What a year!!!!  I feel like I say that every year…but still…what a YEAR!  Apart from the medical issues that I’ve had…which, I am blessed to have come through the other side healthier than EVER!….It’s still been an insane year.  So many ups and downs.  I feel like it’s been such a roller coaster.  There were days that I thought, this is the longest day EVER!!!….but, looking back, the year flew by!  I feel like the older I get, the quicker the years pass.  This sucks, in a sense, because my kids are young but getting older…I don’t want time to fly!!!  On the other hand…there are days I really want to be over as quickly as the day before they begin.  Well…that’s no way to live!!!

I do feel, however, that the past 3 months, I’ve had such a different mindset, that it’s been a year in it’s own time.  It still astounds me that I lived so many years with little to no aspirations, no dreams, no goals….at least for myself as a person.  All of my goals have been career-minded.  Don’t get me wrong…not that that’s NOT okay…but what about me?  Me?  Rachael Richmond?  I can’t spend too much time focusing on the time I’ve lost because, let’s be honest, that wastes even MORE time!

The one thing, among others, but…if nothing else…I am walking away with this year…is this.  Valerie Burton, a renown life coach, said, in our conference…”Don’t waste your time trying to prove something to someone who isn’t even paying attention”.  WOW! What a powerful proclamation! How many of you feel as if this is EXACTLY what you have done this year?…or longer than a year?…I know I feel it…

I have spent so much time and energy on this.  I am a people pleaser.  That has never felt like a bad thing until recently.  It IS a bad thing, at a certain level…I am not saying we should not try our best…to do our best…to do what is right.  For the right people.  However, I…MYSELF…feel that I have done it for the wrong people.  I entered my career KNOWING and BELIEVING that I had to impress the “higher ups”!   Even now…to be honest….you HAVE to do that!  You have to impress them.  You have to prove your worth.  That will NEVER be untrue.  However, AFTER you have shown your worth….and the “others” see it…but they STILL try to destroy you…what THEN?….what….THEN?…

I have spent so much time and energy into proving something to those who aren’t paying attention.  Those who, no matter WHAT I do, they will still try to destroy me…that I am neglecting those who were paying attention all along.  Those that, maybe in my hindsight, had my attention, because of my awesomeness, and wanted more…but, because…maybe…I knew they already had it, so let’s get more…that I have 110% neglected them.  My husband…(he’s a freaking rock star)…my kids…(they are going to rule this world!)…my family…(mom is amazing, my brothers and sister…Ah-freaking_MAZE me…)  They are here, they are engaged, but yet,…I am putting my focus on ones that aren’t paying attention?!?!?!

I have lost so many moments…that I was given…to show my children how much I love them…how much…to my husband and family…I am grateful for the support that they given me.  All, because, I was looking for ALL…EVERYONE…And it didn’t come.  How selfish I have been!

So…2016…what is the goal?  Could I encourage you to do this exercise with me?

 

What circle of friends did I surround myself with 01/2016?

What circle of friends do I NOW, surround myself with in 12/2016?

Why is my circle different…or the same?

If it is different…have I lost friends that I really NEED?

Have I replaced friends that I really NEEDED TO?

Are my friends the same? Why? Have I told them why they are important to me?

What do I KNOW…not wish…I need to accomplish in 2016?

 

These are deep questions…do not answer them quickly…THINK about them….

And always…ALWAYS ask yourself…..Am I wasting time trying to prove something to someone who isn’t even paying attention?

 

Bye for now,

RR