Quit yer bitchin’ (and finally get a better job)
Despite constant reminders that we’re living in a recession, Americans have yet to give up on the dream of living better lives, and for many of us, that means finding more fulfilling jobs. Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Meetup make it easy to make new connections, and for the first time ever, we’re able to share our personal brands, experience and thought leadership with businesses all over the world. But the breadth of our potential futures has also led to confusion, isolation, and acronyms (think YOLO◊FOMO). If you’re at a crossroads and desperate to navigate your myriad options, life and career coach Terry de Guzman has some advice.
“First understand the source of your restlessness,” she said. “Let’s imagine your day of work. What do you see?” One client’s anxiousness was triggered by a huge pile of papers on her desk. Clearing them away gave her the ability to see the big picture more calmly.
“Everybody needs space in a literal and in a symbolic way. When you’re able to create a space for yourself, you’re able to move and grow and thrive.”
As a coach, de Guzman requests that clients create no more than five objectives per session. “The journey from the head to the heart is very complicated,” she said, “but that’s when you really start being authentic. When you can feel what you’re thinking.”
She practices what she preaches, having worked for many years in finance and corporate recruiting, including roles as a CFO and a senior associate dean for finance and administration at Darden School. But when her position was eliminated and her contract was not renewed, she found herself facing her own next step. While continuing to teach at Darden and PVCC, she started The Next Step Life Coaching, a business that deviated from her formal corporate background but felt true to her philosophy.
“I have a friend who is a nun, Sister Mary David, and there are times I would come to her for spiritual comfort. I’d wonder, ‘What is my purpose?’ And she said, ‘You know, Terry, here is a simple prayer. Wake up and say, ‘Here I am.’ Just that,” de Guzman said. “Just being available and open to the possibilities of life brings in possibilities.”
Get organized
The post-holiday reboot frequently involves a desire to get organized. Whether it’s a dusting of your Precious Moments knickknacks or weeding out your Star Wars collectibles, there are pros out there who can bring a fresh perspective to (hundreds of) your favorite things and support you in guilt-free regifting.
Allison Mitchell, a principal organizing consultant at Abundance Organizing, a national firm with locations in Charlottesville, Richmond and Virginia Beach, said the first step to changing your living space is self-determination.
“People have to be ready to call us,” said Mitchell. Her firm offers a customized approach to planning and pricing, starting with an assessment of your stuff from which you can take action yourself or work in tandem with the organizers to execute the plan.
Letting go is the key to clearing out what Mitchell describes as “the overwhelm,” and she applies it to the past as well as the future. Much of the clutter that we cling to is a result of “all of those hopes and dreams and magazines,” she said. “I’d love the community to understand that living in the present sometimes means letting go of the past and letting go of the future.”
And don’t feel guilty about the bedazzled holiday sweatshirt still sitting in that gift bag in the corner. “If a gift is truly given, then it can be truly given away,” said Mitchell.
Catch up on correspondence
“There’s a homey feeling that comes from writing somebody a letter instead of an e-mail or a text,” said Sarah Krenn of stationery shop Rock Paper Scissors. Her tips for getting inspired to send more snail mail: Stock up on pretty colored cardstock—the store carries a full rainbow of plain cards and envelopes. “It’s a really economical way to do it,” she said. “Pick somebody’s favorite colors and add washi tape”—decorative adhesive that comes in a range of colors and patterns—“on the back to dress it up a little bit.” The right implement can inspire you, too. “I like a thick rollerball pen,” Krenn said, because it can give a smooth look to less-than-perfect handwriting.
Shed the winter weight (for extroverts)
For those of you who find energy and motivation being around people, there are plenty of ways to drop a few pounds in a group setting.
Carver Rec Center is keeping up with all the fitness trends, and has recently added ballet barre and suspension training classes.
Keep an eye on charlottesvilletrackclub.org/training for updates on local running groups.
Ever tried down dog on a paddleboard? When the weather warms up, check out Mango Yoga Adventures (facebook.com/mangoyogaadventures).
Lose your winter weight (for introverts)
It’s time to attempt that whole weight loss thing again, but as a lifelong introvert, the idea of setting foot in a crowded workout class is your worst nightmare. No worries. Here are a few options that don’t involve shaking your groove thing in front of anyone but y-o-u.
Clean out your pipes with a Juice Laundry cleanse.
Run or walk the Rivanna Trail (dogs may make better companions than humans).
Work out to video podcasts, like Yoga-mazing, that you can use in the privacy of your own living room.