Getting Reconnected

Hello!  Well, it's been a while since I post in my blog. A lot has happened in my life since my last post and there are many drafts in my folder of  thoughts and epiphanies I added in to share later.  I'll share them in the next few months, mostly because emotions felt at the time are no longer there so I need to rewrite some of them.

This is me now. So, I feel like I've been hibernating, like so many who stayed home during the Pandemic. Let's not forget the snowpocalypse earlier this year.  I'll call up some images and videos to share of some of this time period.  To say it's been CRAZY is an understatement. 

I think the world is slowly coming out and life is becoming more normal.  For me, it seems I let everything go, work, fitness, business plans, relationships, event planning....  I simply existed.  But you know what, life goes on, whether you are living it or not. So, why not choose the latter?  Time is precious and once gone, we can't get it back.  Let's make it a point to truly LIVE!  

Well, before all the bad stuff happened in what seems like a very long time, I used to "burn the candle at both ends" as one of my dearly departed friends once noticed.  It looks like I'm back.... as it is now 2:43 a.m. and my mind is racing with all the ideas and things I need to do.  My grandbabies, who are now 4 and 7 will be in town for a little while, so I'm too excited to sleep.  I treasure each moment I can get with them as they are growing up quick and changing every time I see them.

As we get into the second half of 2021, I'm working on my List of things to do.....and yes, it's LONG! I'm awake and ready to re-engage, re-connect, and re-build.  My take on life is to do what makes you happy, but "Be Strategic"  You don't have to do only one thing, especially if you are as passionate as me.  

Included in this list:

1.  Travel - I plan to travel to Paris in December and stay a month.  It's something I've been wanting to do and it's for me. I know it will be an experience. 

2.  I've found a home for Once Upon a Wedding Expo at the beautiful Kalahari Resort and Spa.  Stay tuned as planning unfolds.  Save the Date - November 7th.  I'm too excited about this.

3. B3 Network resumes in August.  Time to reconnect and rebuild all those business relationships.

4. I'm going back to school, yes, to major in Fashion Design and Marketing, something I am very passionate about.  Never stop learning.

5. Quality Promotions is being revamped as a Promotional Marketing and Event business.  I'll still do embroidery and screenprinting, but my focus is more marketing solutions through events.

6. CCandids Photography aka Cindy Ann Photography is undergoing formal training to be the best possible at capturing moments. 

We all have our pasts and what makes us who we are.  We also have our goals and ambitions. I'm dreaming big and taking risks and leaps and bounds because anything is possible if you believe. Need help getting motivated?  Drop me a line.  Be safe and get moving!

Huge Hugs
Cindy Ann

Sometimes Existing is All We Can Do

I'm posting a longer post than usual as  it is a collection of thoughts in one post. I'll try to focus and share more frequently. :)

Well, another few months since my last post.  There are many things happening in my personal life that I can't make sense of.  My life is full of uncertainty.  Anyone ever feel this way?  Sometimes all we have to hold onto is a little hope and faith that things will work out in the best way possible. Regardless, I believe everything happens for a reason.  I also believe that sometimes things have to end or fall apart forcing us to begin building from scratch.  This is where I am in my life.  I said earlier, many changes coming.  Some exciting and some closure on a few chapters of my life.  It's all bittersweet.  The only things that I am sure of is, we will all die and we all have the same amount of time to impact our loved ones and to live life, so make it count.  We also only have one body to take care of and maintain.  I know....so get to it on the maintaining, already.  I don't know about you, but 5 pounds makes a huge difference in how I move and feel about myself, so 15 is life altering!  I need more gym and me time.  No more excuses, right?  Easier said than done.

A dear friend of mine recently shared, "People come into your life for a reason that we may not truly understand at first.  Sometimes it is lessons we need to learn, sometimes it is friendships we need to grow.  Of course just as everything happens for a reason, we also make choices on how we are going to handle what happens..."  I agree with this wholeheartedly.  Sometimes the choices we make take us for a ride off course in life and sometimes the result is great and sometimes, not the result we are aiming for.  Sometimes all we have is hope.  This is so true for so many people.  Having faith in what you believe can make a huge difference.  A little hope can sustain just about anyone, no matter what their situation is.

Being in the wedding and event business, I see a lot of people get married aiming at Happily Ever After.  It's not so easy for everyone to get there, despite all the good intentions.  I have recently learned that the heart cannot be contained.  I know people think that you can help who you love and when you fall in love.  Sometimes, it just happens, and for whatever reason, the timing and situation is not ideal, but I believe that the heart wants what the heart wants.  You can't force yourself to feel what you don't or not feel what you do. You can take the right action that will not create waves or change life dynamics so much that it throws your life and your loved ones lives into chaos. but this is just existing. Life is meant to be lived.  In my opinion life is full of choices that lead to consequences.  I do my best to choose wisely and to "Think before I do".  I wasn't always like this.  I think I tended to jump into things without really thinking and figuring things out as I go.  I've been blessed with family and friends who have been there to catch me.  I know I've never really fallen, until now.  When it is only you, you can afford to do that, but as your family grows and your actions affect others, you are kinda forced to  "grow up."   The kind of falling I'm talking about is inside.  I still do what needs to be done, and handle everything that needs to be handled, but I think I've been existing for quite a while.  I think a lot of people do this, sometimes without thinking.  

Well, thanks for following me..  Drop me a line and give me your insight on existing vs living.  Till next time....  HUGE HUGS 💜

Cindy Ann