30 Percent of Awesome!

I have been graced with celebrating my 30^th birthday this year. Although I tried to act as usual around my birthday, unaffected by yet a new number to recite to anyone inquiring, I struggled a bit with this year. I’ve gone through many changes in my life -- both personally and professionally -- within the last five years. Here are some of the milestones:

• Marriage – I committed to be part of a team of two “until death do us part.”
• Move to Savannah – As a Michigan native the 1,000 mile difference has been acute at times.
• Children – My son (4years) and daughter (6months) are two of the greatest joys of my life and also the biggest mirrors!
• Employment – Worked a temp job that I hated and quit. As an office manager at a vacation rental company on Tybee the view was amazing but the sudden closing of the business left me anxious for my future. Now as COO of Alpha Financial Management, the journey thus far has been an amazing learning and growing experience and the future is bright.

Laughter and tears have been my companions but I am stronger and smarter than when I was 20 and am anticipating the future.

I read in SELF magazine of a woman who thinks of her age not as getting older but as a percentage of awesomeness. Some of the ways that I plan to get more “awesomeness” are:

• Cardio exercise 1 hour 3 days per week – Yoga 2 days, Running 1 day
• Toastmasters International weekly – Public speaking and leadership development
• Simplify my budget through weekly tracking using Mint.com by the end of December
• Reading one book every 2 weeks (current goal: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)
• Organic and Local food for my family – Less meat, more vegetables!

What percentage of awesome are you? What ways do you plan to increase your “awesomeness” in the next year? Remember that goals should be S.M.A.R.T. – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Bound. Now go and enjoy your percentage of awesomeness!