Life is good, I am well.

If I could only count the number of times I said, "I should write tonight - life is good and I need to remember this." and the times I said to myself, "Today was tough - I need to remember this." I'm terrible at physically writing in journals... also not great at keeping up a blog. Such is life.

I was going to force myself to do another "Wellness Update" in the standard form. But here's the reality - I am well. And it doesn't need to be a report out of 6 categories. I'm living life with fantastic human beings who challenge me to think differently, who affirm my authentic self, who teach me about things I didn't even know I didn't know, and show me love and support each and every day.

My CEO had a Q&A with our interns last month and someone asked him about work life balance. I've been trying for a few years to get people on the the term "work life blend" knowing that we need to authentically blend our responsibilities and activities in life... it hasn't caught on. What he said, affirmed that I'm not crazy ... "Here's the deal - I like my job, I love my family and friends, I'm involved in my community. Do I get to spend as much time as I want to in each place? No. But that's not life. You need to love what you do every day, some days you're going to work more than others."

I had an opportunity to go to Calgary, Alberta last month with Global Shapers for ShapeNA. Our North American conference gathered people from around Canada, United States, and the Caribbean. I can't explain how powerful it is to be in a room with leaders from a variety of sectors and cities, discussing real issues and learning together for a few days. We discussed education and segregation in Milwaukee, budget crisis in Puerto Rico, past natural disasters in Calgary, the list goes on. The most beautiful thing, in addition to these conversations - we built relationships that will help us to create solutions over time. Immediate and real relationships that transcend geographies.

The Minneapolis Hub of Global Shapers is a group of some of the most intentional, authentic people chasing dreams and impacting the world in big ways, often at personal cost. I have the incredible honor to hold a leadership role for this group - a role that takes me to Geneva, Switzerland next week to connect with Shapers from around the world. A once in a lifetime opportunity, I will be one of 450 delegates from around the world gathering to discuss and create solutions (hopefully disruptive and collaborative in nature) to drive change around the globe in our communities. I'm bringing Aveeno lotion to a woman from Zimbabwe who isn't sure when travels will bring her to access to a Target or Walmart, and delegates from Yemen are thankful for a break from their war torn country. Privilege check, whoa. Reminder to also study up on my global map so I'm not THAT American.

This is my first unplanned weekend at home since March 20. It's been a spring and summer full of incredible people, wonderful events, much needed vitamin D, and many adventures. As life would have it, my weekend plans fell into place with three dear friends reaching out to catch up. Friday night I went to a night market with K and B - somehow I didn't know these existed in the Twin Cities. Food, art, and performances from vendors of various Southeast Asian cultures brought community together on a beautiful summer night. I grabbed coffee with M, cutting our conversation off at 2 hours so I could go mini golfing and make a DQ run with N. 5 well spend hours with two friends who hold me accountable to being my best self, chasing my dreams, and being authentically, intentionally, and radically me. It's a journey for sure, but these two accept and push me to do more every day.

I named this blog Perspective and Purpose - I try to surround myself with people intentionally seeking the same thing. My STLF and Global Shapers Communities have been great sources of quality friendship and experiences that help me on that journey. My writing is pretty stream of consciousness from a privileged white woman - if you're interested in a different perspective with immense purpose, please read http://www.wordsofbrick.com/

Next blog post: Switzerland. New Job. Life is keeping me on my toes.

The good, the bad, and the reality

I meant to write a lot this month. Then I kept spending time outside and with people I love... and that's when I realized it's more important to be present verses living life to document it. The good.

Then the senseless shooting happened in Charleston, and churches continued to be burned, and the news decided to tell us only of celebrity pregnancies and divorces. The bad.

And sometimes I feel inspired at 11pm to write so I remember, so here we are. Reality.

The good.

