I’ll be keeping this site, but changing it for a different purpose.  Likely, it’ll be for my voiceover work.  Stay tuned for more!

Thank you for being such a great audience.  If you like what I’ve been writing, then please wander over to:

Facebook Page: For faster & more frequent updates

Blog: For larger, more detailed posts.

~GG~

I’ve been quiet for several months because I started a new day job which I just LOVE!  I’ve much to learn, there are plenty of opportunities for me to improve and every day is a new adventure.  It has brought a level of happiness back into my life that I thought I’d lost.

These days I feel like I have fiber spilling out of my brain like stuffing from a well loved teddy bear.  That’s because I’ve totally engrossed myself in spinning fiber, then working exclusively with my handspun. This is the other reason I’ve been so quiet.  I’m engrossed because this summer I was invited to sell my handknits at 2 pre-Christmas sales.  Thus, all my writing time was consumed with spinning & knitting items to sell.   Heck, when you have baskets upon baskets over flowing with yummy handspun there just comes a point when you have to challenge yourself to use it.  Why is it that I would have that much spun up, but not used?

One day about 1 year ago, a spinning wheel loaned from a dear friend saved my life.  Yes, fiber saved my sanity and my life. I have been deeply unhappy, like so many other people, and spinning brought lots of brilliant color into my life when I felt the world offered nothing but gray.  It kept my hands busy so my mind and heart could work out the stress and release it.  I think of myself as an oxymoron – my tastes and abilities are opposing and sometimes seem to counter more than compliment one another.  How fun to discover that twisting things up allowed me to untwist the tangled mess in my mind.  Thus began my love of spinning.

I believe to-date, I’ve spun around 75 braids of fiber.  To put that in terms that mean something to the non knitter/non-spinner…

• 1 braid =1 -4 hours = ~4oz
• Yardage / braid = 30 – 400 yards
• 1 knit hat = 4 – 20 hours = 4 – 6 oz depending on the weight (diameter) I’ve spun the yarn.  Lace = finest.  Super Bulky = thickest.

If you look at spinning vs. knitting time, it’s about a 1:4 ratio.  Thus, if I need to create something, I often pick a smaller project (handspun) because it produces the fastest and thus gives me a huge sense of satisfaction when I complete it.  If you calculate the number of braids x oz/hat, I’ve spun the equivalent of 75 hats! Thanks to the time I’ve spent “behind the wheel” and knit with my handspun, I now feel confident in the quality of my creations.

Parting Advice

As you travel on your journey, remember a few things that have helped me out…

• Believe in yourself and your co-workers
• Mentor others
• Be genuinely interested in people
• Trust your intuition, and then follow through with data & scientific proof
• Remember to smile
• Bake cookies and share them
• Always look for the bright side of every situation.

Farewell Mash-up

Listen!
East bound and down, loaded up and a truckin,
Together we’ve done what many say can’t be done.
We had a long way to go, and a short time to get there.
Now, I’m east bound just watch ol’ Gwennie go.

I’ve made up my mind. And really thought it over
If it’s wrong it’s all right, I look back now with fondness
Today’s the last and I see it’s time to change.

Though it’s bittersweet, more sweet than bitter, bitter than sweet

I will remember you.  Will you remember me?
Don’t let your life pass you by. Weep not for the memories

Cause I’m leaving… all the cool trucks.
I don’t know when I’ll be back again.
Oh friends, it’s sad to let you go…

but, life’s like a road that you travel on
There’s one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind

Life is a highway, I wanna ride it… All night long
If you’re going my way, I wanna drive it …All night long

So just, Call me, beep me,

when you wanna reach me…
when you wanna page me it’s ok…
I just can’t wait until I hear myself ring..
Doesn’t matter if it’s day or night,
Everything is gonna be all right…

So, Goodbye. Farewell.
So long.  Vaya con Dios.
Good Luck. Wish you well.
Easy come girl, easy go.

When life tells you to slow down, why not use the opportunity to observe from a different perspective?

