New Life Resolutions

Here I sit, in my little hotel room, contemplating the new experiences I am adding to my life. And although I value each and every new addition, never once did I think I would end up where I am today. Using the phrase "end up" isn't really being fair. I am simply sitting at a crossroad for the moment.

I have achieved the goals I set 5 years ago. I have graduated college. I found an amazing job with a company so perfect for me I could not have dreamed of a better place to work. I am out of state and away from all of the comforts I have known for the past 23 years. I have a support group comprised of family and friends that have been incremental to my success. And I am happy.

It is hard to believe, after recognizing all of these achievements, that I am sitting in a truck stop hotel in Portage, Indiana. I am surrounded by a hodgepodge of my nearest and dearest material things. One king sized bed all to myself. Miles from any kind of civilization that is familiar to me. The people here live a very different lifestyle. Portage is at the top of Indiana, not far from Lake Michigan. It is situated in the middle of a series of industrial towns. The people here mostly work in manufacturing or whatever other everyday jobs a small town has to offer. Those are the people I have been living amongst the past few days. At the place I am staying I'm surround by truck drivers making their mandatory 10 hour stop. Different people, but all very kind. The landscape is quite ugly, but that is nothing new. It is January in the Midwest, and that looks the same all over. Dark skies, naked trees, and a cold breeze. It's funny how much I wanted to leave Columbus, Ohio for its uneventfulness and end up stuck by the side of a road. Within a 5 mile radius I have access to 2 diners, 3 liquor stores, and a strip club. It is nice to be only a 5 minute drive to the place I will call work for the next few years. This description of my current state doesn't seem to fit with the beginning of my story, but in a way, it fits just right.

I am starting a new chapter in my life. I haven't decided what the title will be and of course I don't know what it will be about. But being stuck here on this lonely road has made me realize that I need to write a new outline for what is to come. I need to set some new goals for the next 5 years of my life. Conveniently enough this pause comes at the beginning of the year. It is January 2013. Instead of making New Years Resolutions I have decided to make New Life Resolutions. And in these resolutions I will set the goals I need to drive myself toward more success in the years to come. This is, of course, a work in progress, but here is what I have so far:

• Find a place to live- I am going to live in Chicago. It is going to be a commute to work, but I am willing to sacrifice time at home for time in the car (or on a train) in order to experience one of the coolest cities in the US. It is the perfect place to further my individuality, my love for the arts, and my love of excitement. This is going to be the first time in 7 years that I have weekends off and I plan to maximize that new luxury. Plus, I wont have to use a car to get around (except to work of course).
• Be the best new employee ArcelorMittal has ever seen- I believe in this company. I think that if I give them my all they make sure I go far. I am guessing they were extremely impressed with me when I was interviewed because my first assignment is in Internal Reports. My job will involve making reports that go to the entire company (meaning all over the world). I have been placed on the same floor as ArcelorMittal's CEO's, and my supervisor is notorious for being a tough sell. I have been given an opportunity to shine, and be in the path of people that will notice a leader when they see one. I plan on making the very best of this gift I was given, and try to take on as much responsibility as I can handle. I must remind myself that I am going to fuck up. But a mistake made is a lesson learned. I am most excited to start work and learn how I can make a difference.
• I am going to place new emphasis on my health- I have been interested in ways to stay healthy for a long time, but now is the time to start healthy habits that will last my lifetime. I want to be better about getting in physical activity everyday. I want to make sure that every meal has the right amount of fruits and veggies. I want to cut drinking down to small amounts here and there. I truly believe that if you eat the right foods, drink lots of water, and stay active you will stay healthy throughout the year and increase the number of years to come. There is more to work on for this resolution. I have some research to do and a gym membership to purchase, but all in good time. 
• I want to get my finances in order-Being a server for 7 years has really screwed up my spending habits. I want to get out of debt and start a healthy savings fund. All this hard work will mean nothing if I don't have a cozy beach house or some villa somewhere to retire to when I'm old. This one is going to take some serious effort, but it is also the area where I will have the most help. I have some people on my side that are very good at managing money. I am counting on them to teach me the ways (funny, I thought I was the finance expert...).
• I want my MBA-Education doesn't stop at a BA for this girl, especially when ArcelorMittal is so willing to assist with this goal by giving it to me for free!
• I want to keep in touch with people that matter most to me (AKA: anyone who attended my going away party)
• ...There is more, but it starts to get material from here, so I wont bother

These are goals, and this my plan. I will work hard until I feel I have achieved everything I have outlined here. Unfortunately, nothing ever comes easy to me in life. I know I have many challenges ahead. But it helps to have a blueprint to refer back to when times seem bleak. 