• It was my birthday - my coworker got me flowers, my mom got me a Dairy Queen cake (childhood tradition), my dad shared his Busch Light, and I was showered in love all day.
• The Pope recognized the need to do something about climate change
• I've significantly increased the population of my hometown on two occasions to blend my Minneapolis and St. Martin people. 
• The SCOTUS got it's shit together. I was sad to miss out on Pride festivities this year, 
• Semi-related. Identity inclusion, and educational programming that allows students to explore their potential, to discover their brilliance and develop their intellect. Video by students at LJA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG6fTqdg0LU
• Sophia while still recovering, has returned to our Global Shapers team...and I finally got to meet her precious children and wonderful husband. They were delightful, and also reminded me that I'm not ready for children of my own.
• The Farmers Market is open and I've been golfing several times - summer is in full swing.
• Intern season (work) is already half over and it's been another fantastic summer so far.
• Camp is around the corner, ShapeNA brings me to Canada two weeks later, and in August Global Shapers will join me with 450+ entrepreneurial change makers from around the world in Geneva.

The bad.

• Charleston shooting (and too many others)
• 8 churches have been burned in 10 days
• We continue to point fingers and make excuses about -isms instead of listening.
• Serious droughts are happening in California
• The Gender Gap
• The Achievement Gap 
• Gentrification is getting worse in my neighborhood

The reality.

• Systems are broken.
• We all need to be part of the solution.
• We are connected by humanity and are more similar than different.
• The world is small.
• I am blessed.
• There is always something to be thankful for.

This feels incomplete, but now I'm tired.

2015 Wellness Update #4

Summer is here!! Well not officially, but goodness gracious it has been beautiful outside and I'm doing remarkably well at spending time with family and friends, often disconnected from work and my phone on the weekend. During the week, still very connected...but very connected to wonderful people, incredible community and causes, and meaningful work.

Some of my very favorite moments of the past month:

• Bachelorette Weekend - cabin weekend with brewery tours and good food. 12 girls, 1 amazing lady to celebrate, and 0 drama. It was amazing.
• Bariboo Weekend - drove 3.5 hours to a cabin without cell phone reception to reconnect with a good friend that I hadn't seen in THREE YEARS. Crazy. We didn't skip a beat. Devils Lake, WI is beautiful, also has some good beer and delicious food. Never hurts.
• Wedding Weekend - Why people try to cram so much celebrating into a few hours is beyond me. Again outside of cell phone reception. Great to be with family, my not-family, and celebrating one of my longest, dearest friends getting married. Not much sleep, there was just too much to do and too many fabulous people to hang out with. 
• Shapers Retreat - Introducing my Shaper friends to my hometown and my parents was incredibly special. The quality time, great conversations, and delicious food were all perfect.
• Stickman and Gorgeous - Though much shorter wedding experience, it was also fabulous to reconnect with friends and celebrate two more incredible people. Likely the best wedding toasts I'll ever witness. I dare anyone to try to beat them. Unique and perfect for them.

What I'm realizing is that my 2015 goal of wellness was really just a need to focus on all of the amazing things already happening in my life. Make them happen more often, on purpose, and cutting out anything that does not align. 

Social Wellness - See above.

Emotional Wellness - So much positive. See above. I did miss my Grandpa's 90th birthday party. Ice cream and beer seems like the best way to celebrate - since both grandpa's had such affinity for both - I may make that my new tradition for celebrating my own birthday (or any day).

Spiritual Wellness - I haven't been to Church in a real long time. Practicing mindfulness, being intentional and grateful always. 

Environmental Wellness - So much time outside and removed from the city lately. It's been nice to have that balance.

Occupational Wellness - making steps toward new role at work. Still very happy with what I'm doing, but looking for a new challenge soon. Variety keeps me well.

Intellectual Wellness - Project work is ongoing... Shapers continues to push me in new ways. Looking forward to more of that in the near future.

Physical Wellness - Still not running, but I have been walking several miles a day and taking the stairs at work for 2 flights of stairs or less. Baby steps.

Thank you for reading and being part of my journey. I really am surrounded by the best human beings on the planet, and I so appreciate the love and adventure you bring to my life.

Celebrate Always

I recently came across the quote, "Choose to be optimistic…it feels better" -The Dalai Lama. I try to be logical and realistic in a positive way - but there seem to be daily reminders lately that the world is a troubled place and life is not all sunshine and rainbows. Despite the negativity, I'm a big believer in celebrations. Fortunately, life has given me many reasons to celebrate. And sometimes, even if life doesn't seem to be going quite as I planned (because I always plan) I try to find reasons to celebrate anyway.

