Momentary Mentors

I've long admired Gwen Moritz, Editor of Arkansas Business. I think she is an extremely savvy business woman, an excellent journalist, and an all around neat woman.

I'd sent Gwen about a million press releases over the years, but never had the chance to meet her in person until late last year at a reception. I sent her an email after the event to let her know I was glad to have the chance to speak to her in person, and a back and forth of emails and facebooking began from there.

I posted to my facebook this week about my first solo outing, to The Rep. I'd never gone anywhere by myself, ever, until this weekend. I found it liberating, and met some really cool old ladies that I wouldn't have otherwise met.

A friend of mine commented on my post, saying that she's been trying to muster up the courage to see an afternoon movie solo, but she hasn't yet found the chutzpah to do so.

Gwen was very saddened by this, and she sent me a message telling me so. She said that we should never, ever not do something we want to do just because we don't have someone to do it with us. And she's right. Life is too short to miss even a single opportunity to grow, to learn, and to experience. She went on to explain that as a married mother, she rarely has opportunities be alone these days, and she cherishes the time that she does have to herself. Very valid point, one I appreciated.

So in that moment, Gwen was my momentary mentor, whether she realized it or not. She shared something from her own experience that will change the way I think and act.

There are formal processes to being a mentor, be it a professional mentor or some other form of mentorship. But we shouldn't discount the momentary mentors that swoop in and out of our lives, always at just the right moment.

Lessons from April

I was a bit of a slacker in April in terms of posting to the blog. A testament to how insanely busy things have been lately. Which leads me to my first lesson from April...

1. Being busy is good. To a degree. There's a fine line between being busy and terribly overcommitted. I think I'm walking the line.

2. How do you get over someone? You just do. I never thought I'd say that, but it really is that easy.

3. You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone, but you don't know what you've been missing until it arrives.

4. I think 26 will be a good year.

Older. Wiser?

I turned 26 yesterday.

Might not seem like a monumental birthday, but it was a pretty big deal to me. You see, I'm now closer to 30 than to 20. Yikes.

Everyone who asked how old I'd be turning said that 26 is a great age, a great year. So that gives me some hope for what's to come.

I can't help but think that, here I am, another year older. But am I any wiser? Did I learn anything in the last 365 days?

I think so. I think I've placed a few more pieces in the puzzle that is Ginny.

Maybe by this time next year, I'll have figured out enough pieces to make something really pretty.

Do Better

I'm very guilty of too often dwelling on the past. Thinking about all that I did wrong, how I could've done better, what I should've done differently.

I think that's a form of masochism.

Really, the best I can do is live, learn, and do better the next time.

The First Time

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." Oprah Winfrey

And So It Is

I've been watching a new quasi-reality show on E! that follows three girls and their Mom in their day-t0-day (staged) activities. The family often prays, and they always end their prayers by saying, "and so it is." I always think of Damien Rice's song, "The Blower's Daughter," when I hear them say that.

I think they are nuts.

But today I was thinking about a certain situation, and about how no matter how hard I try, I can't change it. Trust me, I've tried. Some things and some people won't budge.

All the talking, emailing, begging, and pleading hasn't changed this situation, and none of those things will. I've got to accept that this situation is the way that it is for a reason, and I have to trust that the reason is for my good.

And so it is.

Lessons from March

What a whirlwind, the month of March.

Lessons learned are as follows:

1. How do you let go? You just do. You quit thinking about it and worrying about it, and you just do.

2. It's stupid to do things to try to keep up or hang with other people. It usually ends in disaster. At least in my experience.

3. A girl needs her girl time. I read somewhere once that there is a hormone that women only produce when in the company of other women. I believe it.

4. Vague = Probably not good.

5. What happens in NOLA, stays in NOLA.