Many Milestones of May

What would we do without milestone calendars?  No one can just have one calendar anymore. I certainly don't! From dry erase to daily planner to phone; one just isn't enough. Keeping track of myself plus everyone in line behind me and those in my circus tent. It definitely becomes challenging. Keeping track of major or minor milestones whether you are young or old makes for some interesting times especially at this time of year.

It hardly seems possible next month is 37 years since high school graduation. As I keep track on Facebook with many of those school friends, many of us have busy lives. Some married high school sweethearts, others had a second chance with a high school love, others have remained single and loving it. Still other's have passed on to heaven way to soon. But many are truly successful in every way.  Looking back I am sure none of us would look forward in time and think our lives would be what they are today. My hopes, dreams and milestones of those long ago years were not at all what my life turned out. Lots of surprises, twists and turns its been a ride to say the least.

Graduation Banning High School 1979 with friend Kim (Bury) Vinal

Whether it be graduating through years of school or just special milestones in life the milestones bring a flood of emotions and memories abound.

The journey through education has begun also for two of my grandchildren. Our oldest finished Kindergarten and our second oldest finished her first year of preschool. Both have come so far it is boggling to the mind. If I can see anything in my crystal ball I hope they both become successful, strong, opinionated (they are both on track with that last trait already) young women who follow whatever dreams they have in life.

Hadleigh 2016 Kindergarten Ms. LaCasse

Greenlee first and last day of Preschool 2016

 Summer for many was usually always a time of moving on too new places and adventures.

 A new friend recently retired from many years of teaching and molding young minds. Her excitement in turning over a new leaf in life has been refreshing. You never truly can expect what will happen as you put your hand on that door knob of life. Turning left or right you just forge on and hope good things are on the other side. I venture though that she will do just spectacular things.

We all have those moments in time where we may question our reasons. I have had many and will probably still continue to question some of the things and the outcomes that have occurred. Some of my milestone moments have been life changing, others well are yet to be determined I suspect.

Whatever May brings beside flowers, warmer weather and times of reflection only a few more days of May remain..Make them milestone moments.

Giving Credit, Where Credit is Due

Our society today is filled with giving everyone a trophy syndrome. Participation trophy's just for putting on the uniform or hat. When I competed in my first figure skating competition at 16, I came in first place. I like to think the reason I placed first was due to hard work, a clean program, and lots and lots of practice. I picked out my own music, helped in the making of my costume so needless to say I was very hands on in the entire process. Yes it took a village.  My mom did the sewing of my blue costume, I took lessons from a wonderful coach and I spent hours and hours of preparation for my first competition. I pushed myself into competing, it wasn't my parents pushing although they initially started me in the sport.  I was at 16 years old mature enough to make the decision that it was time to show what I had learned over the many years of practice.

Figure skating taught me many lessons in life that I continue to carry today. Although it is a sport with many opportunities to either skate and or compete individually, pairs, and also as a team, each entity of the sport has its own advantages and disadvantages. My choices were individually and also as part of a team. Although in individual skating you really only have yourself to blame if you did not skate well usually. Blaming your coach, the ice surface, your equipment sometimes can be the culprit-really you are responsible for the final outcome to a point, the judging and popular opinion take it from there.

As in sports your personal and professional life runs into similar situations also. 

I have been experiencing many strange Manic Monday moments that have seemed to take over the entire week for up until recently every week for almost two months. From Corporate America's crumbling communications with its clients to other small businesses taking on more than they can handle and you being the go-to-person for damage control; juggling both of these situations has been in one word: challenging. Add on running our business, daily family scenarios, helping with fundraising for a community organization,  and attending a long-weekend event recently that I had intended being all fun and no issues; well it didn't quite meet those expectations. unfortunately.

Struggling with issues is definitely not something I do well. I sometimes find that just taking a shower and hearing the water run is my only peace of the day.  Taking up yoga 10 months ago has definitely helped--a little, but lets give credit where credit is due; life can be extremely difficult these days!

If you are not positive Polly, happy Harriet, or smiling Sarah well your just not someone people want to be around.  I look at people who are overly positive with much wonder. I guess hiding behind that rainbow poncho helps keep the negativity away. Also trying to find "moments" that create those positive moments can also be challenging.

I actually started this post several days ago and after having a few glitch moments and a few positive sprinkles left and right: finishing a couple books, babysitting youngest grandson, helped just a bit.

Yesterday I came across a post on Facebook about a 90 year old woman that was very well known in the skating world who had passed away recently.

 Many in my skating circle had competed with her over the years and I actually competed with her daughter a few times. I watched a few videos that had been posted on Facebook at her last competition she had been in 2015 and she still nailed it.

 I have to give her credit, she stuck with what she loved, continued to forge ahead and in the end she will be remembered as someone who loved the sport her whole life. I may not always have those same opportunities I did in figure skating to express my abilities but the memories are fantastic and life continues on.