2017 – A Bold Year

My word for this year was “Bold” because I needed to take bold actions in order to improve my life. At the time I defined bold as Merriam-Webster does:

1b : showing or requiring a fearless daring spirit 

While their definition is correct, I’ve discovered this year that bold also means something else. It is not just jet-setting around the world in 80 or so days, skydiving, bungee jumping, dating agin or other activity requiring a fearless daring spirit. While those are bold actions, sometimes the boldest thing you can do is get up and live your normal life every day.

Whether it is showing up at a job you do not like, taking courses at night for the next two years to get out of that job, taking care of an elderly parent, or doing the hard work of getting through grief, doing everyday life is the boldest action you can take.

A Bold Normal

My 2017 did not consist of bold, take charge type actions like I had planned. I did not Storm The Bastille, or run with the bulls. Instead, the boldest action I took was showing up for my new job as a virtual call center representative and doing whatever it took to convert from seasonal employee to regular employee.

It took boldness to learn a new field – logistics. Work said my specialty would be logistics after I completed my retail customer service training. I was 15 minutes into my first day as a level 2 retail representative when I got the email stating I had been chosen for additional training.

Now, I thought “Great, you graduated from training and have been on the phone for 15 minutes on your own, and you already need remedial training.” An hour later, I was learning logistics.

Being a logistics specialist came with a new schedule; Friday – Tuesday (at least that is what it is the day I put this post to bed). My schedule is subject to change at any moment. Working this schedule is God’s way of keeping me in the world but definitely not of the world.

Being bold also means, reading my devotions and praying to try to strengthen my relationship with God even though I do not understand why He is still messing with my career.

Every Day 

What you do once in awhile may have somewhat of an impact on your life but not like those actions you do day in and day out.

Boldness means being fearlessly faithful in doing what you need to do every day. 

So here’s to more everyday boldness in 2018 for me and you. 

 

Bio: Michele Kearns is the founder and HUG© (Hope Unites Globally) Award-Winner of JoyReturns. She shares her widowhood adventures hoping to encourage widows to move through grief and rebuild their lives. A graduate of Kent State University with a Bachelor’s degree in communications, she currently uses those skills as a Virtual Logistics Call Center Representative. She’s also used those skills while co-facilitating a grief support group, working as a collections call center team leader, and helping small businesses with various writing and administrative assignments. Michele is a bookworm, lover of golden retrievers and red roses, and an amateur photographer.