I took a bouldering class through the Mountaineers.  I just loved the class, the group, the instructor and the organization.  It opened my eyes to new ways of thinking, trying and doing things.  For those who don’t know, bouldering is climbing at low heights (no higher than you’re comfortable falling) without a harness or being tied in.  Your only “safety” is a spotter and a crash pad.  I’ve found its my favorite way to climb.  By learning how to boulder, I’m learning (and in some cases reinforcing) many things, like:

1. Forethought: How to think through my path before I start it.
2. Patience: How to relax & be calm when I get “stuck” on a move rather than tense up and wear out my energy.
3. Self-Care: How to slow down and heal when injured.
4. Persistence & Tenacity: How to keep trying even if I don’t feel physically strong enough to make a particular move.
5. Faith & Trust: The belief in myself that when I get stuck I can figure a way out, I will have enough strength to pull through and that my spotter will be able to safely catch me.

The photographs you’re seeing above are from a class field trip to boulder outside in Leavenworth.  It would have been my first climbing adventure of any sort in the great outdoors.  But, I injured myself (#3 above) and had to slow down and restrict myself from climbing.  I even left my climbing shoes home so I wouldn’t be tempted.  So, rather than miss out on the opportunity to see where some great bouldering spots are, I went along.  I was very pleased I did.  While I was exhausted from walking to the sites, they really weren’t far, but it was my first day out after being on the couch all week, I enjoyed capturing the beauty of Leavenworth.  Little did I know that there would be so much to see and photograph. What an amazing trip.  While I am really excited to climb there in future, I’m so glad I didn’t miss going.

When I tell you about my fiber and fashion creations, you’ll often find me telling the story of the raw material as much as the finished product.  That’s because I spend as much time finding the right materials for the project as I do in the making phase.   Having sewn & knitted many articles of clothing with a lovely material which didn’t produce the result I envisioned, I would like to pass along my lessons learned about choosing appropriate materials for your project and placing extra time in the planning phase.  It fits with that old adage, “measure twice, cut once”.  If you take the time to think about how your raw materials will behave as a finished product and choose based on desired outcome, rather only the beautiful color or impulse purchase, you’ll be much happier with the finished results.  Heck, I still have moments where I buy on impulse.  But, thanks to the time I’ve spend making things that “don’t work out”, I can now buy on impulse and have a solid mental database to consider during my impulsive moments.

I think about the process of creating as a journey.  I’ve been spinning yarn on a wheel for nearly a year now.  The process from fiber to yarn amazes me as much as the process from yarn to final garment or piece of wearable art.  It has many translations to my automotive/truck manufacturing experience.  In order to create a physical product, one must take raw material and turn it into a usable, functional product.  In the case of my fiber creations, the fiber has typically been processed by a mill and dyed by the time I start with it.  In the auto/truck world, everything has a purpose and is customized to the customer’s order.  Some artists prefer to create for the sake of creating.  I however, like to blend the functional and the fun.

I find I don’t often want to even start something if it’s not going to be durable, functional, or bring some use/value.  Why waste my time?  That will also be my creative block at times.  If I’m struggling with a project – the yarn isn’t right, the colors are pooling, I’m not sure how to make it durable, etc. – then I typically rip it out or put it in a drawer for a while.  Yes, that can result in knitting for the sake of ripping.  It can also result in a ton of UFO’s (un-finishes objects) which given too many, have on occasion, driven me to insanity or to do nothing but tie up loose ends (pun intended!).  But, I’ve had to come to terms with the idea that UFO’s, trial projects, starting something just to learn how it’s done and not ever finishing it, are actually required parts of the creative process.  Whenever possible, I try to reuse and keep my waste to a minimum.  My samples are knit or sewn with the intention of use should they work out. When they don’t work out, I’m trying to be creative and use the material for other pursuits.  I hope to blog about some of those reuse/recreation techniques/products at a later date.

Now, let us jump into the yummy Grape Crush Dandy!

The Fiber

I bought this fantastic fiber by Curious Creek at Sock Summit 2009.  The purples were so delicious that my mouth began to water.  Plus, it was a nice price point at $12 for 2oz.  Now, if I bought 4 oz at $24 I wouldn’t think of it as “such” a deal, but alas that “right around $10 mark” does inspire a purchase.  (Think about that Product Managers!)

When I bought this fiber, I was just learning how to get my tension right on the wheel.  This was the first fiber (other than mohair which I LOVE to spin) which I was able to get a fairly even tension.  Looking at it now, I see that I was able to spin with fair consistency as well as rather fine (it’s approximately fingering weight).  This was so fun to spin because I wasn’t fighting the fiber for evenness.  Plus, the fiber was SO vibrant and yummy purple that I never got bored.  There was always another nuance or shade of purple coming up for me to enjoy.  I spun this up so quickly I found I was sad when it was done.  I thought, “It’s over already?!  I want more.  More, please!  That was fun.”  It was a pretty dark time in my life and spinning and working with brilliant colors were two of the things that helped me keep my sanity.

