion and not make the amount of my salary my number one focus. The decision came about as a result of being completely unfulfilled at my job I thought I loved.

I became a nail technician because I love art and doing my own nails. I received a lot of compliments on the work I did, I was even recognized nationally for some of my nail art. Sadly the economy, an extreme amount of no call no shows, and people looking for the cheapest deal forced me out of the shop, into my home and eventually stopping altogether.

But that's another story for another time.

Being at home these past few weeks caused me to "review my situation". I did a lot of self reflection and even conquered some things that were hindering my personal progress.

It was in a moment, having a conversation with my kids about choosing the right career path, that I realized I needed to follow my own advice. So, I took the necessary steps to return to college and earn my Bachelor's degree.

The advice I gave my children was to follow their passion.

I wish I would have done that a long time ago. It would have saved a lot of heartache and money spent.

Writing has always been my first love. More than art,more than singing, more than making people laugh.
I had my first "published" article in the fourth grade, as a reporter for my elementary school newspaper. The following year I was named an assistant editor.

It should have been an easy choice from the beginning. However, I allowed others to talk me out of my passion. I noticed the same thing happening to a friend of mine. She's bright, intelligent and hardworking. She is also undecided about her future career. Expressing this in a group setting she had a lot of people giving her "advice". There was a lot of emphasis on how much she could make. No one asked where her heart was or what she loved to do. Just where the money was.

Following a paycheck or perks produces teachers who aren't dedicated, nurses who don't like sick people, computer programmers who would rather be outdoors and people in general who aren't fulfilled with the work they do.

Living for your passion has rewards that cannot be measured in dollars. In these hard economic times, people should do what is in their hearts, because When you work a job, you stand a better chance of succeeding.

You may not be monetarily wealthy, but you will be able to live fulfilled.