Sing United

It was a beautiful evening in Minnesota to Sing United!  Combined choirs from Target, Ameriprise, Wells Fargo and General Mills gathered at Lake Harriet Bandshell for the 2nd Annual event.  Our evening emcee was Bob Hines, who did a fabulous job of giving a little history of each choir before they went on stage.

Choirs varied in size and abilities, and sang everything from secular to popular show tunes. Carsten, the director of the Wells Fargo Choir, has been directing the choir for over 30 years!  The Target Spots even shared some show choir abilities as they danced and sang on stage! 

We concluded the concert with four songs:

America

I Sing Out

What a Wonderful World

Life's a Happy Song

JoBeth has been directing the GMI Choir for 9 years.

The General Mills Choir sang Blue Moon, African Alleluia, Dodi Li and For Good (from Wicked).

We were smaller in number at this summer show than at our winter events.  Being new to this employee club, I guess that is standard. We definitely need to think about some recruiting ideas to add to our numbers at General Mills.  More often than not, when I say to someone at work that I'm in the choir, the reply is "we have a choir?". 

I have really enjoyed singing with a large choir again.  Amazing how much I've missed being in the group!  The goosebumps continued to adorn my arms as the evening went along.  It is so fulfilling to see the generations fill the seats before us!  Little ones danced in front of the stage all evening, passers-by with dogs on leashes stopped for a listen, and the friends & family who cheered us on kept the smiling & singing contagious. 

I do believe that we did our part to Sing United and spread the joy of music!

A day to celebrate

Just a little humor to lighten the day for those of us in the administrative role. 

A year ago yesterday, I started a new job at a new company.  I was anxious and a little very melancholy.  I had left a position of 11 years, no friends to call my own beside me, all new coworkers, new boss, and not a soul I was working with knew it was Admin Professionals day.  This year, I am no longer alone (most are still clueless that there's a day to celebate me), but I have so much more to celebrate.  I've got a great network of new friends, many individuals to support and keep me busy, and a wonderful group of management who make it worth the effort to get out of bed and drive to work each and every day.

While I never anticipated this is where I would be 28 years after high school, I am thankful for all of the friends I have made throughout the years.  I maintain so many relationships from past employment; I would not be the woman I am today without their influence and continued friendship.  This type of position has allowed me the work/life balance I so desperately need/ed, it has afforded me the time to begin and finish a BA in Organizational Leadership as an adult learner, and while I don't make a huge salary, I am able to continue supporting my family.  For all of that, I am grateful.

If you have a friend or coworker in the service of providing administrative support, please thank him or her today!  It goes a long way and will make their day.  I promise.

*ETA:  They remembered me! 
At about 3 pm, they presented me with
a card and a gift certificate to a local spa.
 So nice to be appreciated.

making new friends

We had a work event last Wednesday...  and I got to know the ladies "in my row" a little bit better.  We had lunch outside and watched a few innings of the baseball game.  I say a few because we all know I wasn't really paying attention.  It was, however, a very good excuse to celebrate work success and get out into this beautiful cooler weather that has come upon us in Minnesota!

I guess I haven't really updated much about my new employer yet, have I?

a future post, I promise.

doors & windows

Live now

Let go of the need for things to be a particular way, and enjoy life just as it is. Let go of the assumption that you must always have something more, and find true enjoyment in all that is already in your life.

Dream big, meaningful dreams and make detailed, effective plans for bringing those dreams about. Live forward toward those dreams, but don’t ever postpone your enjoyment of life.

You are worthy of the very best that is in this moment, so fully accept it and experience it. This moment is worthy of the best that’s within you, so generously give of yourself.

Live the value that is your life right now. Even in the most ordinary moments, life is as rich and fulfilling as you choose to make it.

If you’re always waiting for later, or for things to get better, you’ll miss out on the very opportunities that will lift you ever higher. Instead, have confidence in the value of where you now are and what you now have.

Live now, and live as if you are the richest person who has ever lived. Because when you do, you are.

— Ralph Marston

after 11 years...

I am moving on and my "drive to work" will take a different direction beginning April 23rd.

{more details to follow}

Update:

I am moving over to General Mills beginning Monday, April 23rd.
After 11 years at my current employer, it's time for change.

I am looking forward to it!
3.5 miles from home.
New friends, new opportunities.
Same role, new company.
carpe diem!


"General Mills was ranked No. 1 in Forbes magazine this week as
“The Most Reputable Company in America” – up from No. 15 last year."

source

Elephants

Three times this week...  elephants have crossed my path.

Once on a coworker's finger - new bling ring.
Once in a meeting, symbolism reference, regarding future possibilities.
And now once again, I am reminded of the Ganesha
sitting on my shelf at work, that a dear friend gave to me.

I am doing my best to believe
that all things happen for a reason, and in their own time.
That my patience will not be in vain. 
Perchance doors were not opened because the path was not yet laid.

May we all find the strength to walk our spirit walk,
to navigate the inevitable obstacles on our path with beauty, truth, and grace.

Sweet Summertime

...just another "day at the office"

more pix here

Sing it with me...

Chorus
                Repeat.

