Well Hello There. It's Been Awhile

I really didn't think I’d believe. When a friend posted about how these voodoo-hippie oils were working for her and her family I rolled my eyes. When she started losing weight by taking capsules full of the hippie stuff, I didn't believe either (but I tried it – more on that later.) When I started diffusing an oil here or there to help with my anxiety and stress levels I chalked it up to the placebo effect (cause they totally work). But believe? Nope. 

Enter cold and flu season. Sunday afternoon Andrew came down with the sneezes, watery eyes, runny nose and mini-cough. My little guy, who has had some nasty respiratory issues in the past, always worries me a little more when he comes down with something. I texted Lindsay. “Alright sister, what do I use on Andrew?” Her response: “Purification on the throat, RC on the chest, Thieves on his feet covered with socks. And get Thieves in that diffuser.” So I did it. What did I have to lose? The last thing I wanted was a midnight wake-up call from a croupy kid that can’t breathe. Why take out the inhaler and Tylenol Cold & Sinus when I might not have to?

Monday morning – Andrew’s bright eyed and bushy-tailed. No remnants of that sicky stuff. Awesome!

Monday afternoon – Allyson comes home from school all watery eyes and runny nose. I started the diffuser right away – was planning on that anyway because of Andrew. I also made her a cup of tea, added a drop of Thieves. She loved it.

The night went on. She was still miserable. At PJ time I did the same thing I did to Andrew. Purification on her throat, RC on her chest and Thieves on her cute little feet. She loved having me massage her. A little mommy TLC goes a long way to helping kiddos feel better.

Tuesday morning – Allyson comes running out of her room. “Mom! I feel SO much better!” A quick Andrew check confirms that he’s still golden too.

So – I still really don’t know what to believe. I know others in our circle who are battling a nasty cold that has kept their kids down for more than a few days. Did my kids just have a quick 24 hour thing? Did the oils work to alleviate their symptoms and prevent them from getting worse? Is it magic or mumbo-jumbo? Is it the placebo affect? At this point, it doesn't really matter to me. I’ll keep It up. These oils are a heck of a lot cheaper, and better for my family, than anything I can buy off a drugstore shelf. I’m now wondering where else I can use these bad boys.

Take it or leave it, but I had to share my experience. It’s only weird if it doesn't work, right?

~Becky

Until it happens to you...

When your job gets moved to another state it’s hard not to take it personally.  A morning show that I listen to locally talks continuously about the fact that if your job goes away or you get laid off that there was something you could have done differently to prevent it.  In this case, the whole organization is getting moved around. They’re not decreasing headcount, just moving bodies from one place to another.  And just to be clear, I’m not being laid off, I’m being re-assigned.

That doesn’t make this suck any less. I like my job, I’m good at it. I’ve spent a lot of time and energy learning and improving upon my skill set. I’m going to be sad to watch it go away. I think the worst part about all this is having gone through the pain of a large merger, completely re-assigning and re-training my staff in, for some of them, new roles, to watch it all go away less than six months later.

It’s hard not to take it personally and stay away from the “every man for himself” attitude. I have a staff of eleven I have to worry about. The majority of them are getting re-assigned as well, but they are for sure not all going to be pleased about the assignment. Coaching and guiding them through this is really going to be tough for me.  The potential for tears just gives me the heebie-jeebies because I’m just not all that great with emotion in a work setting.

And at the same time I have to come to terms with my new offer.  Do I accept on the grounds that it’s a job and a paycheck?  Do I accept and immediately start floating around the resume? Do I take this opportunity to spend some time at home with my kids (we all know that that craziness wouldn’t last long)?  Maybe go back to school or embark on a whole new profession? Lots of questions and not so many answers.

I’m thankful that my new boss is a person I have worked for, and enjoyed working for, in the past albeit in an entirely different role.  Knowing that I was grabbed by a former manager makes me feel as though I am valued in this organization and that they are interested in my future. Whether this is B.S. or not remains to be seen.

And then I think about those people within this company (or even those who have gone through this anywhere) that were not offered a "comparable" position and think that I need to quit my bitching. Perspective...

So tonight, like every other night, I go home, hug my kids and my husband.  I count my blessings that I have a nice job that allows me to support my family and our lifestyle and know that whatever decision I make will be the right one because I will have thought it through. No job is forever and I am in charge of my own destiny.  I just have to figure out what that destiny is.

~Becky

Did You Know?

Watched this video at the annual Leadership Conference I attended where I work. It gives me chills every time I watch it - and it makes me fear for the life my child will have to grow up in - and have to be successful in. Who knows if these stats are truly accurate, but the big wigs at the credit union where I work but some backing behind it so I have to say that I would bet it's legit.

Let me know what you think...

~Becky