“Practicality vs. Bravery” and why I owe this one to “Jane the Virgin!”

“Practicality vs. Bravery” – thanks to the new hit show “Jane the Virgin” (Monday nights on the CW Network).  I received the new title of my blog post!  In my former life (pre-Scleroderma); I lived by the Practicality Rule. After high school, I went on to earn my Bachelor’s Degree from a University, then I sought out to find the "right job.”  By the time I was 24, I was successfully crossing off my ‘to-do’s” on my checklist. I secured a good paying job, which I was super grateful for, because it was along the interests of my actual college degree/concentration (Sociology & Gender Studies). This was my adult grown up job – it had insurance benefits; as well as, a decent salary & a retirement plan. Most importantly, it had my complete commitment and dedication, which I had never had in my previous jobs post college graduation.  In the beginning, I viewed my job as just that, a job. However, when I was forced to relinquish my position due to my health this past January (2014); I realized, I was indeed on a career track.  I worked extremely HARD for nearly 10 years; so much so, I received a promotion and upgraded from an Administrative Assistant to a Program Assistant.  I remember the minute I was hired for the position, I had a talk with myself. I said in very certain terms, “1. You will take this seriously, 2. You will work for 10 years; then depart to start the 2^nd half of your career as a coordinator in the same field (Residency Training) at another institution, probably in Connecticut or Westchester County, where the pay would be increased by minimum $20,000. “However, the old adage, – “Want to see God laugh? Make plans!”  Is definitely fitting for my circumstances.  My health prevented me from continuing to work in a conventional 9-5 office setting. I was forced to put my health first and foremost and rest/slowdown in order to save my life.

Great blessings came out of my near 10 year experience at my former institution. I found my voice as a writer, my talent as a graphic designer and my awesomeness as an event planner. Work was once the most important part of my identity.  However, when I had to stop working, I went through a culture-shock and had to redefine my self-identity, rebuild my self-esteem, and shift my focus to fit into my new existence. It took nearly a year to really digest that I was no longer gainfully employed under the conventional microscope.  I now had to step out on complete faith! After much prayer and consult, I knew it was time for me to enact the Bravery Rule.  I decided to claim the thing that courses through my veins - Writing. It allows me the opportunity to put my words, thoughts, feelings, emotions and humor together in one medium.  Writing is a wonderful outlet, where I can really get in there and talk about different subjects that not only interest me; but things that are happening in the world, and I lend my unique voice and style of writing to the reader. If you are talented, driven, trust in yourself and your dream; you CAN & WILL achieve anything and everything you put your mind to!  Be confident, work hard at your craft/talent, and be sure to always remain humble & continue to give thanks for your amazing gifts! I know that I wouldn’t have stepped out to claim the Bravery Rule, if I did not have a loving support system that believed in me harder than I ever believed in myself!  You know you are loved unconditionally when the beautiful people around you not only root for you winning; but, they motivate and encourage you to go after your dream!  It is because of their honesty, love, encouragement, and 100% support and contribution to my passion; my dream is now a reality.  I now proudly proclaim - “I’m a Writer!!” I own this truth and I’m proud that I was given this gift of expression.  

Now, I NEED to say this disclaimer - - If you’re about to enact the “Bravery Rule” for a 2^nd half of your career, please, please, please be sure to have some sort of some LEGAL funds coming in, OR saved up to sustain living expenses! I would be doing you a great injustice if I neglected to advise you of this VERY important thing. Go forth, conquer and succeed!!

 Smooches, Hugs & Much Love!  
Kimberly

Do you suffer from S.C.W. Syndrome? Find out here!

Question, do you ever get wrapped up in the “should’ve, could’ve, would’ve’s?”  Are you scratching your head, thinking aloud, “what in the hell, is Kimberly talking about?” LOL, Well, simply put, the “should’ve, could’ve, would’ve’s” are when you replay a certain scenario in your mind.  You think about a specific situation/interaction from your past and you start second guessing your reaction/response to the said scenario.  That “second guessing yourself" is essentially you thinking, you ‘should have,’ ‘would have,’ and/or if you ‘could have’ done, or said something differently; it would have most likely resulted in a new/different outcome, where you’re deemed the absolute victor. So now that you’re all caught up on the “should’ve, could’ve, would’ve’s.”  It actually is the worst damn space to be in!  I guess for those that believe in the proverbial state of ‘limbo,’ this would be the equivalent of SCW’s. Y’all know I had to make the dang acronym, it’s a lot to keep typing out fully. In addition, if you’re an avid reader of my previous blogs, you will recall that I love to create and utilize an acronym!  The SCW Syndrome, yes, I decided to make it a ‘syndrome!’ What else can you call “emotions or actions that usually form an identifiable pattern?” Sure, I could’ve (<- see, I’m doing it right there!) selected the word ‘disease,’ or, ‘disorder;’ but ‘syndrome’ just flowed better. So like I was saying, initially, you know, BEFORE I decided to jump in and cut myself off… SMH.  Anyway, SCW Syndrome is suffered by many.  Some people deal with SCW Syndrome in silence.  Well, I’m going to set you free today! Liberate yourselves, admit this is a ‘condition’ that we need to abolish entirely from our lives!!  I know somewhere, in some part of the world, someone just said it out loud, “I am insert your first name here and I have SCW Syndrome!” Now that you’re aware, you aren’t the only person in life to ever live in this void space.  You may even start to ‘regret’ your initial decision. Once again, I need to help you, “regret is a useless emotion!” You can’t realistically go back in time and rewind a situation. Like this is real life, not one of those “Back to the Future” franchise flicks. The past, is just that, the past! It’s over, it’s never, ever going to come back! Move forward and you’ll live in a space that is amazingly FREE! We have to stop torturing ourselves unnecessarily! We’re a culture of over analytical, jumpy, quizzical human beings that live in cloudy realm of self-doubt. I can no longer be an active participant in this culture of self-abuse, LMAO…. Seriously though, I’m proclaiming a new way for myself and hopefully you, yes, YOU, will join me in abandoning SCW Syndrome. So tell me, are you in??

 

Smooches, Hugs & Much Love...
Kimberly