The Yarn

I spent a long time coveting this yarn.  I carried it around with me.  I moved it around my home so I could simply enjoy the color and recall the happiness of spinning the yarn.  I also find that the more time I spend with something before I create with it, the easier it is to create when I decide what I’m making with it.  See, I ponder on my materials quite a lot.  Even with my fabric, I’ll have days where all I do is pull ALL the fabric out of my studio and drape myself in each piece (one-at-a-time) in front of the mirror to visualize what type of product it wants to become.

It’s kind of like a friendship.  You must spend time together getting to know one another before you mesh and decide how your friendship will be.  And, if you let it be, the friendship (or yarn) will tell you what it wants to be.  Sounds silly, but it’s all about flow. You put yourself in flow with the universe and everything works out.  You fight the flow and generally disaster occurs.   The same goes for a sewing/knitting/crafty/art project.  Let the material tell you what it wants to become.  Then take action.  Unfortunately, sometimes that can take years.  Or, in the case of some materials, you will simply be the guardian of it for a while until it’s rightful owner arrives in your life and you know you must pass it along to them.  That can be heartbreaking or freeing.  Depends on your perspective and how much emotional attachment you’ve made to the material.

The Pattern

Fortunately for me, this fiber spoke to me not long ago.  I invested in the Indigo Dandy by Hannah Ingalls and knit it up in a commercially spun fiber and have worn the heck out of it.  Then, as I was finishing up “2oz of luxury” I wanted to create another cowl.  I find I don’t get as cold if I keep my neck warm and have a multitude of scarves.  The Indigo Dandy pattern is like wearing a scarf without all the bulk.  It’s great!  Though if you look back in time, it’s just a dicky.  It’s not unique, it’s something that a designer created due to a gap in contemporary knowledge / pattern creation.  RECYCLED!  Gosh, I remember my Grandma trying to get me to wear a dicky and her polyesther pants.  Bleah!  You couldn’t have paid me.  But for her, that was great – the look of a shirt without the bulk.  It’s a look that many designers have “built-in” to clothing today.  Think about the sweater with the cuffs & collar sewn on.  Same general idea.

Back to the pattern.  Since this is a clean, simple design, I knew I could take my fairly variegated yarn and knit it up without have the stripes or pooling of the colors fight against the design of the dandy.  I usually do not like vertical ribbing and horizontal striping.  But, in this case, the ribbing is 1×1 and the fiber so randomly striping, that the impact of the fight between vertical vs. horizontal was minimal.  I also considered entrelac or short rows for this yarn because it would have been a fun way to showcase the striping.

I didn’t add the picot edging on this one.  The thick & thin of my hand spun plus the color variations begged for simplicity.  As such, I did a K whole row then P all next row repeat until I had 6-8 inches of yarn left over to weave in.  Yes, that’s all I had left over and it was JUST enough to allow for weaving in ends without them unraveling while being worn.  That is one of the beauties of knitting.  You have more control over “leftovers”.  If you’re designing your own pattern, or can stand to use a little more or less on a project, then you can finish with all the raw material with which you began.  Pretty darn cool, huh?

I like to give my projects names which make people pause and think or cause them to giggle.  Grape Crush makes me think of sitting on a porch stoop drinking ice cold grape soda and all the sugar in the drink creating “fur” on your teeth.  A little gross, but if that “fur” could keep you warm…

When it comes to costumes, one must look to the movies and popular TV shows throughout the year.  The movie experience lends itself to many who want to extend that beyond the time in theater.  That’s why Disney has been so successful with toys like Buzz & Woody that kids can play with and write their own names on.  People, not just kids, enjoy the feel of reenacting their favorite scenes (who doesn’t quote movie lines… take off eh?), and feeling like they are the characters they’ve grown to love or hate.

