The Creation of Chasing Squirrels

I started this blog 2 years ago.  I have been inconsistent in my entries, but the underlying theme has been the same.  I write about things that happen to me, what I learn from them, and thoughts that just pop in my head,  

I started this Blog over frustration of feeling misunderstood.  I was following in a path with 2 jobs.  Jobs I love, but jobs I would eventually have to condense into one.  I chose my Direct Selling biz over my preschool.  I have always felt this job gives me a chance to do more of what I love.  I get to use my God given talents in the ways I want.  However, this journey is far from over.

On May 26th, 2017 I "Graduated" from preschool.  I closed the doors on a job I had a passion for at a time in my life when it fit.  I knew it would not be the ""rest of my life" job, but rather a stepping stone in my life.  A step in the direction of what I would be when I realized my full potential.  What did I like about it? What did I gain personally from it?  
Likes:  

• Flexibility with daily schedule while raising my own 3 young kids.
• I was my own boss.
• The money was FANTASTIC!!!
• I was able to decide how I got to run my school.  My rules, my way.  

What did I gain?

• Knowledge on running a business ( I had no idea how helpful this would become).
• Satisfaction that my children were being raised by myself and my husband.  They were not growing up in daycare (this was the way I always vowed how it would be).
• Financial independence.  I was able to be a stay at home mom and contribute to our income at the same time.

What didn't I like?

• The inflexibility of not being able to get in my car whenever I wanted to and go some place.
• People showing up at my house before the doors opened.
• Taking care of infants (they RUN the schedule).
• Dealing with the demands of certain parents.
• As much as I like the money, I began to get resentful of the fact that the money was so good, I would never be able to get out of this business.

Then came my career in Direct Sales....  This opportunity gave me all the things on my positive list. With a lot of hard work, I could see my out. FINALLY!!!  I worked hard, I built and am still building a business.  I LOVE what I do.  I get to help people create a safer environment for themselves and their families.  I teach them how easy it is to reduce the harmful chemicals in their homes.  I get to help. These are all just fantastic perks of this job.  However, as much as this sounds good it doesn't get me excited. I know I am doing good things and I know I am good at what I do. However, there is an emotional disconnect.  This is the part of my job that doesn't make my eyes light up.  It doesn't get me talking really fast out of excitement, it doesn't take away the lingering feeling of "this is not entirely IT for me".  However, there is a part of my job that does bring out all these feelings within me.  I get to help people start their own business.  I get to help people develop WHO they are, grow into their own passion, and GAIN CONFIDENCE in WHO THEY ARE! I get to help people develop their potential and carve their own path of making a difference in this world.  THAT gets me excited.  THAT makes me happy.

I just admitted this today.  I have been working with a coach trying to hone in on my direct sales business skills and I have been doing a lot of self reflection.  Who am I? Where did Sarah go?  Seriously, where did I go????  How do I get back.  

My angel cards are basically screaming at me to listen.  They are telling me there are messages all around and I need to listen to them.  Why am I not listening?  

Today I started.  I cleaned the wax out of my ears, opened the canals, and turned up the volume.  What I found is the answers have been right in front of me all along.  It took me talking to my coach and having her say "This is what I am hearing you say, I have heard you say that before, What do you think about this?".  The answers??? They were RIGHT in front of me.  

This summer I have found myself on many paths.  I have listened to many podcasts and trainings about how to do things better.  How should I train my own team.  How can I best help my customers.  I was getting lost and confused.  Too many ideas, too many ways to do things.  I would start something and not finish it because I would see something, or hear something that maybe was better and I would head in that direction (squirreling).  Then it hit me.  When I finally told my coach that my Direct Sales business as a whole is really not my passion, and I would love to write and book and be an inspirational speaker, it was like opening the door to a bird cage.  FREE. Oh my gosh, can I really do this? Can I write and develop that passion while at the same time running my business successfully?  Can I devote my creative energy to 2 things once AGAIN?  Will this impact my business?  SO MANY QUESTIONS!!!!  The answer is...  I can't afford to NOT try.  My coach was correct when she said she thinks doing something like this will relax the part of my brain that is holding me back and will have a positive impact on everything.  This is the same advice I gave my husband when he was really stressed at work.  He needed a creative outlet.  I DO need this.  My Dad has been telling me to write a book for years.  He told me I need to write again when I am finished with preschool.  When I have more time.  I told him at the time I could not even LET my brain go there.  I was mentally exhausted from working so hard for so long.  Write.  NO WAY.  Well, here I am, WRITING!  I was telling my coach a story about my dog (whom I am obsessed with). I know now I need to write this story down for the record.  

Chasing Squirrels:
Almost every day I go on a morning walk with my 14 lb brown, long haired, dachsund name Jackson.  He walks diligently with me for the first half of our walk.  He allows me to lead him. He is just so happy to be outside!  We have our normal path for the most part and it is all sidewalk at the beginning.  Then we cross the road...  When we are across the road, I let the leash go to full length and the chase begins. We have now entered "Squirrel Park".  Jackson runs excitedly towards to path and into the trees, smelling for the furry animals he wants so badly to catch.  It is now HIS turn to lead.  Jackson takes off running full speed dragging me panting behind him.  We go to the tree, he looks up, whines, sniffs around, and with a little tug of the leash, he begins his search again.  Most days he sees 1 - 3 squirrels.  Some days there are none.  These days we don't see any are the hardest, because desperation sets in and as we turn to walk home, he runs to all the trees looking up, waiting for ONE LAST possibility to look at the mysterious grey furry and fast animal.

Last weekend was different.  We walked into the park and saw and chased 12 squirrels before I had to stop and rest. They were EVERYWHERE!!!  He treed 3 squirrels in a triangle of trees all at once.  I truly believe this was one of the highlights of his little life.  Overall, we saw at least 20 squirrels and it was almost impossible to drag him away from the park without picking him up.  

The point of my story is this.  EVERYDAY Jackson is excited when we go to the park.  His tail wags and his enthusiasm shows.  He LOVES what he is doing and he has a purpose.  It doesn't matter if he is successful in his mission, because the next day he will turn around and try again.  He is steadfast in his journey, boringly consistent with the path he runs, and his eagerness for success pays off with his consistent dedication. THIS is the message I have learned from my four legged friend.  THIS is why I will now dedicate my writing time to learning the simple things I need to know and remember.  I will share what I learn.  Where I once looked at "squirreling" as a distraction, It is through this lesson and many more I will now look at it as a stepping stone. My wise little Jackson and I will CONTINUE CHASING SQUIRRELS.