Today I feel as if my 45 vinyl is skipping on a certain chorus.  Thank you, Lesley Gore, for such a legendary, timeless line that will stick in my craw for the remainder of today!

Yes, I am having another pity party.  Please don't point out that the last one was not that long ago, and that my party hat and colored streamers are still showing. Ms. Glass Half Full realizes that and is having a hard time coping with her failed optimism lately.

In case you feel like you're in the dark, let me quickly fill you in.  A month ago someone told me of a newly created position/opening at my company.  It sounded perfect.  Like the one before, I wasn't looking, but it surely came my way for a reason.  I applied.  Interviewed.  Felt great about the possibilities.

In my mind, I had the job.  It was mine.  25 years of experience said that I would be the best candidate, mentor and leader for a newly formed group of admin across-the-country.

Then, I waited.  And waited.
Rumors circulated as to candidate pool, where I fell into that ranking, and that word would be coming soon.

I checked voicemail and email  for weeks from home in the evenings.  Until last night.  I was on vacation.
Full of hope this morning, I posted to my FB status before leaving work "oh, goody...  another day to enjoy... unwrapping with eagerness and glee, what's in store for me?!"

Well.  2 hours later, that question was answered when I arrived at work and listened to my voicemail.
The job was not to be mine.  "thanks for interviewing, but...."  blah, blah, blah

Good thing it's raining out today and mascara is over-rated.  I can blame my sucky, pissy down-turned mood on the weather.  Hormones.  Anything but disappointment in myself for letting another perfect opportunity pass me by...

Yes, yes, Ms. Glass Half Full realizes that this wasn't meant to be, the right position will come along, timing is everything and there's a reason for everything.  I do.

Meanwhile, the 45 still spins.
And I sing.

ETA: Deja Vu

Item 10: I have a best friend at work.

Do you?
I have many friends at work. Did you know that a company's success often ties closely with whether or not you feel you have a best friend at work?  So what happens to a company when the time has come for more reorganization and people are let go?  For the second time in four years, nonetheless?!  Not only does that dynamic change, so do many of the other attributes that feed into the best practices of employee engagement. Gallup has done extensive work on this subject and the 12 key dimensions that describe a great work group. 

In this day of rapid-fire change, reorganization, mergers, and acquisitions, having best friends at work may be the true key to effective change integration and adaptation. When compared to those who don't, employees who have best friends at work identify significantly higher levels of healthy stress management, even though they experience the same levels of stress.

So in the past two weeks I have been trying to tell myself that I can move through this change just like any other that has affected me.  But I'm finding that it's not as easy as I thought it would be.  Sure, you can say I should suck it up and that I'm not the one affected, but I am ~ vicariously through my friends who are no longer employed with me.  And it hurts me too.  I no longer get to have Monday morning breakfast with them, sneak away for a lunch once a month, or see their smiling faces in the hallway.

I am generally an upbeat person.  My glass is always half full.  I embrace change like nobody's business.  But I am grieving for the loss of my best friends at work.  And it sucks.

Positivity

My number one STRENGTH is positivity.  believe it?  If you know me, you would probably say, absolutely!  I'm not a PollyAnna by any means, but I do tend to live my life with my glass half full on a regular basis (and no, I'm not talking about a glass of wine, but yeah, that too)!  Where did I get such a trait?  I'm really not sure.  I guess it was something that developed internally as I grew up.

I grew up as a child of the 70's, middle-class family, my Dad served two terms in VietNam, my mother was a homemaker.  My siblings came along when I was 4 years old, both adopted from the same family.  My Mom worked in a home that took in foster kids and so she knew my siblings from a very early age.  To say that we struggled with this new blended family is an understatement as I reflect back now, but it was "our normal" for many, many years.  It wasn't until I was grown and gone that I realized our normal = everyone else's abnormal = our growing up years were probably no different than the next one!

A long story, short, I learned to internalize my feelings and knew from an early age that the only one who could make ME happy was ME!  Self-talk became my language and I made it through (what I try to see as a normal childhood) to graduating from high school and into the Minnesota Army National Guard by the age of 17.  I was one of the youngest in my graduating class, and I finished 8 weeks of basic training in North Carolina before I turned 18!  How's that for positivity?!

So I'm not sure this is going anywhere, other than to give you a little more insight to my life and to reflect on a song that popped into my head this morning as I was reading another friend's blog...  it was a childhood favorite of mine.  I am not sure I could have told you the verses, but I definitely knew the chorus and sang it loudly!  And now that I know Frente! sings it, I will have to go look up that version too!  And yes, this could also have been the start of my contagious smile and fascination with smiley faces!

