Step 1

Step 1: Don't be afraid to ask for help!

Rarely are we ever really alone in our wants and desires. Only once every blue moon are we having a truly original problem. Throughout my pregnancy, I kept reminding myself that millions of women do this everyday. "I am not the first, and surely will not be the last." If you have been pregnant before, or even been near someone who was, you probably understand that mantra very well. For those of you who have not experienced that aspect of life, allow me to explain: Pregnant women worry about everything. Will the baby flip at the right time? Will labor be painful? Can I follow my birth plan? (Yep, you read right: birth plan) What if the doctor messed something up? How will we afford this?--Pregnancy brings about all kinds of worries that seem silly to the outsider, but very real to the woman going through it all. I just had to keep breathing and reminding myself that this was not the ONLY time my doctor had seen a baby. And yes, there were a couple of trips to the E.R. that may have been unnecessary, but at the time, nothing felt more urgent.

So, I told you that story because at the moment, I feel very much like my problems are overwhelming and isolating. (Very similar to pregnancy) But, the reality is; they aren't. I am having the same set of issues the rest of America is having. We are all in this one together, and I am guessing I am not the only one who feels alone. The economy is having issues, no one but the all-ready-wealthy seem to be getting anywhere, and we are embroiled in such a strange social and moral quagmire that it is confusing everywhere you turn. But more on that later...maybe.

As this year and a half since my pregnancy has gone by, I have found a lot of things I would like to do differently....and I have not changed a single one. So I guess that is what this blog is about. I am working toward setting smaller goals, in order to achieve larger ones.

Step 1: Don't be afraid to ask for help. We are in this together. And sometimes, "help" just means having someone listen, give advice, or maybe even some expertise. Asking for help requires a serving of humility. It is really difficult to let go of one's pride and simply ask for something you need. It is also hard to accept that someone just might be better at solving these things than you. We all want that accomplishment of 'figuring it out' but oftentimes we are blindly running into a brick wall, and simply frustrating ourselves.

Lately, my method of "asking" has been research. I am looking around to see what others are doing who have similar issues to mine. (I will outline those issues at a later time, but for now, general is best.) Pinterest has been a great resource for me. I have found so many creative ideas and a lot of links to information that has been very helpful. Unfortunately, that is not enough (can you imagine if it were?), and I am now also seeking support through this blog. And maybe, just maybe, I can offer some support as well.