It’s graduation time around my area. People graduating from college, graduating from high school, middle school, pre-school. To me, graduation indicates moving into the future, going towards the next thing. It’s been a little while since I’ve officially graduated from some type of school program. And it makes me reflect on those days. Those simpler days, where there wasn’t a ton of responsibility. Well, not like my responsibility of today. Anyway……

In my reflection, I’m thinking about the choices I made, profession wise. So really, I guess I’m thinking back to my college days. I went into college knowing what I wanted to study and which degree I was after. Sometimes I wonder if I chose the degree I did without having a lot of thought behind it. Did I pick it because I thought I should? Because I thought I was being noble? Because I wanted to help people? Maybe all of these things. But looking back on it, I think my choice really made me feel like I was confined.

I majored in Psychology and earned my undergraduate degree and went right on to graduate school and earned my Master’s in Psychological Counseling. I had a basic plan in my head of what I thought I would want to do as a career. The job/position I took wasn’t exactly what I thought I would be doing, but it was in the “correct” field and close enough to what I had envisioned. Buuuuuttt this isn’t really about the job I took.

I think my main motivating factor in choosing my degree path was really about wanting to help people. I have always found myself wanting to help people. At least, I’d like to think so. Over the years, I’ve discovered that there are many ways to help people. And I could have done this in a lot of different ways. So why did I take the path I did? Perhaps because that’s what I said I would do. I’m not sure. I know I enjoy psychology and attempting to understand people and the whys behind the things they do. Of course, this can lead to frustration, as every rule seems to have an exception.

So, I’m still looking back and reflecting. I’m thinking there are a lot of things I would have liked to tell my younger self. Things I know now, that seemed unimaginable then. Struggles of now that makes the “struggles” of then seem like field day. I know when hard times are happening, it feels like the worst thing ever.  But not everything that felt like the worst thing ever, was the worst. Sure, there were some really hard and sad things that happened waaaayyy back then. But when I think back, I would surely tell myself……..

~~ “There is indeed truth to don’t sweat the small stuff.” While cliché, it’s true. There will be countless things to think about and to agonize over and worry about. Don’t add on to the mountain of concerns with something unimportant like…“I wonder if that kid in class was mad at me last week for asking the teacher a question?” (As if that should be a problem…..)

~~ “Be kind and non-judgmental.” I would have to toot my own horn here and say I’m generally both of these things, but I’m sure there were times when I followed the crowd of inconsideration and wasn’t as kind as I could have been….

~~ Which leads me to …. “Don’t always follow the crowd.” They might not be leading you to where you want to go. It’s ok to be an individual and do you own thing, have your own opinions, have your own experiences.
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~~ Which leads me to my point…. “Do what YOU want to do, go where YOU want to go.” This is something I would for sure like to tell my younger self. Most things don’t have to be forever. So if you don’t like what you’re doing, you can change it. But, do what you want to do to be the happiest, most outstanding person you can be. So before the responsibilities of today have take over, take some time to sit back and think…. “What do you want?”
 