I love “Alice In Wonderland”.  The more I watch versions of it, the more I see parallels and connections to real life experiences.  I think this will be the year I listen to the audio recordings of Lewis Carroll’s original.  Thanks to the SyFy channel and to Tim Burton/Johnny Depp for launching their versions of those famous Lewis Carroll books this year.  They delighted and enchanted me, but I’m not the only one.  Portland Art & Soul’s theme is “Alice” which kicks off with a fashion show of skirts.  That is a fashion show in which I intend to “do my little turn on the catwalk”.  I’m designing a full costume, not just a skirt.  I’ll be posting more on this as I create the full outfit.  I’ve already started a hat, but it’s resting while I wrap my head (no pun intended) around it’s construction.

I found Pam de Groot’s felt art creations while surfing about Ravelry.  She only had a few things of amazing hand spun and felted yarn.  But, when popping over to her website, I discovered her amazing and delightful creations.  Even more fun?  The photos of the hat making class she held.  I adore hats.  I ordered a Topsy Turvy special Madd Hatter hat for my birthday one year.  You’ll see me wearing it on several occasions (2009 Product Camp Seattle, 2009 MedFest, 2008 Birthday, etc.) It’s fantastic.  Well, the hats that Pam was teaching her students very much embody the feel of “Alice in Wonderland” and the Madd Hatter.  Don’t they just make you smile?  They make me want to dance about and be silly, then make a costume to wear with it.  The hats are kind of like wee mushrooms that turn into grand mushrooms just before you reach the caterpillar.

If I take a look at the movies out this year, I’d estimate that you’ll see many an Alice/hatter/queen of hearts costume.  You may also find that some are dressing like Sherlock Holmes.  But those folks will be the ones who are more serious about their costuming and Halloween partying.  The costumes in SH are divine – especially the millinery.  Wow!  Though, creating those dresses, hats, coats, etc. are no small feat.  One must not only understand the structure, wear, and function of the outerwear, but also that of the “under” wear.  Much of how those dresses and uniforms behave depends upon corsetry – even for men like Sherlock Holmes. Despite the amazing wit and problem solving abilities of our daring SH, we will probably also find many attired as Iron Men, Pirates, or aging Harry Potters in 2010.  What would be wild is to see a few Tron’s, Tonk’s or Luna’s.  Are you daring enough?

How early do you consider a Halloween costume?  Do you dress up?

What about your children; what costumes are they asking for?

What are your costume predictions for 2010?

1. Reduce the time I spend online so I can enjoy my life
2. Show the world the whole me.

Motivator #1:

I really want to make sure I’m not spread so thin that I don’t have the time to blog (or think of blogging as a chore due to too many commitments).  I need to write.  I want to write.  I enjoy writing.  Thus, consolidation is my first step in making my online persona manageable.

Motivator #2:

I am a single person with a LOT of interests.  I am capable and talented in many ways.  I feel that it’s time you know the whole me.  You should know that I’m business savvy, technically minded, and wildly artistic & creative.

I began blogging under my stage name, Dread.Full FuFu.  I dance under that name.  It gives me a character into which I can breathe life through dance, song, costume, and silliness.  FuFu gives me freedom to be and do what ever I want.  Observing my audiences, I can see that upon hearing “Dread.Full FuFu is stepping on stage” their faces light up with delight,  giggles, wonder, and curiosity.  Exactly what I want everyone to think when I’m performing.  However, while I want to have people remember my “performance” persona, I simultaneously want to be respected and sought out in the business and engineering world.  My intellect is a bit “off-the-wall”.  Put me in a box and I’ll find 10 ways to circumvent it that will bring success, joy, and accomplishment in ways you’ve never expected.  But, you’ve got to be ready for something unusual.  If you’re expecting the norm, you’ve got the wrong person.

Just because I can draw my costume, design the pattern, sew/knit it, then dance or sing or be silly wearing it, doesn’t mean that I can’t turn wearing that same costume and discuss where “glad hands” are located on the back of a Truck, the value of using TOPSIS and Pairwise to make informed, non-emotional decisions, or why it’s important and how to define strategic goals for your business.  I am that creative woman all rolled into one body, one mind, one soul.  I think outside the box in alternatives in everything I do.  I challenge myself and others to explore things beyond their comfort zone because the rewards are worth it.

I drive to accomplish and create every day.  Some days, it may be seeking to find the right supplier for the current business needs.  Other days, it may be learning how to knit entrelac and using it to design a new hat pattern.  Some days, it’s explaining that a fish head is good to place in the ground right before you plant your tomatoes.  Other days, it’s asking questions about the goals and desired outcomes for someone who’s looking to start a social media strategy.

