EATLIVEWEARWANTLIFEREAD

4/01/2013

Five Little Things...



Hi my friends... I hope you had a great Easter weekend! Other than hitting up some spring sales, I worked, slept and relaxed. But probably the most interesting part of my weekend was putting this post together. I have seen the whole "Five Things" post going around and I really adore reading them. It's fun to me to see who people are behind their blog. When Jacquelyn tagged me in the comments section of her Five Things post, my first thought was, "What in the world would I write???" But honestly, the real issue was, "What would I feel comfortable sharing?" This blog is my little fun space, so it's hard for me to get too serious about anything here. But over the last few weeks, I wrote this post in my little nightstand notebook - just to see how I would feel. Surprisingly it was quite therapeutic - a little scary, but therapeutic. So here goes...

1. Last summer, I took a two-month sabbatical from work to do nothing but have fun. So by day, I am an accountant. I do tax and financial planning for high-net worth individuals. It's an interesting, yet very involved job that can be stressful at times. I've had this job for almost ten years and last year I needed a minute - a two month minute. Several months before my break, I found myself exhausted all the time, agitated even on the best days and I just could not focus for the life of me. I was simply burned out, so I decided to request a sabbatical. It's almost unheard of for people in my profession, especially women, with no kids, family issues or health issues to request a sabbatical. But after lots of thought and prayer, I asked my boss anyway. I was completely terrified, but he granted it. I was elated and felt incredibly lucky to work with such understanding people.

During my time off, I traveled (remember my trip to NYC?), spent time with my family, stayed up late watching movies, baked, read lots of books, woke up and had breakfast at noon, saw friends that I hadn't seen in years and made new friends. I made a goal not to spend too much time doing or thinking about any one thing during my time off. If I did, I knew the time would go by quicker. I also vowed to never let myself get to that point ever again. That's why most of my weekends include so much downtime and relaxation - and naps. :) I went back to work feeling like a brand new person. I could think, I could focus and I appreciated things at work and outside of work so much more. 

If you can relate to the feelings I had, take a break. If taking a sabbatical isn't an option, take a day or take an hour- whatever you have to reenergize and regroup. Your mind and your body will thank you. Trust me. 

2. I was terribly bullied as a kid, but today I'm thankful for it. When I was in elementary and middle school, I was bullied. I was teased about pretty much everything from my complexion to the way I walked and talked. My parents raised me to talk properly, so I was teased about the way I talked. My foods of choice those days were pizza, fried bologna sandwiches on white bread with mustard, Lays potato chips, Doritos and Mountain Dew, which means I was overweight, which means I was teased about my weight. I have never had a haircut, so I've always had long hair. One time a girl who was sitting behind me in class decided to yank a large piece of my hair out so she could see if it was real. To her dismay, it was. There were so many days I was terrified to go to school and each time my parents talked me through it and fought with the school to rectify the issues. I got through it, I grew through it and now will have some idea of how to get my kids or anyone else through it if they experience the same thing. 

3. I've only been in two serious relationships. I love being in relationships, but through those two relationships and many, many, many bad dates, I have learned that I will not sacrifice who I am for someone else. I know there is a guy out there for me who just has "it" and a guy who doesn't conduct 90% of his conversations through text messaging... :)

4. I am OCD (those wrinkles in my couch cushions in my living room above are driving me CRAZY), but I rarely make up my bed - except maybe for a photo or when I have guests. I realize that's a bit like an oxymoron, but it's the truth. 

5.  When I was younger, there was a time when I aspired to be a truck driver. I found the idea of driving a big rig (a purple Volvo one to be exact) while traveling across the country to be fascinating. I wouldn't dream of doing that now, nor would I dream of drinking a Mountain Dew or eating a fried bologna sandwich... :)

So there it is! I think I'm supposed to tag other people, but what I would rather do is request to hear a little fact about you. I'd love to hear it!

Image above: This week's flowers in my living room
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13 comments:

  1. Loved this post and learning more about you. I'm so sorry that you were bullied when you were a kid. Being a teacher, I unfortunately have to deal with situations like this all the time. I pray that the right man steps into your life! You are a beautiful girl with a beautiful heart :) I'm so glad that you were able to take that time off last year! What a gift! You are blessed!

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  2. Hi Tiffany,

    Such a great post:) The bullying at school is terrible. I think there are many of us that were bullied to varying degrees. Stopping this behavior is a challenge for parents and schools. I'm glad you got to take extended time off from your exhausting profession. My daughter is entering her 5th year (Master's program) at UW in tax accounting.. it's so difficult for her and I worry about her getting too stressed.

    Enjoy the start to a new week.

