New Year, New Track... And the long path to it.

We are two weeks into the new year, and I have yet to get myself on track. I don't mean going to the gym, and eating more salads... Although that is also on my list. What I'm talking about is just the normal flow of things. Life day-to-day, when it's not encompassing holiday plans.

Part of the reason for this delay is because I'm house-sitting for my parents. I'm traveling between my apartment and my parents house to take care of two sets of animals, keeping an eye on food between both homes (to see what will expire first), and keeping myself spread out between responsibilities. The other part, which just wrapped up this weekend, is my transition from my seasonal day work to my work and income plans for this coming year.


My work: 

I have made the scary decision to drop my normal day job, in pursuit of work that is musically inclined. I have a Music Degree, and I have performed in this industry for many years. I've also taught music lessons, and provided music for private parties and events. It has been several years since I have done this as a business on my own, but I feel called to work with music again.

It was always the plan to continue singing, and perhaps to teach as well, so I didn't expect my year-long sabbatical to stretch out to the tune of five years. But that's what happens when you get engaged, and you're planning a wedding, and after you're married you lose a grandparent, then another, and then a set of grandparents on your husband's side passes away. It's been a rough couple of years. There are good reasons why I haven't had the time, or energy, or the focus to get back to the task at hand. But here we are, the start of 2020, and I am already 2 weeks behind!

But if im really being honest with myself, I don't see myself at "normal life routine" until well into February. I only just stopped my day job on Saturday, I have a couple of evening commitments starting this week, and I have other projects I need to build into my schedule. I won't be finished watching over two households until the last week of January, and then I'll have to set up an actual routine for my home.

At home: 

At our apartment, we are making strides to tackle the clutter that has accumulated. (I know, right? We're still working on it.) We finally broke down and decided to get a storage unit, in order to set up our home the way that we need it to function. I have been trying to work within the mess to clear it out, but has gotten so overwhelming that I am not able to see the forest for the trees. Luckily, a storage facility that is only a few businesses down from our neighborhood is doing a 3-month half-off deal. 

We also have plans to change our master bedroom from the front facing bedroom, to the back bedroom which views the alley behind. We feel that this will give us more privacy, and will cut down on the noise of the neighborhood infiltrating our space. In the front bedroom, we have plans to have our cats setup with play space, beds, a place to eat that's not our kitchen floor, and litter box access. In general they have access to the whole apartment, but it will be nice to have a room set up for them so that we can put them away at night.


This Blog: 

I haven't decided on a schedule for blogging. I know that this is a priority for me. Writing in general, has been an outlet for me since I was young. And blogging, allows me to share my journey with other people! I hope it will help other people who are struggling with the same areas that I am working through, to see that they're not alone, and maybe gleam some ideas that will work for them.

My best advice is this: small steps.

I know this to be true, I have done it over and over again in my own life, and it works every time.

Here are two resources that I highly recommend you take a look at on how small changes can make a big impact:

Coach Meg is a dear friend of mine. Although we have never met in person, she has helped me through a tremendous amount of emotional and physical obstacles. I am not saying that you have to personally work with her, but she does have a Blog up which covers a number of topics, including this one on why small choices make big changes.

Optimal living daily is a podcast that I subscribed to. The author provides a collection of relevant information on a variety of topics, in a condensed daily bite. This particular episode has to do with building habits, and why doing a little at a time is better then trying to take on everything all at once.