Oh Dear, Oh dear, look who's been here a year (+1day)

It's been over 10 years since I've committed an entire year of my life to a "thing", especially something that is FUN for me and only me. It's a Mom/Dad/Parent thing and I know many others know what I'm talking about. How do you take time away from your family to do something only you enjoy? It's hard to justify when they're so many people relying on you. But, we all need "me" time so the trick is to find something that works for you.

If you find your *thing* hang on tight and don't let go, it could mean the difference between losing yourself or finding yourself.

That's exactly what I did 12 months and 1 day ago when I joined WA.

I'm having fun and building a better future for me and my family....Win, Win!

Plus, besides the obvious of learning to build an honest online business, Wa has changed and helped me in many ways (for the better).

How did WA change me?

I was trapped in a bubble of kids, family and husband and I allowed very few into that bubble. I blame my mother. She taught me that if I do something, like bring a child into this world, then I need to take responsibility of that child. It wasn't her, my in laws, or someone else's (besides my hubby and we discussed I would be a stay home mom BEFORE we had kids) job, it was mine.I enthusiastically accepted my new fate and became a recluse of sorts, if it didn't involve juice boxes, playgrounds or my kids, I had no time for it.

A recluse? Me? This comes as a surprise to no one more than me, you may find this hard to believe *wink, wink* but, I was always the social one, I enjoyed working outside of the home and all my past jobs were very social jobs, how had I become a shut-in or anti-social? This crippled me because I had lost touch with who I am and that's a horrible feeling.

The saddest part is that I didn't even know I was "missing' this from my life until I found WA.

I think the most important thing I've taken away from WA is that it finally gave me some freedom from myself.

Being able to feel good about who I am, where I am going and what I'm doing is something I was lacking in my life, it's hard to feel in control when you're constantly double guessing everything you do (raising little ones doesn't come with a manual). WA gave me back my confidence and a new purpose.

How has WA helped me?

Confidence, support, laughter, friendship, community, togetherness, knowledge and strength.

Now, that I'm surrounded by like minded people, FRIENDS, who share my same goals, who support each other, who I'm genuinely happy for when I hear success stories. I feel better about myself. How can you not smile or feel good when someone says they've made their first sale or got their first visitor. We're not jealous because we know with what we're learning here, someday that will be OUR success story that everyone is congratulating/celebrating.

When I'm here the one thing I can count on feeling daily is happiness and pride. Proud of my new adopted family, proud of myself for giving this community a fair shot and working towards my goal of owning my own business, proud of my friends and their accomplishments, proud of Kyle and Carson and what they've built here and continue to do to make this the best learning community.

Thank you to all of you, you make this community unique and special. Without you, I wouldn't be here today, I would've walked away and quit by now, like I've done hundreds of times before.

Here's to many more years together....CHEERS!

Patty :)

p.s. I've had many weak moments, bumps and bruises, ups and downs throughout this past year sprinkled with some personal turbulence (this summer), without Rich, Beverley, Vicky, Dom, Steve, Jorge, Kyle, Carson, Darlene, John, Daniel, Meredith, Nenita, Todd, Bill and many others, I don't know how I would've made it the whole year. Sometimes the littlest thing to one person, is a really big deal to another. Never underestimate you're ability to change someones day/week/life, for the better, with one kind act or word.

Be it a smile, a good laugh, helping me narrow down my niche, or "cheerleading" when I lacked confidence or knowledge, I don't know if I would've made it through with a smile on my face or a spring in my step without my good friends here.