This weekend has been full of reminders that life is good:

• Friday: Friend got an awesome new job 
• Saturday: Friend's soon to be baby, and soon to be house listed
• Sunday: Mom! Mothers Day

Summer seems to be full of celebrations and people I love. Next weekend I get to celebrate friendship at a cabin in Wisconsin, the next weekend I get to celebrate the wedding of a dear childhood friend, the weekend after I celebrate new members, impact, and community with Global Shapers.

Next week my not-so-baby sister finishes another year of college, she will graduate next year. Crazy.

But until that major milestone, we will celebrate the baby steps to get there. And for those of us past graduations, and without weddings and babys, we will celebrate family, health, friendship, work projects, adventures, sunshine and all of the other things that get us out of bed and enjoying the day! No need to wait for a special day - each day is worth celebrating with people we love.

I was at a conference last week, and the presenter of a workshop challenged us to share something we hated or that made us angry while moving our arms and shaking our hips. No matter how hard we tried, everyone in the room was laughing. It was a good reminder to lighten up and go with the flow.

Enjoy today and every day. And if you don't or can't, share your struggle with someone and look for a silver lining. Life is better shared, and our days are too short to be wasted. Celebrate the small wins, and eventually things will turn around. There is power in community and positive thinking.

2015 Wellness Update #3

Goodness gracious - I live life with the most incredible people. Being intentional, grateful, and mindful have been so important on my journey to "well." I've long recognized that I'm a person of immense privilege. My family supports and loves me unconditionally, I grew up without need or want, I have a job/adult life I love that provides financial independence, personal satisfaction, and a lifestyle including travel and adventure. While thankful for all of these luxuries, I never quite feel like I measure up to those that have overcome intense struggles, pain, misfortune...and at the same time, I can't help but feel blessed and that I must fully live out my purpose of serving others with every breath. So with that... I started focusing on identifying that purpose that dwells on what is instead of what isn't, and writing a bio of who I am verses what I do. Seemed more productive. This is my working draft.

Tanya is a jolt of energy that has a meaningful impact on people and places she interacts with. She is a leadership nerd and connector committed to developing authentic, engaged, responsible community leaders. She's dedicated to helping people discover their passion and purpose, identify positive impact projects, and understand what it means to come alive. 

It is my goal to be a thought leader in workplace talent development, culture and engagement, and employee retention strategies. 

It's odd to "serve" in a corporate space after being involved in nonprofit, but I still get to be so connected to the amazing work being done by nonprofits... while adding unique value in the HR function of the corporate world. I like to think I've found a way to have my cake and eat it too :)

And for the more traditional update...

Social Wellness - I forget how disconnected I get when I am in heavy travel season for work. Since being back, I've been able to reconnect 1:1 with so many wonderful people in my life. Too many to name even, I'm an includer - I'd hate to leave people out. Also, the Women's Event that I helped organize as part of Global Shapers put me in the midst of 170+ phenomenal women who came together to learn from and share stories, dreams, struggles, and goals with one another. So good!

Emotional Wellness - I certainly feel positive emotions far more than the negative. I think a balance of both is good actually, but anger and sadness don't come as easily (even in tragic situations). I don't know how to practice feeling - my brain processes faster than my heart.

Spiritual Wellness - I attend church pretty regularly and integrate Christian beliefs into my daily actions, though don't resonate with the term "religious." Rarely have I felt so strongly about the power of prayer than witnessing the recovery of Sophia who in just a month, has recovered physical strength, but faith and spiritual strength and love as well. Though there is a long road ahead, she is incredibly strong and a woman of faith that I admire and love.

Environmental Wellness - Though flying to Denver wasn't the most environmentally friendly thing I could do with my weekend, it was so wonderful to be in the mountains for a bit. Also, the 70 degree days have me enjoying the outdoors so much more.

Occupational Wellness - reading Career Anchors to understand at the very core, what about work is most important and satisfying to me. Affirmed that it is service and dedication to people, and now meeting with a lot of phenomenal HR leaders to figure out how I can continue to contribute well, but stretch myself and grow my career leading in service to others. It's a journey.

