Pros and Cons

We all have dreams right? (Duh). 

But sometimes reality doesn't fit into those dreams and our dreams start to become malleable based on what you've come to experience.

At least this is what happened to me.

I LOVE to write and I LOVE to read and I LOVE the media world. I love magazines, newspapers, television news, radio news. I love it and could see myself thriving in any of those careers. That is just not my reality right now.

I worked by butt off for a year for an online magazine and it really caused me re-evaluate what was important to me in a career. During that time I got to do something I really love, maybe it wasn't on a platform that I completely loved, but I had so much free reign and a huge chance to be creative and hone my skills. That being said it was also a job that really didn't offer a lot for me growth wise. The pay wasn't nearly enough to support myself, I have to work other jobs just to stay afloat and there was no change of getting more money in such a small company that was not expanding. I had the job in the back of my mind for much longer than the 20 hours a week that I was working it and it wasn't always positively. Honestly I felt like I wasn't being valued for what I was doing and understandably so, the company was small, I was so new, and it didn't look like things were changing. 

I decided to find a new job, maybe not one in my desired field, but one that had all the things that I felt that I was missing during that time. I wanted stable work for a good pay. One that made me feel valued, secure and offered me the opportunity to actually grow. That's how I ended up in the call centre of an insurance company.

The big difference here is that on the days when I don't like my job, I still feel happy about it because it gives me so much to feel good about.

And I do love getting up every day and actually getting dressed, interacting with people, and learning. This job offers me a ton of possibility to grow and move forward. 

Best of all: I can leave it here at the end of the day. Evenings and weekends are mine to explore the things I want to explore. Maybe to write more, read more, spend the night rock climbing, or just lying in bed guilt-free. And with a decent paycheque coming in regularly I feel secure. I can go on vacation, I can plan to have a house. I can actually live my life without scraping my way through it.

There are pros and cons but right now I think I'll focus on all the pros.

From the desk of:

Taylor Brown
Optimist 

Climbing Walls

I feel so lucky lately because I'm in such a busy period of my life and it all feels so productive. Besides working 5 days a week and getting payddddd, I've been keeping so busy on the weekends and putting myself outside my comfort zone.

It all started in December when we took a trapeze course in Montreal. It was one of the hardest and scariest things I've ever done and I honestly wanted to quit after my first attempt. I couldn't bring my legs up to the bar and I felt like a hunk of dead weight hanging from the bar but I pushed myself and it ended in me actually doing a catch!

I really wanted to continue with trapezing but there aren't any in our area so I decided to try rock climbing instead. It's another way for me to push and test my body. I look forward to getting good at something and really working to make my body achieve things I didn't think it could. 

The first time we went there were 5 of us and we spent the afternoon with an instructor (seen above) who helped us climb a bunch of walls. There was one wall I got stuck on  and ended up taking about 15 minutes to get up it. My arms were completely shot and I wanted to give up so badly but I didn't Instead I kept pushing until I made it to the top and it was a seriously amazing feeling.

This weekend we took a course so that we could actually tie the ropes ourselves.It came with a two week pass AND the rock climbing gym is right near my work so I'm excited to take full advantage. I'll keep you updated on my journey from a having noodle arms that can't even do a real push up to a jacked up athlete (please feel free to applaud me on not going the cliche route and offering you tickets to the gun show.)

From the desk of:

Taylor Brown
Rock Climbing Novice, Soon to Be a Pro

I'm Back Guys!

Where have I been lately? Oh just being a grown up person who grew up!

Yes, I do appreciate the fact that there has been radio silence around here lately but hey, a girls gotta get things done...or whatever.

What have I been up to lately?

Well, I went to NYC with my family where I basically spent two days trying to cross off a major New York bucket list. We shopped, we ate, we saw a play on Broadway and walked to every landmark we could possibly think of. It was exhausting but completely awesome.

<< Hello from Brooklyn >>

A mere 4 days after I returned from New York I started a new job. That's right, you heard it here first: I've gone corporate. I am now gainfully employed at a major insurance company. I won't say which because, well, who cares really. And what do I do at this little piece of corporate Canada? Well I am the woman who you talk to on the phone when you have questions. Yes, the highly coveted customer service representative. That's me. 

All in all it's been a pretty good step for me. I love having a structured work schedule, I actually like the office environment, all the way down to my little cubicle, and I love the people I work with (two of whom happen to be two of my best friends). 

This leap into adulthood has led to a domino effect in growing up. I bought a car, Jordan and I are planning a trip to Europe next September (if my time off request goes through...dang structured work environment), and we've even started house hunting.

Yup, I'm a real adult who does real adult things...like think about how much my car insurance costs, and actually gets dressed when I go to work.

What else have I been up to? Jordan has finally convinced me to stick with watching Breaking Bad all the way to the end. I will admit that it is a pretty crazy show and it does make me say "OH.MY.GOD!" every once in a while but I still stick to the fact that I could easily turn the show off at any time and feel fine not knowing what happens to this group of horrible people. 

In other news I have been a pretty crafty person in the past few months. I've been commissioned by a few friends and family to make them scarves...which I should probably get working on since it takes a small lifetime to make one scarf. 

I've also been trying my hand at a few new things. I took up project life because I am a scrapbooking grandma and I don't care who knows it. I also taught myself to use a sewing machine because I am a domesticated housewife and I don't care who knows it.

Besides all those grandma things I've also tried rock climbing and trapezing. Both two completely amazing things that I have every intention of doing again!

So that's what I've been up to since I left you oh so abruptly. I'm hoping to get back on this blogging horse because this girl needs a writing outlet and is more grown up than ever, which is perfect for this little blog.

So sorry I left you my friends but I'm back and typing up a storm!

From the desk of:

Taylor Brown
Full Time Awesome Person