~Lynn

​Karma… What Goes Around, Comes Around.
We all know that expression, right?? Sure we do! What goes around, comes around. Sometimes it’s not always obvious, though – the coming around part. I’m going to tell you 4 separate stories… just hang with me… it all comes together…
….Forever and a day ago, I visited a local fitness equipment store to make some purchases for my business. Turns out they had a referral program for Personal Trainers. Pretty cool. Cost me nothing to enroll, so I did. Have never honestly even thought about it again. I have no idea how it works, but hey, it’s a good way to maybe get my name out into the community.
…This past fall, my husband, son and I attended my brother’s wedding it Atlanta (it’s a 16 hour drive from Delaware). We were road tripping for a week with an almost 1 year old, breaking up the drive with different stops. If you’ve ever been in a car with a baby for an extended period of time, well you already feel our pain. As you can imagine, we have a lot of “gear.” For being so darn small, babies do not travel lightly! I had keenly separated our belongings into sections of what we needed at each stop. So, when we got to Atlanta, we only removed what we needed from our vehicle. Too much to cart around!
Well, our car was broken into during our Atlanta stay. The majority of our baby stuff was stolen. Diaper bag, pack and play, bath stuff, toys, almost his whole long sleeve wardrobe was gone, plus who knows what else. Who steals from a one year old?? AUGH. I was so upset and disgusted. Frankly, I had no idea what to do. I felt crushed. How on earth was I going to replace all that stuff??
In my frustration, I posted my outrage on none other than facebook. Honestly, I try to keep my posts uplifting, happy, and positive. There is so much crap in the world, no one needs to hear more crap from me. But, in my fury, social media was my outlet.
When I hit “post,” I truly didn’t have any forethought into what the responses would be. I hadn’t thought that far in advance. I just wanted the world to know I was more than angry. What happened next was shocking. People helped! Seems crazy to say I was surprised, but I truly was! We received help from so many of our friends and clients. But, even more awesome – one of our clients, SHARED the story to her friends. And guess what?? HER friends helped, too! People we never even met before helped us replace the biggest items lost! I have never in my life experienced such an outcry of help from folks. My heart was full. I was beyond grateful.
…. A couple of months ago, that same awesome client mentions that she is thinking about purchasing an elliptical for her home. Where should she shop for a good one? Hummm… oh, right! I tell her I had purchased equipment at a local store in the past, and I thought they had a good selection at decent prices. Then, I happen to randomly remember I signed up for that referral program forever and a day ago. I suggested she ask about the referral network because I think she’d get a discount! Everyone likes a discount!
…. A few weeks ago, I’m sitting in a conference, half listening to the presenter, half playing with my phone (because like everyone these days, I have to be constantly entertained lol). I see a post from the same awesome client. Except it wasn’t an awesome post at all. It was almost a repeat of my post back in the fall, when our car was broken into. Now her car had been broken into! Hundreds of dollars of stuff just gone. Gone. I know how horrible that feels. I looked at the list of stuff she’d lost. Geez, so much.
My brain immediately began searching for a way to help. I got up and walked right out of the conference. I walked into the hallway with my phone, and I called her Vet’s office. One of the things stolen was her dog’s heartworm meds. Having four dogs myself, I know this stuff can add up, especially depending on what brand you use. The Vet’s office answered, and I told them whatever her bill was to replace the meds, I wanted to pay for half. The woman was a bit shocked on the other end of the phone. She repeated, “Half??” Yep. Half, and here’s my credit card number.
Now, pause a second because while I believe myself to be generous in many ways, money isn’t usually how I do it. Why? Well, simply because I usually don’t have it. I had just had a stressful conversation about finances (it’s a conversation we have on an automatic loop, I swear) with my husband that day. So, when it comes to spending money, I’m pretty thrifty and conservative and I think twice (or more sometimes) about most purchases.
But, not that day. Not at all. That is what shocked me the most – not that her stuff was stolen, not that there are horrible, crappy people in the world. But, rather, it was my immediate reaction to just do something to make it right that surprised me the most. I had no hesitation. It was as if someone else had entered my brain and dialed the number. I had zero thought about money, nothing like that at all. I just reacted. I never even asked how much “half” of her bill was. I just gave my card info, and that was that.
…. A few days later, I was going through the mail, and there was this non-descript envelope. You know the kind. It’s probably a solicitation. It’s the type of envelope you just trash and not give a second thought about. For some reason, I paused as I was about to ditch it. For those that know me well, you know I’m the Queen of throwing everything away as fast as possible. It gives me great joy to throw things away (lol).
But, for whatever reason, I opened it. The return address name was unfamiliar to me. I was curious enough. Guess what was inside? A check. Yep. You heard that right. It was a check. Jackpot! Wait, what’s the catch because random businesses seldom just send me money.
Then, I remember… ohhh… this is that fitness equipment company… but wait… ohhhh… holy smokes! My client that bought the equipment there had obviously used the referral program. And I got a commission!!
Even more interesting… the amount of the check? It was exactly double the cost of the dog’s heartworm medicine. I just stared at it. In total disbelief. Not only had the Universe paid me back for my helping my friend, but it paid me DOUBLE.
Well then. This was surely cause for me to pause. I have always heard so many stories about how the Universe does truly deliver. Not to mention, the stories about how those that give away what they have (and even sometimes what they don’t have), are rewarded.
And there it was. The money physically in my hand. Karma.
It wasn’t the Universe “getting me back” for something crappy I had done. It was the Universe rewarding me for something I had unselfishly given.
Looks like Karma is a two way street. I am truly humbled and blown away. With that said, be kind and generous, my friends. The Universe is watching, and will get your back when you need it. I am forever changed.

• Cheryl