Sad, Excited, Scared to Death!

 My 'last' day at work was yesterday, Thursday March 27th. Well, I guess I should be honest - my official last day was March 17th - the day I worked. BUT, they asked me to come in for lunch. Free food! I'm there!
Mixed emotions went through my head yesterday as I drove the hour of time along the highway from Niagara to Locke Street Hamilton. This will be the last day I make this trip to work. We went to a little bistro down the street for lunch. We tried not to talk shop but what awaited all of the us the next few months. My co-worker is going on a cruise, for myself, the NEW career path. My co-worker Lisa and I headed back to the office to tie up a few loose ends. Lisa is thrilled with my new position but hates me all at the same time.
We knew each other as kids and reconnected just a couple years ago with many years under out belts. Marriage, kids, great times, sad times. We shared a very special year building a relationship that we both vowed we would keep. We hugged goodbye - chatted for another few moments, hugged goodbye again. After 3 times Lisa said - please leave, I think I'm going to cry. As I walked out the door, my heart sank. Lisa called out - "Have a great weekend! See you next week!" She heard me stop in my tracks, she loudly whispered, "Just humour me". I called back and said my usual - "Don' stay too late! See you next week!"

Today - just taking it easy. Looking through my closet. The last six years I have worked as a Rehabilitation Support Worker for those that have survived a car accident but are now left to deal with a head injury. This job was exhausting - both mentally and physically at times but very rewarding! I have learned so much from my clients. One point: never take your life for granted and appreciate what you can do, each and everyday! My attire? yoga pants, sneakers, t-shirts and hoodies for 6 years! I took on helping out in the office between clients, setting up systems and learning the acquired brain injury lingo and teams. Dress code for the office? Whatever I felt like that day. Jeans with a cute top, dress pants and blouse or even a skirt with a scarf accessory.

Monday March 31st I start my new journey. I accepted a position as Community Sales Lead for Holiday Retirement at Stamford Estates. This is the scared to death part! I have done a little bit of sales with the jobs I have had over the years. BUT I know I can do this! I have had the priviledge to know the compnay as my Grandma Forrest (who just turned 93 last week! Happy Birthday!) lived in one of these communities in Hamilton, Court at Rushdale. They are beautiful retirement facilities. This company takes care of the littlest details.
Dress code? Not yoga pants and tees! Business. Which is great - I LOVE my heels! My tootsies will ache my first couple of weeks! I will be meeting new people. Meeting their needs to have an amazing time in their retirement. Getting out into the community meeting new friends and acquaintances.

I'm waiting for someone to say - ummm Sherri, you have been in the rehab world for 6 years, before that you have worked as executive assistants, fitness trainer and mom. Now! At the ripe age of 46 you are embarking on a NEW journey? That's right! And why not! For years I have been and continue to be involved in leadership development. Subscribing to books to better myself in leadership, people skills, all aspects of my LIFE. All that learning has led me to this! I have been on my LIFE journey the day I arrived and nestled in my moms arms. Just taking a different road that I have been on for the last 6 years. I know my destination. Its the journey that counts.

Days like these....

Days like these...you wake up - the alarm scares you out of your skin! You look at the time and say "really? That was a short night!" 

You get up - trip over the dog, step on a lego on your way to get that coffee you so desperately need! You look outside and the sun has decided to stay hidden. It's ok, it just added to how you were feeling. You want to just crawl back in bed, pull the cover over your head and WAIT for the sun to come out to make your day! You can`t call your girlfriend, she hasn`t had her coffee yet either. You can`t call your other girlfriend as you know she has been up all night with her newborn. You just need someone to take out that cattle prod and give you a zap so you can get on with your day. I've been there.

BUT, I have learned that somedays I have to create my own sunshine. As my good friend Claude Hamilton says - "flick your own bick!" Create that sunshine in your life! You and I decide each and every day how it is going to be. Not the horoscope in the paper, not even the dj announcer can `rev` you up. That cup of coffee; it wears off quick. So instead, look inward and ask yourself; how can I create my own sunshine today? What attitude am I going to have today? 

There are SO many things we can be grateful for. We are all loved by someone, a friend, a relative, your pet, someone! We all have someone in our life that cares about us. You have a job. So many are without work these days. You are healthy. I may have the sniffles today but there are many that are battling for their life. Food in your cupboards. Maybe your cupboards aren't bursting at the seams but you didn't have to visit a foodbank this week. Your family. Many people at your work, in your neighborhood, on the bus; are estranged from their families and there is no relationship. 

There is always something good in every day! Your car started! You didn't put a run in your pantyhose, or you did but a new pair was hiding in your drawer! You had all green lights going to work! You found that lost earring in your sweater! It isn't snowing! (that is a wonderful news for those of us that have had to deal with quite a bit of snow this winter). Your coffee is just right!

Then there are even the little things that keep that smile on your face! When a person holds the door open for you or the vehicle in front of you pays for your coffee or you hear a childs giggle. How about a complete stranger who walks by and says 'hello' or someone says, "after you". Or even better! YOU are on the giving end. YOU make someones day a little brighter. These things brighten your day as well!

A song I just found - love it! Days like these - they go by way too fast. Days like these you wanna make them last. Check out this song! Jason Aldean - Days like these

Tomorrow morning, if the sun isn't shining over your home...make your own sunshine and have a GREAT day!

I Have A Choice

I'm not going to lie; I am disappointed.

Following the Twitter hashtag, #LVERaquaContest yesterday morning, I discovered that La Vie En Rose had contacted the three finalists for their Aqua Brand Ambassador contest. I was not one of them.

