Change Is Like Laundry…
Guys! Guys! Wanna hear something super awesome? Duh you do.
Sarah Ivie, the winner of the very 1st annual (yup, it’ll be back yearly!) When I Grow Up Scholarship has agreed to write a series of guest posts on my blog about her coaching journey over the next two months. Funness! A native West Virginian, Sarah resides in Austin, TX with her hubby & 2 cats (one named after Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer!). She’s a super crafty Renaissance Soul with a desk job that she hopes she can trade in for her very own bake truck. If you live in the area & think the words “brownie party” are the best in the English language, then make sure she knows where to find you (& that you have my address to send me some)!
laundry day print by theblackapple
I like the idea that I’m coming into my own as I reach the ripe old age of 35. I like to think that I’m finally that confident, authentic, grown-up (but not too grown up) person I always knew I could be. But I also feel that I’m still in the midst of this growing-up process, and I can see that I have so far to go before I’ll really be where I want to be in life. I say that like there’s some destination I’m going to reach: Sarah – Completed. But it seems that what I’m really coming to as I round the bend on the next year of my life is the realization that growth is an end unto itself, and change is constant.
I told a friend the other day, in a moment of inspiration, change is like laundry – it just keeps on coming no matter how much of it you do. My friend said, “that’s a horrible way to look at life – always a chore!” But I completely disagree. I love laundry – the washing, drying, folding, even ironing! I love taking my crumpled up dirty clothes and towels and sheets, all of it, and making it clean and fresh again. Of course, laundry doesn’t always happen at the most opportune times. Ideally I like a leisurely Sunday afternoon to do my laundry. But what seems to happen more often than not, is that I have to throw some clothes in the washer late Tuesday night, and then in the dryer Wednesday morning before work, then wear a slightly damp pair of pants for the first few hours of the day. Change, and growth, are kind of like that too. Sometimes you get to spend time thinking about yourself, your life, where you’re going and where you’ve been, and sometimes things just happen and you have to deal with them.
Luckily for me, right now I’m taking my sweet time to think about where I am with my life, what I’m happy about and what I want to change. It happens every year around my birthday, this re-evaluating, and this year I’m really savoring it. I’m working my way through Style Statement (great book! Seriously, go get it!) and enjoying this fabulous life coaching scholarship that Michelle awarded me. Part of what I’ve found myself doing is rediscovering myself. I’ve had a lot of changes in the past few years, and have been all about charging forward into new territory. I moved from my hometown of Charleston, West Virginia to Austin, Texas at the age of 31, met and married the greatest guy, and I’m looking forward to becoming a mom sometime soon. But all of this forward momentum has made me realize that I need to get in touch with my foundation, be sure it’s solid, so I can continue to grow in the best direction possible. Along the way, as I’m revisiting myself and trying to find that authenticity, I’m also finding paths of change that are new and promising!
I am really looking forward to the next few months, as I continue to work with Michelle and discover new changes and new directions for my life, and sharing that journey!
Sarah’s birthday is TODAY people. Wish her a great one on Twitter, her blog, or by commenting below. This post is so awesome & I have much to chime in on, so I’ll meet you in the comments section. I’ll be the one with the red rose.
Tags: Glorious Guest Post
August 7th, 2009 at 6:36 am
I love, love, love the idea of change being laundry, & how you do your best to "prepare" for change yet usually wind up with damp pants! For a recovering perfectionist like me, it's a tough pill to swallow – change is just so sneaky! But I've had craploads of change this month, & while I wasn't preparing for it, I was seeking it – I just didn't expect to find it all at once. Now that it's there (& changing every minute!), I revel in it & wouldn't change the, uh, change. Even if I could schedule it into my Filofax, I don't think I would.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!
August 8th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Thank you Michelle! Thanks for the fab introduction too!
August 8th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Damn. That was a kick-ass post. I *LOVE* the analogy and sometimes I *LOVE* doing laundry too. And other times I eff-ing hate it (that's as close as I come to swearing :~)
Happy Birthday! And instead of doing laundry…go out and buy yourself a new outfit from head to toe. That's what I did this last birthday. It was so much fun and I went to a boutique where the owner dressed me in all kinds of beautiful outfits. I ended up buying something I would have never bought on my own and it was amazing.
August 9th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Thank you Cassandra! That sounds like a fabulous birthday! My husband took me shopping, so not quite as adventurous, but I'm definitely putting that on my list for the future!
August 9th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I love how you took the analogy one step further, Cassandra – because sometimes I love change & something I effing hate it! Anyone who says otherwise is a big liar. But – I always hate laundry
August 18th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Happy Birthday Sarah! I too live in Austin. Hope you are loving it. Great post. I'm looking forward to following your journey.
Hi to you too Michelle!
August 18th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Thanks for the comment, Ann Marie! I think that Sarah's 2nd post will be up this week, so come on back. I guarantee good stuff!