This dumpy little hotel was just what I needed to remind myself that I haven't won yet. Hopefully now  I can move on from this crossroad, and into a new life!

Skydiving

My First Skydive

                I will never forget the uneasy feeling that occupied my stomach as that small plane as it climbed to altitude. That was the only time where I had any doubts in my ability to make the jump.  When it came time to exit the plane I knew that there was only one way down, and it wasn’t riding in an airplane. 

                I chose to take skydiving because it is my last semester at Ohio State, and I wanted to go out with a bang. In 4 years I have never taken a class that was just for fun. Skydiving met the qualifications for the perfect graduating semester fun class.  It was a unique opportunity, it was something I could scratch off my bucket-list, and it was something that could teach me valuable lessons. Of course, all of these great thoughts were formulated before learning we were AFF jumping, and it would not be tandem.  Though this came as surprise, there was no turning back.  By the end of the class training and training at the site I felt prepared to make the leap.

                When it was my turn to suit up the nerves kicked in, and I started to really think about what I was about to do.  None of those feelings mattered much because I was determined not to fail.  My instructors, two well qualified and handsome gentlemen, were crucial for keeping me focused on the goal.  Then it was time to board the plane. The ride up was the hardest part.  It was not the heights that bothered me.  It was knowing that I would be responsible for making it to the ground again in one piece.  Next thing I know, I am watching the rest of the passengers on the plane exit and fall into the sky.  And finally was the moment I had been waiting for over a year.  The actual leap out was a relief. I made it out of the plane and was in free-fall  The entire time I am doing my checks, trying to stabilize my arms and legs, and smile for the camera I am thinking “why did I think this was a good idea?!”  It was cold and I couldn’t keep my mouth closed because of the wind rushing against my body.  My arms and legs seemed like a lost cause.  They didn’t stay in any position I was trying to put them in.  I looked at my altimeter at 5,000 ft and thought “Crap, it’s past time”.  I pulled my shoot and shot into the air.  I looked up to see a perfectly inflated parachute and breathed a sigh of relief.  And there I was, 4,000 ft in the air, just floating around.  It seems like a serene picture, but my heart was racing as I recovered from sensation of free-fall and adjusted to the feeling of floating high above the ground.  I remember noticing how quiet it is up there.  When it came time to land, I was ready to be on the ground.  Apparently that was the dominating mentality in my brain because I tuned out to my instructor’s instructions and ended in a rough landing.  My first thought upon reaching the ground was “I did it.”

                The whole experience was a lot to take in. My body had never felt pressure like that before and my brain did not know what to make of the purposeful placement into danger.  My reaction initially was that the experience was not what I had imagined, and I did not like it.  But after about 20 minutes I changed my mind.  I felt great. I was full of adrenaline and excitement. It was like brain was unable to process the whole experience right away, but after some time to recover it was an awesome rush.  I told my mom that day that I would be back to do my 25 jumps and get licensed as a skydiver.  Now it has been a few weeks since my life defying leap.  It is hard to remember exactly how I felt in the air, but the feelings about skydiving I formulated upon landing still stand. 

My reflection on skydiving is based on what I learned.  I learned that I am a risk taker. I knew that before I signed up for the class, but I was able to reinforce that this is a true characteristic of my personality.  I learned that once you set your mind to do something, nothing can stop you from achieving that goal.  If you are determined, and it is important to you that you succeed, the chance of failure of slim to none.  I learned that preparation wont ensure that you do everything perfect, but it will ensure that you can succeed well enough.  I have used these lessons in my day to day life.  I have brought this experience up in several interviews.  I use it to drive the point I am serious and I am successful, and employers are always impressed.  I would recommend this experience to anyone who thinks they have the power to achieve anything they believe is possible.