    Leslie

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  3. Great post from an even more fantastic person!! Good for you for knowing when to take a break. We all need them every now and then. Since my hubby does what you do, only on the insurance side, I can so relate!! And the bullying...UGH! I went through it and both our girls did at one point in time or another.

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  4. Sorry to hear you so bullied as a kid, but glad to hear that you made it through and thrived despite that. That can be so hard. And yeah, *the* guy is definitely out there, somewhere, and he`ll want to have a real conversation with you :)

    Some Snapshots Blog
    Jess

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  5. What a great post - thankyou for sharing Tiffany.
    That's so funny about the OCD - I'm the same; but hardly ever make by bed either! I think it's more comfortable unmade ;)
    Ashleigh xxoo

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  6. Great post..you are very rich by heart.Really enjoyed your post
    Thanks for sharing

    Android Developer

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  7. How fun, loved this candid look into some of your life Tiffany. I am sorry to hear about the bullying....something that should never ever be taken lightly and I am so happy there is finally a national outcry of sorts happening around it...its about time!
    We have the OCD and love of junk food in common :) Though the junk food I try to stay away from but do allow myself a treat every now and then! Your two month sabbatical sounds AWESOME! I think I need one....hummm maybe this summer!!

    Thanks for this, it was a fun read!

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  8. A truck driver! that is so funny Tiff! I remember I wanted to work at the local ice cream shop and just serve ice cream all day long! haha. That sabbatical period sounds like such a great decision, in my opinion, very smart of you, I mean, who can relax in just 2-3 weeks (not even combined) a year? And I as kid was bullied too, well, I was called casper almost every day, and I remember that in first grade some girls (who later became my best friends!) used to kick me while we were in formation to go up to our classrooms. It was just until recently that I realized that that was some sort of bullying!

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  9. Tiffany,
    I just had to respond to this gutsy, heart felt post. I admire that you were able to open yourself up (I promise, it draws people in) and that I learned so much about you.

    You WILL find the right guy, at the right time. Prior to blogging, I also worked in estate and trust management for high income individuals, too. I met my husband when I was 28, married at 31 and had both my boys at 34 and 38. Not typical for my friends. I was on the late side. But, I'm also happily married and I am grateful for all the freedom and flexibility I had in my 20s.

    Have a beautiful weekend...with plenty of down time and naps! :)
    xoxo Elizabeth

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  10. Loved this candidness. I took was bullied...kind of. I was always popular but I had acne in the later part of grade school & middle school so my friends & the boys made fun of me. It wasn't until I had a couple of fights....and won, that people left me alone. That was when I knew I had to start taking up for myself more and once I got to high school, I didn't have any problems. (and by senior year, my skin had practically cleared :-)) That's pretty much why I now have such zero tolerance for bull or disrespect and I hate to see people too nice who don't defend themsevles whether it's in a relationship or whatever.

    And I hate to see people who don't use all of their vacation time. We all need time away from work to re-energize and we shouldn't feel guilty for taking the time to do so. If I want to use pto to watch paint dry, that's my business.

    Loved this read.

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  11. Also about the bullying thing, I wish teachers took it more seriously. In grade school, though it wasn't physical and just verbal, and though it appeared we were all friends at times, I think the teachers made light of the situations. And in the end I somehow was the one punished by "catching an attitude" at the teacher. It's a bit ridiculous.

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  12. Great post!!! Taking time out for you away from work is something that I think is very important. The bullying situations has for to get better. I too was bullied in elementary school, but look at us now!!! We are more than conquerors. :-)

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  13. Oh my gosh did you say you don't like guys who communicate 90% through text. You just took the words right out of my mouth. I am single too and waiting for the right person and refuse to compromise on nonsense but you are so right. Many guys these days want to communicate with you through text all the time. It is so annoying. I have made up my mind the next person i meet i am telling them from Day 1 - "dude my biggest pet peeve is men who communicate 90% through text so if you are one of them keep it moving" .

    Technology is taking over our communication. My friend had a birthday party for his 8 yr old son and on the invitation he wrote "No technical gadgets allowed at party". I thought that was so cool. She said she did that because even kids dont communicate anymore, all they want to do with play with computer gadgets so in so doing when they came to the party he made sure all them are communicating and socializing with each other, cos thats what kids are suppose to do. She said the last time she went to a chiropractor with her kids she was told her sons bone structure on his back was not straight and this was due to too much time he spend bent and playing with kindle. From then he restricted his son to playing with his gadget no more than 2 hrs a day.

    People lets not let technology take over real communication. Its like men don't even write love letters anymore like back in the day. They want to ask you out on a date via text, tell you they are running late via text, break up via text - i mean its terrible.

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