What’s really interesting to me about being my whole self?  People respect me more.  While I spent a lot of time worrying that I wouldn’t be taken seriously, when I have told people about the expansiveness of my interests and talents, they are amazed.  Because I can do or learn to do nearly anything I put my mind to my challenge, in this life, is to pick that which interests me the most.

Moving Forward

From this day forward, you will find this blog filled with:

• product management and SELF365
• dance performances and Halloween costumes
• 6 sigma and 5S
• sewing and knitting creations
• Stories I write as a way to explore feelings (much like the way some use painting).
• Photo Art and Happenstance
• Vocals and cartoons
• Cars, trucks, hot-rods and other fun machinery

I hope you find this entertaining, educational, and intriguing.  I love to explore “why”.  I hope that you’ll join me on this journey and look forward to my wild, silly, and intellectual adventures.

And that’s how that project got frogged. Now fast fwd to April 2010.

I have 2 full baskets of handspun ( > 100 oz), a LOT of fiber! I’m determined to use it ALL up. And I don’t want any scraps of yarn left when I’m done. Voilà! 2oz of Luxury is born. I designed a 2×2 rib cowl with a little flaring. I think I had an inch or 2 left after weaving in my ends. This cowl is delightful! It adds a punch of color to any outfit, isn’t bulky, and provides just enough warmth for the office and those chilly northwest summers. I’m sketching & cartooning a bit as I handwrite write the pattern. So stay tuned if you want to make your own! Or if you dont knit, you can commission me to make one for you.

Without the purpose, our focus, work, dedication, and motivation will in time crumble. Without Autonomy, we become afraid, angry, lazy, point fingers at others and generally stop thinking for ourselves.  Without a Mastery, we never make ourselves, work, products, companies any better.  Mastery, especially the “sweetheart” kind – just big enough of a stretch for the person that they can grow AND succeed, builds confidence and a sense of satisfaction.

The principles of Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose must be built upon a foundation of Trust, Integrity, Respect, and Honesty.  Companies must find ways to trust their people (employees).  Because people really do want to do a good job.  And, when they do stumble or make mistakes, which is natural and valuable, the people who make up a company must be confident enough to admit the mistake, learn from it and teach others how they can learn from it.  When we show that we trust that people at all levels have integrity we build confidence and a supportive network.  When we show respect for every person at every level, we build trust.  We must follow that trust up with integrity, mutual respect and honesty.

I highly encourage you to read DRiVE for yourself.  I’d like to know what aspect of his book most resonates with you.  My next book?  The Happiness Project.

I’ve also learned that there is plenty of time to get everything done.  Sleep is critical.  Living healthy is essential.  I have big dreams for my life and I want to do amazing things that shake up the world and make it a better place.  But, I must also rest and recuperate in order to create and inspire another day.  All together too often I deprive myself of basic functions – food, sleep, play, bio breaks – in favor of learning, doing, achieving, creating, inspiring and researching.  I’ve finally come to realize that I can deprive myself no longer.  If I do, I will not have the energy, nor the will to be the amazing human I’m meant to be.  I have a mission here – it’s called FUN.  And, if I don’t start taking care of myself, it’s gonna be damn hard to bring more joy & laughter into the world.

For every up there is a down.  For every effect there is a cause, and often many causes. I thought if I could just accomplish one more thing, then I’d be accepted.  If I could show the world how amazingly I could think or create then I’d hear “What a great idea” or “I’m impressed by what you’ve thought about.  Maybe we can explore this when we have more time.”  Where I’ve been failing is that somehow, I thought everyone knew how to cushion or receive ideas.  I assumed that the people around me were smart and knew how to be considerate and respectful.  Well, we don’t all have the same definitions for those words.  They have lots of grey areas.  Some people choose to apply consideration and respect when it suits them best.

There’s another side to this coin: giving & receiving.  I’m filled to the brim with ideas and just need the right receivers.  But there are people who don’t want to receive.  Receiving an idea means you have to handle it.  You must do something with it.  Action required. Some folks don’t want to put out any more effort than necessary.  Barriers are placed.  Walls are built. Deflection happens.  If the ideas keep getting presented to the same receiver, yet they do not play the role of receiver, the giver becomes “backed up” if you will.  It’s as if the giver is a flow of water out of a spigot.  And the receiver is using their finger to stop the flow of water.  At first, you can deflect a few droplets, no problem.  But, as the flow increases, either the water is pressed into the spigot and held back (causing the giver to “back up”) or the water floods around the receiver’s finger and off into places unknown.   That’s not the best metaphor, but I hope you get the idea.

