it’s been a while since i’ve posted on the random going-ons of my life. and so much for fitting in all the posts that i wanted to this week! it’s been crazy, y’all! i can’t even begin to tell you. but i will try…
: : first things first, the lighter stuff. last friday afternoon, we had a departmental indoor soccer match, just for fun… global v. PW [peopleworks, a.k.a. human resources]. i was recruited for the global team since they needed girls [and i’ve worked on projects with the global team in the past], and to say that i was excited about the game would be a huuuuuuge understatement. soccer is my jam. i went out and bought brand-new soccer socks and shin guards and sambas because all my gear is at my parents’ house and i wasn’t going to have time to go get it and MORE IMPORTANTLY, regular shoes and socks just wouldn’t do. and i was out running sprints and jumping rope in the dark [moreover, in the COLD] to get in shape for the match, because even though i run regularly, let’s be honest – you’re not really in shape until you’re in “soccer shape,” a.k.a. when you’re fit enough to spend 90 minutes alternating between a jog, a sprint, quick feet, and some good elbows, slide-tackling, kicks in the shins, and a body slam or two. #truth. andddddddd i’m pretty sure soccer is the only thing that motivates me to do crazy things like running sprints when it’s dark and 35 degrees out.
anyway, it pretty much goes without saying that despite my efforts to whip my butt into shape, a few nights of sprints and furious rope-jumping didn’t prepare me enough to have the endurance of mia hamm [i’m sure you’re all quite surprised about that], NOR the endurance of my seventeen-year-old, six-days-a-week soccer-playing self. and let’s just say that three days later, i was still walking like an elderly woman without her walker and silently cursing practically every muscle in my body from my back down with each step. and that bloody toenail. so yeah! but the game was a blast. seriously, i had forgotten how much joy i get from knocking a ball around, and then put me with people i’ve never played with before and/or with mostly men [just because it makes me bring my A game even more] and add a bit of friendly rivalry and trash-talking and my somewhat suppressed competitive spirit will show its face and i’m allllllllll in. we had the best time! and i must admit that i think i gave those guys a run for their money! ;) we won and i was pretty pumped about it – that game made my week.
{i’m soooooooo tired of selfies but i didn’t have any other photos for this post! i found these on my phone from a month ago. i’ve been slacking in the photo department lately and i’m working on that…}
: : some food for thought: recently i’ve seen three quotes/ideas that have really struck a note with me and combine [in my mind] into one very brilliant piece of wisdom. here they are: 1.) there was a thought-provoking post on the blog sincerely, kinsey that was posted last week on tuesday [the title was “tuesday,” but it won’t let me link it here so you’ll have to go to her blog and find it yourself], and i really like how she says that we need to think of ourselves as the CEO of our lives and that we should choose relationships that help shape us into the best versions of ourselves. do your friends bring out the best or the worst of you? if it’s the worst of you, then they’re probably not true friends. the refreshing part is, as the CEO of your own life, you have the power to make a change. 2.) i saw a quote from jim rohn recently: “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” do you respect the people you hang out with the most? are they kind? do you want to be like them? do they have the same values as you do? these are all important questions, because you will be associated with the people you hang out with the most, whether you want to be or not. and 3.) this quote by amy poehler: “i am a firm believer that every few years one needs to shake one’s life through a sieve, like a miner in the yukon. the gold nuggets remain. the rest falls through like the soft earth it is.” isn’t that lovely? sometimes you need to hold on to the people and things that matter and leave the rest behind. on the other hand, sometimes transitions in life make us realize that there are more people who matter than we even realize. and we’re lucky to have those people in our lives.
: : the weather this weekend was amazing. on sunday, my friend sandro and i took a walk after brunch and went to a park and just laid in the grass for a long time, and it was one of the most gratifying moments i’d had in a while. the sun was warm but not hot and there was a balmy breeze, and i probably could have taken like a four-hour nap right there because it was so nice out. it’s those breaks from winter weather that make texas so great at this time of year.
: : and finally, some big news that is very bittersweet for me: i put in my two weeks notice at work on monday, because […deep breath…] on the 24th of february, i’ll be starting a new position at another major food company in the area. it’s honestly still completely surreal to me. i wasn’t looking for a new job – this one sort of fell on my lap, but it was an opportunity that was way too good to pass up. i’ll be reporting to a previous supervisor who happens to be a dear friend and an amazing mentor to me, and this definitely makes the transition easier. still, it’s very difficult leaving such a wonderful company and the fantastic people i’ve had the privilege of working with over these past 2 years and 9 months. i love these people dearly and will miss them so much. luckily i’m staying in the area [i’m already planning lunches to ensure that i don’t lose touch with my people], and i’m grateful for new opportunities and excited to start in my new role. sometimes you just have to take the plunge!
it’s been such a whirlwind, but i’m thankful for so much right now. it’s these moments – departmental soccer games, sundays spent laying in the grass, precious time spent with co-workers who i love dearly – that are the gold that remains when everything else is shaken out. i’m excited for the future, because this gold will stay with me always. xoxo