Culture of A Workplace

It’s been a while since I have blogged. The last few months have been rough. It would seem when one thing happens there is a snowball effect.

In the last 6 weeks, we had a family “emergency”. One which required my husband and I to make a critical decision.

After downsizing last year into a small 2 bedroom, 1 bath house we have now taken in my 2 nieces and nephew ages 15, 13 and 11. They are currently living in my front room, “family room”.  We aren’t sure where this is going or how long this will be our situation, but for the time being we are dealing with it.

Throughout the last month I have really learned what it is to be a Real Estate agent at Keller Williams. I have never worked for a company that does so much for their people. I have never had so many people reach out to help me in a time of distress. In fact there is a stark contrast between my last place of employment and Keller Williams.

The culture at Keller Williams is unbelievable. They are there to help the community, their agents and families. They never stop giving. The last few months have changed my vision on what mankind is truly able to give.

I have had a rough year mentally and emotionally, I have considered suicide in the worst moments, but the kindness from those I have surrounded myself with has created a place within me that is filled with gratitude and hope.

My husband and I have been married 27 years and we have had some rough moments in the last month, but it is not within me to let the stress kill the love that we have created. We will persevere with the support from those who have come into our lives, we will make it through. We have always felt alone, never had a real support circle of people who were there to help. This new career adventure I chose last year was the best career decision I have made and although it is slow to get started, it is perhaps exactly where I needed to be at this time in my life.

Mike also changed jobs last year and that too was the best decision he could have made. We have been lucky enough to have John Schutt create new plans to add onto our home if we need to in order to accommodate the kids. And John Baker for being there for Mike when he needs a friend.

I want to thank the Culture Committee at Keller Williams Southland for their help. I truly am forever grateful to all of you for thinking about my family during this time. Also Heartland Partners in Caring, I cannot express the gratitude that I felt when I received the HPIC hug to help with the kids. There are a lot of people in my office that stepped up to help with items the kids needed. The kids came to us with nothing and now they have clothes, beds, shoes, backpacks, school supplies and so much more.  There are many people I want to name in this blog and say thank you too. Linda, Scott, Patrick, Barbara, Angie, Elzeen, Tammy, Beth, Wendi, Lonnie, Amber, Alex, Chris, Ryan, Stephanie, Kris, Bill, Debbie, John Baker, John Schutt, and I am positive I have forgot a few names. I am so thankful for all you have done for us. I can’t say it enough, the support we have felt is overwhelming, in a good way, and we will always be appreciative of every single one of you.

The road is long and it is winding, but we will continue to follow it until the next fork in the road.

I have to admit I forgot one of the most important people that has been there for me during the last couple of years. How I forgot her I can’t explain, perhaps because I think of her as a family member. Or because she is always there at the drop of a dime and those are the ones that when giving appreciation are occasionally forgotten and not because I don’t appreciate everything she has done, but because like a precious family heirloom, you forget how precious it is until something happens to it. Jenn I can’t express how lucky I am to have you in my life. I thank you for everything you have done, for being there when I am sad, depressed, happy, and stressed. Truly you are one of my most loved friends. I’m sorry I forgot you in my original blog.

Self-Love

Have you ever wondered what will make you at peace and happy? Have you tried to do anything and everything to create happiness in your life? Me too.

Finding happiness is more about being true to yourself, as opposed to finding what makes you happy. If you are like me you have changed your goals, your motives, your dreams and your career to try and find happiness and calm. I’ve discovered this is not the best way to find happiness.

In my quest for happiness I have found anxiety, sadness, depression, confusion and so many other feelings that I can’t list them all. In all of these feelings there was one common theme that I found and that is, “the harder I looked, the more deceived I became.”

I was deceived as to who I am. WHO AM I?! Yes, I was deceived as to what I thought made me happy. I thought helping people made me happy. I thought adopting animals made me happy. I thought raising kids made me happy. So many things that I thought made me happy, a clean house, clean laundry, mowed yard, you name it I thought, “oh if I do that I’ll be happy.”

NO. Those things make me who I am, compassionate, kind, loving, tidy and anxious. Yes, if those things that make me me don’t get accomplished then I am anxious. So I fight to get them done and in the process become stressed.

Those are just regular things in life. They are not the things that make me happy. Life long happy is what I am talking about. I have been searching for who I am. I haven’t found her yet. I have found some things that I now believe help a person become one with themselves. Become happy. Become calm.

First, never work at a job that makes you sad, depressed, angry, or anxious. It isn’t worth your happiness to stay someplace you are not treated fairly, you are talked down upon, a place where you feel, “if only they would listen, then I could make a difference.” If you go home every night and cry, vent, and drink a bottle of wine then it isn’t worth it. Your mental and physical health should not be put on the line for a job. Yes, I am saying quit that job! If it takes a toll, say bye Felicia. There are other jobs out there and you deserve to feel appreciated in your job.

Second, if people tell you that you are good at something, believe them. Do what you are good at. It’s hard for me to believe I am good at anything, but I love to write and talk to people. I would love to be a motivational speaker. If someone gives you a chance to be who you want to be then try it, do it and be proud that people think you are good at it!

Third, always dig deep. By this I mean, look deep inside of you and determine what has built you up. What in your life has made you strong? What in your life has made you laugh? What makes you wake up everyday? Don’t forget to look at and see what has torn you down. That also helped you become you, but don’t let it tear you down again. Every time you are torn down by something, when you build yourself back up you are stronger than the last time. But never let the same thing tear you down twice!

And finally, be true to your feelings. Those feelings of sadness mean something. You don’t feel sad for no reason. You are sad because something isn’t right. You are laughing and happy because something is right. It seems easy right? I know, it isn’t easy, but there are some things you can do to be true to you. You have morals, you have feelings and you are you. Be you, don’t let society drive you in a direction you don’t necessarily want to go. Be the gardenia in all of the roses. Be the one and only you, the man or woman you have grown to be. Feel it, live it, and love you!