Sometimes, if I don’t express the flood of ideas that I’m given, I feel like I’ll explode.  So, I’ve sought out other avenues for expression and have been revamping my circle of friends to include people who are supportive, creative, and joyful.  I’m also learning the right times, people, and places for delivering my ideas.  Not everyone is ready for my wild ass ideas.  That’s quite alright.  The right receivers will show up or I’ll find them when the timing is right be it now or in 10 years.  I believe in divine timing.

Leading change and inventing is often lonely.  Let’s just say that Invention, Acceptance and Leading don’t often choose to play together on the monkey bars.  Like the technology adoption life-cycle, you’re way the hell out front.  You’re coming up with things that most people can’t even dream of yet.  Inventors and change agents allow the wildly impossible into their daily lives.  They not only live with them, they invite them out to play.  But, playing with the wildly impossible requires a jungle gym that is open and inviting.  Fear becomes a friend that shows you avenues to explore with your designs.  Narrow Thinking doesn’t make many friends.  And if Narrow Thinking is the leader, they must recognize their limitations and be willing to make friends with and learn from Coloring Outside The Lines and Did You Ever.  Otherwise, Narrow Thinking as the leader with a closed mindset will bring storm clouds and darkness to the playground.  What Narrow Thinking fails to see is that Coloring Outside The Lines and Did You Ever will meet up with Rose Colored Glasses and invent something that enhances the joy of storm clouds and darkness.  I’ve seen it happen.  I’ve read adventures where it’s really happened.

I’ve always been independent.  “No. Me Do.” I know I can do things.  But, I’ve really struggled with acceptance and value.  I’m a leader.  I’m an inventor.  I lead change.  I think outside the box.  When I ignore that nagging tribal need to be accepted and dig into my self-confidence, I find I can trust in my judgment.  But all my life, I’ve been around people who were intent on devaluing my judgment.  I’ve given in to their negativity because I want to be accepted.  I like to be included.  I like to be liked.  I’ve been trying really hard to let go of the need to be accepted and respected.  Luckily, I’ve been in many a situation where I don’t want to be part of the crowd (read: “Ok, yep, don’t need to be accepted here.”).  Those situations are becoming more and more the norm for me.  So, in a way, you could say that I’m learning how to let go of the need to be accepted. I’m ok with being a “Google Credit Card” in a world where Visa & MasterCard are accepted.

Respect, on the other hand, is fundamental.  You don’t have to like someone to respect them.  You don’t necessarily have to be nice/considerate to them either.  But let me tell ya, being considerate goes a LONG way.  Everyone deserves respect.  I don’t think respect is earned.  Though unfortunately society typically defines respect by, “You’ve been through hell and proved your worth.  Ok, I’ll respect you now.”  Ugh.  Since our parents had to go through hell to earn their respect, by God we should have to as well.  Stop the cycle!  Honor your fellow human beings.  Acknowledge that they have equal value to you.  And, if you’re on the bottom of the totem pole and you’re devaluing yourself, then stop it!  In native culture everyone, even the clown, had value.  Every role is sacred.  Start living your own life as though it is sacred.  Start treating the people in your life as though their lives are sacred.  You don’t have to like them, but try to respect their place in this world.

We teach what we need to learn.  So, as I express how much the implied “you”, reader, need to change your ways, it’s not really you I’m writing to, it’s myself.  These are the lessons I’m learning every day.  I feel very raw as I write this.  It brings tears to my eyes and fills my heart with such intense emotion.  I feel so very deeply that sometimes I cannot express myself except through the tears I cry.  And this is who I am.  intense.  I feel deeply.  I laugh loudly.  I cry.  I sing. I yell.

Realizing that I’m burned out has given me much opportunity to explore why.  I can see now that part of my burnout was caused by the need to be accepted and respected.  Good thing to know.  Now, as I find myself burning fumes again, I can pull back and ask, “Why am I pushing myself so hard?”  Then, I can address the cause of the issue rather than put a band-aid on the effect.

Don’t be surprised when you see changes to my online persona.  I’m pulling in my reins and simplifying my life.  That means reducing commitments in both the both physical and virtual world.  I see this as a good and necessary step toward recovery.