Thursday, October 4, 2012

Taking Charge


Welcome to day 4 of BlogFest 2012!  Thank you Stuart of Stuart Fish.com for today's writing prompt:


 “Will you take charge of your life?”

      Twelve years ago I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.  I vowed to quit my job and give my daughter all the attention and love I could and to be there for her 24/7.  I left my job of 6 years to become a full time stay at home mom.  During that time of wiping butts and snot noses, an abundance of hugs, kisses, and tears my life drifted along.  Around the time my daughter was approaching the moment to leave the nest for kindergarten I got knocked up again and my son joined the family.  I couldn’t see not giving him the same amount of devotion, so I remained at the status quo.



       In 2009 I began writing online.  I was still at home but now my life seemed to find purpose beyond my kids.  I wrote and that satisfied me for a long time.  Then I turned the ripe ole age of 44.  Pre menopausal hormones reared their angry head and I started to wonder if this was it for me.  I began to get a little restless in my own skin and seriously began considering getting a job.  It had to be part time, and it had to be a job I could do and still be available for my kids when they needed me plus line my pockets with extra cash. 

      I checked out the school website for positions and found some openings available in the cafeteria.  I grabbed the bull’s balls and on a whim filled out an application.  To my shock not only did they call me for an interview, but at the interview they hired me on the spot as a sub.  Well, hot damn and happy day.  I hadn’t expected that at all.  When they called me for the first time to sub at one of the elementary schools I was happier than I had been in a really long time.  I actually enjoyed it.  A couple weeks past and I wasn’t called again.  I felt like I really didn’t have a job after all.  When I had went in and applied for a job I figured I would be working daily if they hired me.



         Instead of sitting back and waiting, I once again took the initiative and called the lady that hired me to find out just what the hell was going on.  I told her I was looking for a job I could go to every day.  That is what I had in mind.  If they didn’t need me, why hire me?  We discussed my computer skills and my past experience in running a cash register and my desire to learn their system if need be.  Seconds after we hung up the manager at the school I now work at called and told me to come to work, each and every day, for as long as I wanted to.





        Along about this time I was diagnosed with hypertension, began treatment to lower it, and was put on a strict diet in the hopes of dropping the pounds I had put on with my pregnancies and never lost.  I was told I was just like my Dad and was diagnosed with heart disease.  Considering he suffered from heart attacks and died of a stroke, I was given a wake up call.  I could keep on the way I was and prepare to die, or take charge and change my destiny and live.  With two young kids, I chose to change my destiny and live.

        So yes, I am taking charge of my life.  I am eating healthier than I ever have, working and getting paid for it, plus still a very active mom in my kid’s lives.  On top of that I am crazy enough to challenge myself to blog each and every day.  My life is structured and has more purpose than ever before.  Instead of selecting a hole to put myself in, I am out here living my life and doing everything I can to take charge of my health so I can be around for a while.  Instead of safe in my little cocoon I have burrowed into over the past 12 years, I am out in the mainstream meeting people and mingling and having one hell of a time as only I can.  



      Nothing in life worth having is easy.  Getting used to working and not sitting on my happy a$$ all day long writing, reading, and commenting has been a major life adjustment, but I am doing it.  I will do it.  I want to do it, and let’s face it I have to do it.  I gave up art when my mom died in 1993.  It was a passion that drove my life up until her death as much as the blood pumps through my veins.  Recently I picked up a sketch pad and some colored pencils and realized to my shock not only could I still do it, I liked doing it, and I am still pretty good at it.  I made the decision that slowly but surely I would work towards devoting more time to draw into my life.  I am in control and taking charge, and I am happy about it until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.


23 comments:

  1. AWESOME!! I can barely color in the lines so i'm envious of anyone's artistic abilities with a pencil or paint. You are truly talented and so proud you are goign to stay at it.
    Also, love me some Puddle of Mud.

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    1. Holli, I know isn't Puddle of Mud awesome?? Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments! ♥

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  2. That's a great picture! You are very talented. I can draw stick figures. lol I'm glad that you are so busy and seizing life! Alas the school never did call me about working up in their cafeteria, even as a sub. I wonder if they look at my work history and think I'm overqualified and therefore will leave as soon as a high paying office job comes along...which incidentally I'm not even looking for. To be honest, as bad as we need the money, I'm really not that interested in going back to work yet. I started working summers when I was 15 and have been working steadily since then. It's nice to have a break.

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    1. JoJo, Thank you for your kind words and for stopping by to read. I was kind of happy about it, but they only hired me on as a sub so when they actually call me in to work is sporadic. It is hard to go back to work and deal with the impossible people in the work place that are still there determined to pi$$ on a person's parade no matter what. ♥

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  3. I still totally love your drawings! That one is just awesome.
    Taking charge of your health and your days...all kinds of wonderful.

    Proud and happy for you.

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    1. Jo, thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  4. Keep up the good eating habits...and taking charge of your life through work and I think you are on your way to find some fulfillment. Actually I know it. I think you've found a great place to work for :)

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    1. Jenn, so far so good although neither are easy. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments! ♥

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  5. Good blog piece and great illustrations. I hope you will keep on drawing.

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    1. Bronwyngordon, thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments!!♥

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  6. So glad to hear you are taking control of your life Kathy and moving it in the direction you want. And your drawing is lovely. I would imagine that your husband and kids are rallying behind you with a lot of support!

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  7. You are definitely in charge here and you should be very proud of yourself.

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    1. Journey of Life, thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments. I am doing my best to get through this the best I can. ♥

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  8. So proud of you for taking charge...of everything!

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    1. Susan, thank you so much for stopping by and for your kind comments!!♥

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  9. Good for you! It's hard to adjust going back to work. At least I'd assume so. I haven't taken that plunge yet. I'm such a sissy! So good to hear that you've taken charge of your health. I KNOW that one can be hard. It's so worth it though!

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    1. Melissa, It is hard, and I hope it pays off! Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  10. Keep on keeping on, Kathy. You have a lot to be proud of. Very inspiring post. Just what I needed to read. Cheers!

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    1. Daphne, so pleased you enjoyed my post. Thank you for stopping by to read and for your comments! ♥

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  11. Kathy: You are an amazing artist! I find that creating stuff and sitting quietly makes me happy and more relaxed and good for my well being. When I am coloring or painting I feel my BP lower as I am at peace, not stressing etc. Hope you do more of your sketching, as it is something just for you and we all need that. With all your changes, this will be a plus for you. Hubby tells me after a rough day of work, or a mean commute, to go into my craft room and relax... helps each time.

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    1. Winnie, I need to do more creating and chilling out. Thank you for the advice and for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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  12. This is such a wonderful post Kathy. It's so refreshing to read about you taking charge of your life and including all the things that make you such a wonderful wife, mother and overall delightful person to know. You are committed to your responsibilities of a wife, mother and homemaker while contributing to the family income as well as taking of your physical body and your inner self by writing and drawing. (Wow, that was a long sentence.) You're so right with the balance of taking care of others you love but still taking of care of yourself. You go girl!!!

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    1. Betty, I am doing all that?? It exhausts me just reading about it. LOL Thank you for stopping by to read and for your kind comments! ♥

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