My sincere congratulations goes out to the three finalists - I think that this will be an amazing opportunity for them - and so I wish each of them the best of luck.

My disappointment comes for two reasons and is accompanied by a choice.

When I first started this journey to become the brand ambassador for La Vie En Rose's swimwear line, Aqua, I really thought it was a long-shot. The more I worked out, blogged and thought about it however, the more I believed I could actually be a finalist in this contest. I met all the qualifications and was pursuing it with great energy on my social networks. As the date of the announcement grew closer, I thought for sure I would get a call.

The second reason for my disappointment is a little deeper than just not winning. My thoughts and hopes were, coming into this contest, that the brand would take a more thoughtful approach to their future advertising and marketing campaigns. All of La Vie En Rose's ads feature young women with beautiful, flawless bodies (and yes - I understand they are selling lingerie and swimwear). However, every time I visit one of their stores, I see women my age and older shopping. We are their clientele, and I was hoping that they would choose a brand ambassador who would reflect the ideals and character of not only the store, but of the women who shop there.
I hope that doesn't come across as "sour grapes". I simply believe that they could have chosen an older woman (not necessarily even me) as one of their top three finalists to represent the demographic that is most likely to support their brand. Women whose bodies have been through the trauma of child-birth, women who have experienced both the pleasure and pain of life and relationships, women who want to be told they are beautiful when they least feel it. I really think they missed an opportunity.

I have a choice to make - I can be bitter
OR
I can choose to become better. 

My journey is not over. This blog is titled "Meema's Transformation". I am not done. I have not arrived. Today I will become better than I was yesterday; Body, Mind and Spirit. Mine is a journey of transformation, and transformation is not a destination, it is a process.

I hope you continue to join me on this journey. I believe that as each of us focus on becoming beautiful from the inside out, the world in turn will become just that much more beautiful.

She made her DASH count!

It  is with sadness and tears that I write this post.  Heaven gained a beautiful woman yesterday.  This woman did not have an easy life,  a single mom trying to make ends meet. Struggling to be a good mom and working so hard. She knew there was more to this life she was living. She decided to turn her world upside down.  She took the hard way out, so her life would get easier.  She made the sacrifices to live her life on purpose. She read books that would change her life forever. Finding her soul mate, she married her knight in shining armour that would slay any dragon that would come her way, he gave her the world. She gave birth to three more beautiful children, making her family complete. She listened to her mentors and applied what she heard.  She became an amazing mom, a wonderful spouse to her loving husband and a successful business woman. She only wanted the very best for her children. Everything she did was to better their life. She became a leader/mentor and friend to thousands of women. She helped them see themselves as champions and winners as well. She was an example of being beautiful inside and out.

Jackie Lewis' life; "it's all or nothing!"

"You only live once,  but if you do it right,  once is enough."  Jackie Lewis

I heard a story from Laurie Woodward about  The Dash. That little line between our date of birth and date of death. That little dash is so significant. Jackie's dash could circle our globe quite a few times.  She made her dash count!  She had touched more hearts in her short time than is possible to even imagine.

"I don't believe in circumstances.  The people who really make it in this world are the ones who get up and look for the circumstances they want and if they can't find them,  they make them". Jackie Lewis

Jackie Lewis wasn't feeling well last weekend.  Going to the hospital they thought it was a bug bite from Puerto Rico not long ago.  Her vital signs became grim. Her brain began to swell and would not respond to medication.  They transferred her to the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, giving her access to some of the best physicians in the country.  The doctors worked hard to save her.  Machines were now keeping her alive.  With Bill holding his four children, Jacob,  Eli,  Bella  and Nemo, by her side they said goodbye to their mom and loving wife for the last time.

It's so hard to think about it.  She wasn't in an accident. She wasn't terminally ill. We saw her just two weeks ago,  full of laughter and a love for LIFE! 

I have learned so many life lessons from Jackie.  Her legacy will live on in all of us whom she inspired to strive to be beautiful and strong on the inside.

"A candle loses nothing when it lights another candle" Thomas Jefferson

Jackie lit many candles in her lifetime. Following her lead, we now keep that candle lit and find others that need that light.

You can read posts and memories from hundreds of people Jackie Lewis inspired.

The Home Stretch

Well, it's Tuesday March 4 and it is snowing again!! I sooo hope I am chosen as the La Vie En Rose Aqua brand ambassador! I NEED a trip to the Riviera Maya.

Our internet at home has been down for the past week - and won't be back up until this coming Thursday. I never really noticed how much I relied on the 'net until it was gone. In a way it's been a nice break - unplugging - but on the other hand it has been incredibly frustrating.

Our service provider (who will remain nameless) uses Bell lines. From what I understand, there was a work order for one of our neighbors' services and while there, the Bell guy took the liberty of removing our internet card (as he assumed if it wasn't listed with Bell, it was unused). And so... we wait.

I did want to take this opportunity (while I am online) to thank you for your encouragement and kind words about my challenge. The contest to become the  La Vie En Rose Aqua brand ambassador has given me a goal to work towards. I know there are many others more qualified, with more Twitter followers, and amazing "bikini-bods" who have already submitted their application - and that's ok.

Whether I have the opportunity to travel to Mexico with La Vie En Rose and post about their fantastic swimwear line or not; I am happy to have begun the process of my transformation. I love how I feel right now. I love working out. I love eating right. I love connecting with other like-minded women. I love change!

The deadline to apply for the contest is March 9 (this coming Sunday). My transformation will in no way be complete by then; in fact, I'll just be getting started. This is now a life-long journey of improving every area of my life - and I hope you join me!