Day 138

Something learned:

I sometimes wonder if it is a personality trait or a personal shortcoming that I don't aspire to move up the corporate ladder and become less of a personal contributor and more of a strategic leader.

I really just don't WANT to. And maybe I'll regret it in thirty years. I sometimes look back on the opportunities I've had over the years and mentally kick myself for not taking them. But if I were honest, I am probably happier today for it, albeit with a slightly less illustrious career.

I chose happiness.

Something I want to get better at:

Making an impact. In the same vein as yesterday's thread, I spend a lot of energy looking inwards towards my nuclear family. For my sake and to set an example for my kids, I want to start looking outward a little more.

I donate money to a few causes. I try to be an ethical consumer. Surely there is more I can do though.

Today I was thankful for:

1. Getting everything I needed to do done before leaving.
2. A supportive hubby who let's me get away once a year for these conferences.
3. First floor parking in the airport garage.
4. TSA Precheck making airport security tolerable again.
5. On time departure. In an hour. I hope :)

Looking forward to:

A bed to myself for the next few days :)

Day 127

Something learned:

"Whatever you are, be a good one."

It matters less what you do, than how you do it. Success can be found in all roles, and it's up to you to choose those roles and define your success for each of those roles. When you know what you're aiming for, then it's much easier to see the path to success, though it doesn't necessarily make the path any easier. But at least you can head in the right direction.

Something I want to get better at:

Maintaining contact with my friends. Focusing on work, parenting and self-development, leaves little attention remaining for time with friends. But it's time spent together that's the glue of friendship.

Today I was thankful for:

1. Husband dropping the kid off at camp
2. The kid reading an entire book (albeit 67 pages) in an hour.
3. Our choral performance going well, despite only a week of preparation
4. Husband making dinner with the kid
5. Finding half a bar of chocolate to satisfy my cravings

Looking forward to:

Someday going back to Italy. Seeing Rome, as well as a lot of other cities.

Day 102

Something learned:

Don't compare yourself to others.

Firstly, when they are successful, you feel like a failure by comparison. And if they are a loved one, you can't truly be happy for them when the comparison only serves to make you look bad.

Second and more importantly, it distracts you from your own goals.

I used to compare myself to others. I remember bringing home a test and announcing proudly that I had gotten the second highest score in class. In hindsight, the response I got is laughably predictable, "Why not first?" But at the time, it frustrated me that instead of my own accomplishment being recognized, it was relegated to a missed expectation.

Eventually, I learned that the only measure of success that mattered was my own. By understanding myself well and knowing my own goals, I can gauge my own success by a metric that made a difference to me. The hard part is of course, setting your own goals, but that's a story for another day.

Today I was thankful for:

1. The 12 song routine I selected for Zumba 360 including a cool down soon at the end. Good design!
2. Getting my team together for Dash 6!
3. Chorus at work getting back together. I get to sing!

4. Getting a table at Nanbankan despite not having a reservation

5. Watching Catching Fire with hubby with Google Play credit

Looking forward to:

I had an idea to bring my parents on vacation somewhere awesome. I just need to figure out where and when now.

Day 88

Something learned:

Have your own goals. Success is achieving your own goals -- not measured by society's standards.

When you have your own goals, whether financial, career, personal, etc, you get to determine your own success. Know yourself, and you will be free yourself from resentment of others' expectations of you. Whatever you achieve, is because you have chosen to.

I've made my career choices this way since I was 16 and it has served me well. I saw no personal fulfillment in becoming a lawyer, or doctor, or financier, and I've been so happy being a programmer.

Today I was thankful for:

1. Successfully helping a friend with a spreadsheet problem and she called me a genius... But it was just programming
2. Getting a free copy of an interesting sounding novel at an author's talk by Jerry Stahl
3. A friend's husband taking the time to answer my questions about trusts
4. Free time this evening to do puzzles
5. Kid volunteering to perform with her violin in school next week. So freaking adorable

Looking forward to:

Mailing off that massive packet of tax papers to our accountant.