OPEN UP YOUR HEART (AND LET THE SUNSHINE IN)
(Stuart Hamblen)

Gail & Rosemary Clooney - 1954
Cowboy Church Sunday School - 1955
Frente! - 1995

Mommy told me something a little girl should know
It's all about the Devil and I've learned to hate him so
She says he causes trouble when you let him in the room
He will never ever leave you if your heart is filled with gloom

So, let the sun shine in, face it with a grin
Smilers never lose and frowners never win
So, let the sun shine in, face it with a grin
Open up your heart and let the sun shine in

When you are unhappy, the Devil wears a grin
But oh, he starts a-running when the light comes pouring in
I know he'll be unhappy 'cause I'll never wear a frown
Maybe if we keep on smiling he'll get tired of hangin' around

So, let the sun shine in, face it with a grin
Smilers never lose and frowners never win
So, let the sun shine in, face it with a grin
Open up your heart and let the sun shine in

If I forget to say my prayers the Devil jumps with glee
But he feels so awful, awful, when he sees me on my knees
So if you're full of trouble and you never seem to win
Just open up your heart and let the sun shine in

So, let the sun shine in, face it with a grin
Smilers never lose and frowners never win
So, let the sun shine in, face it with a grin

Open up your heart

 and let the sun shine in

My Oz

It's come to my attention again recently that I am the "wind beneath (your) wings" more often than I care to admit. Don't get me wrong. I love that role. But it's time for a change. What does that mean, exactly? Well, let's just say I have no problem supporting everyone else's causes but when it comes to my own, I cannot seem to find the yellow brick road to my Oz. Sure, I'm good at it. I have put 110% into everything I've done to get to where I am today. I am the caretaker. The breadwinner. The stable one. And now that I'm finished with school, through with my six-month mentoring circles at work... the "What's Next?" is screaming at me so loudly I cannot find ear muffs strong enough to hold me back.

So, I am officially putting myself out there. I am at the end of my rope being the "best admin" (aka glorified secretary) that I can be. It's been 24 years. It's only natural that I'm good at what I do after all this time. However, I think I'm long overdue for a career change, don't you? And to make it seemingly more like a faraway dream, a fairytale just beyond reach, the economy isn't allowing me to make this change. I can tap together my size 9, red-glittered shoes, but it's not happening. And I need this change now! I'm tired of being patient.

Now, before you tell me I can do anything I put my mind to, think again. I need your help. This time I am asking YOU to be the wind beneath *my* wings. I embrace change. I'm ready for it. Craving something new. And for some reason, my resume is just not speaking to my lofty goals, ambitious dreams and the glorious person that I know I can be on the path to my Oz. I am parched.  Thirsty for change, challenge and all things empowering.

I've got what it takes to be an over-achieving Community Relations Specialist, or an exceeds-expectations public relations team member.  (And yes, I realize that this is still in a support role.)  If you know of someone looking for an incredible talent, who is willing to pay for those skills and take a chance on what could be, with a dynamo leader willing to stretch and grow beyond her wildest dreams, please send them my way!

I am closing my eyes and trusting.
I am throwing a fistful of (virtual) glitter in the air!
I always look fear in the face ~ and challenge it head-on.
I don't want to pass the point of no return...

It's my turn.

Glitter In The Air lyrics found at elyricsworld.com

Glitter in the Air, by P!NK

Nose to the Grindstone

Ever wonder where that saying came from?  This image makes it look very painful.  Indeed, I am back to the grindstone at work, or bum to the floor as the first request of the day was to clear a copy paper jam.  Oh, I am loved.  Rather, needed in this case I guess.  Good thing they pay me well or after being gone for two weeks on vacation or I might wonder why they really need me. 

I even remembered all of my passwords to get into email, voicemail and other applications this morning.  I hope that everyone else who had a holiday break is also back to the routine this morning without having missed a step!  May 2010 bring you lots of people needing you... for all the right reasons!  My prayers today are for those who are still seeking employment.  As well as a prayer of jubiliation and thanks for my brother-in-law who has found a new career after a couple of years of unemployment.  He is good.  He is good indeed.

Practicing Patience

My mind has been here, there and everywhere these past couple of weeks. I haven't been able to slow it down enough to make time to blog. I've had numerous ideas and days with a fleeting moment of brillance and then it's gone again.

The month of February was filled with busy work days, homework, housework, family activities, and more homework. I had a fabulous year-end review at work a couple weeks back, and at the same time I've been interviewing for another job at work. I've been trying hard to practice one of my identified weaknesses - patience - in all areas of my life. This past week I've been trying to let it go and sending it up to God for His handling. That is equally hard, knowing that it is now out of my hands and my future work possibilities are being determined by so many others that all I can do is wait. Keep me in your prayers? This would be the ideal position for me and I am ready to embrace change in 2009!

March will be equally busy... hopefully some exciting new opportunities... and 8 years under my belt at work. The end of one class and beginning of another. I'll try to stay in touch, and blog when I can.

When no one steps on my dreams there'll be days like this
When people understand what I mean
therell be days like this
When you ring out the changes of how everything is
Well my mama told me therell be days like this

Oh my mama told me
There'll be days like this

~ Van Morrison

Seven Year Itch

I need a new career.

I don't know what I want to be
when I grow up.
Do you?

What should I be? Really.
Any suggestions welcome.
I'm sick of typing for a living.

My elbow hurts. My wrist and fingers too.

I'm tired of my 8x8 window cube.

I'm creative.
I'm passionate.
I love life!

What, then, can I be when I grow up?
Maybe we're not supposed to grow up?!

Is it summer yet?