Hope you all are having a marvelous Independence Day with your family and friends. I will be spending the next 2 weeks relaxing in the sun and spending time with those that mean the most to me. In light of this, my blog will not be the center of my focus. I will do my best to keep up with it, but it’s been a little difficult with travel and such. It’s also a little hard to have that lake 20 feet away and be sitting here typing on my laptop.

I thought I’d take a minute to circle back around on a few of the challenges I have had and how they have taken shape since I completed them.

Let’s recap!

I started off this little adventure by reading The Four Agreements.

For those that don’t remember, The Four Agreements are: 

1. Be impeccable with your word – Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don’t take anything personally – Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don’t make assumptions – Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always do your best – Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

I was asked to post them somewhere that they’d be visible and try commit to living them every day. While I have not fully lived these Four Agreements every day, I would say that they have made me more self-aware and aware of those around me.

The biggest difference it has made is in realizing how powerless I am over other people’s actions. I have taken into consideration the fact that when someone does something out of character it is not always a reaction to something that I have done. I am trying not to make assumptions as frequently as I used to.  I don’t jump conclusions nearly as often as I used to.

I am a firm believer in “Always do your best” because that is how I was raised. As long as you gave it your all you can be proud of your results. This has come in quite handy with job interviews and relationships lately. All you can say is that you tried. Sometimes things don’t work out.

I haven’t noticed too many lasting changes in perspective since reading this book, but I do catch myself from time to time and say things like “This has nothing to do with you” or “you have no idea why they did what they did so don’t try to figure it out.” It’s rather refreshing, actually.

Katie Goes to Hoxworth….

I apparently have the most popular blood on the planet, because Hoxworth is stalking me. No seriously. I have O neg blood and they need a ton of it. I have not yet gone back to donate more of the goods. But I will. I promise.

Letters to My Teachers

I received a very nice note back from both recipients of my letters. This is a screenshot of my letter to google:

For those that didn’t get a chance to see it before, here it is again:

The Challenge that has had the greatest effect on me thus far is the one from Adhrucia.  Remember how I always told you she knows what I need before I know I need it? Once again, the chick is spot on. Not only has the book profoundly affected the way I think, the woman she introduced me to, Shari Goldsmith, is indeed helping me find my inner sass.

Recap:

For starters, I was clearly skeptical of The Secret when I read it. If you’ll remember, in my post I stated that these people were essentially crazy to think that things would happen to them if they simply willed them to happen. Well, I stand corrected.

I began by testing the theory with smaller things. I would concentrate on wanting someone to call or text me, thinking only positive things and then, suddenly, it would happen! Then I began thinking about certain songs I wanted to hear and they’d play next!

I started drafting the perfect job description in my head and considering everything that it might entail and then it, almost word for word, it appeared! Better yet, they called to ask me if I was interested in discussing it before I had even applied! (This is the Special Events Development Officer at Children’s.)

That whole money in my purse thing is still happening. Just the other day I had to go pick up some desserts I had my friend Blair, of Brown Bear Bakery, put together for my dad’s birthday. I totally forgot to pick them up and ran down quickly, without time to stop at the ATM. 4 dozen salter caramel crispy bars cost $48. The whole way I kept thinking “Please let there be $48 in my purse. Please let there be $48 in my purse.” I pulled into the parking lot and dug to the bottom of my purse, unfolding every last dollar bill I had in there. I sh*t you not. I had EXACTLY $48 in my purse. This keeps happening to me and has happened to me for quite awhile. I hope it never goes away…haha

Now I believe this is all about the power of positivity, but I won’t say I’m totally ruling out the Law of Attraction thing just yet. But the Scientist in me says it’s crazy…

Shari Goldsmith is a women’s life coach. She is helping me figure out what I wanna be when I grow up. I think the root of the problem is a matter of confidence. When one loses their job it is easy to be knocked down a few pegs. I remember walking into our very first meeting, horrible posture, intimidated, shy, not sure what to expect. I now walk out of every meeting feeling rejuvenated, motivated and empowered. There are ideas of starting my own business, but I think that’s a little ways off. Need to get some real experience first! Adhrucia was spot on in saying that she thought  Shari and I would be Soul Sisters. We’re practically the same person.  Maybe that’s why I like her so much!

On the job note, I have been called in for second interviews with the Art Museum and Children’s. I am also still volunteering with digital engagement at Cincinnati Museum Center and I absolutely love being there. I’m trying to decide which would be more worthwhile. Walking in every morning and staring at that GORGEOUS Chihuli every morning at the CAM or gazing up at the Rotunda at CMC everyday.  These brief moments and experiences continue to remind me that deep down inside, I’m still just a child staring at the world with incredible wonder, curiosity and amazement.

The most exciting challenge was attending the Passion Pit concert solo from Tara Noland. I owe you many thanks for this because I never would have considered doing it without the nudge. Because you had me do that, and because of my little note, my blog was read in 16 countries that day.

Since then, it has been read in 32 countries. HOLY. CRAP. I don’t know how these people come across it or why it interests them, but I’m beyond excited about it!!

Having spent the last 6 months working on this project, in terms of conception to present day, I can honestly say that I’m thrilled I decided to take it on. You have taken me in so many interesting directions and it’s only been 14 weeks. I cannot wait to see what lies in store for the rest of the year.

For those readers that live in the USA, I hope you all have a spectacular Independence Day. Let’s celebrate what those men, and the women behind them, fought for so many years ago. Consider the bravery, energy and determination the exuded to create this great nation we live in today. I hate to say it, but if met with the same concerns today, I cannot say that we would fight as strongly for the same liberties that they did back then and that makes me sad. I fear that we take them for granted and we might lose sight of just how hard it was to obtain them.  In light of the recent political events, striking down DOMA *yay!!*, the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg and with all of our American history in mind, please remember these words:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

A very special shout out to Lil Zain, my most America-loving friend, happy favorite holiday, presh!

Let freedom ring. ‘Murica.