Intellectual Wellness - Denver was so good. Quick trip, but so good to reconnect with my people. Starting to develop a project management skill set in a formal capacity, and learning so much about the world from Global Shapers - both in Minneapolis and around the world!

Physical Wellness - I'm learning how many of my friends run, and running (ha!) out of excuses not to. Must make time. The longer days are going to make it easier to take long walks or run outside at night... need to balance with my love for happy hour. They are mutually exclusive at the moment.

Beauty of Small Towns & Community

I've lived in Minneapolis for 8.5 years. I love this city. After moving to 10 different places in college, I found a neighborhood to stay in. I have lived here for 3.5 years, and independent in my 1 bedroom apartment for the last 2 years. I am pretty vocal about loving my city, I've found fantastic communities to be a part of, jobs I love, and plenty to fill my life. All of that said, I went home to my parents house for Easter and it took approximately 3 minutes for me to revert back to my life there.

In 28 hours I did my laundry, played cards with grandma, visited my "not family," decorated cakes and eggs, ate dinner with my family and spent a quality night with my parents and sisters, went to church with the entire town, and then celebrated Easter with extended family and met my cousin's new baby. And then I came back. Both places feel like home. I think I prefer it that way.

Small town life is a beautiful thing - and while I'm not sure I want to go back full time - I certainly appreciate growing up in and my parents continuing to live in St. Martin. More than I probably admit.

I got to experience another small town last week for a funeral. Not the most exciting reason to meet a community, but the love and support was tangible and beautiful. People showed up from near and far, with salads, desserts, and for some of us... Perkins muffins. Tears shed, hugs a plenty, and many reminders to live a full life and share life with others early and often.

Despite Minneapolis being a much larger city than St. Martin - the community, love, and support I've found here is quite similar. It's the reason I love Minneapolis. I feel this often, but this was especially evident in a very tangible way when my friend Sophia was in a horrific car accident a few weeks ago. The community rallied and the power of prayer and love have made all the difference. A long road ahead, but people literally from all over the world have banded together around her story in support of Sophia and her family (more here: http://www.gofundme.com/p33jfk)

This summer I will be introducing many of my friends to St. Martin for various reasons, and I can't wait for my worlds to collide. After years of thinking they were so different, I'm beginning to realize how incredibly similar they are. Besides the population difference, access to Target, and available modes of transportation...they are filled with people who support my hopes and dreams, and fill my life with stories, laughter, and hugs. I am the luckiest.

2015 Wellness Update #2

Big learning this month: I hate being stuck. I don't mind repetition or routine necessarily, as long as I don't feel like that is my only option. For about 36 hours earlier this month, being in Lubbock, TX was my only option. Not my favorite. Thank goodness my coworker Nick was a good travel partner throughout the experience. Choice = something I value, pretty highly actually. Good learning.

I also officially decided I am not going to start grad school in the fall. After just finally deciding to get my act together to do so. I was elected Curator of the Minneapolis Hub of Global Shapers last week, and I'm 1) honored and super excited to be elected into a leadership role by my peers for this amazing group of individuals 2) realistic that it's a big job and trying to start that, and grad school, on top of work, other volunteering, and having some semblance of a social/family life is not likely going to end well.

Early spring is making me grateful and happy each and every day. I've had drinks on a patio TWICE already, and willingly spending time outside much earlier than normal. If we could repeat winter 2015 each year, with spring coming in early March, I'd save myself the weekly (daily) doubt that Minneapolis is a great place to live.

And for the more traditional update...

Social Wellness - one on one connections are still going well! Also have gotten back into board game nights and other smaller group gatherings with good friends. 

Emotional Wellness - Working on leaning into conflict and seeking to understand more - I'm aware of the importance but not yet great at practicing empathy consistently.

Spiritual Wellness - went through my first coaching session. Thinking a lot about values, intentions, goals, etc. Things that are important to me: Partnership, Authenticity, Choice, Impact.

Environmental Wellness - despite some challenges this month, I remain committed to public transit as my primary form of weekday transportation.

Occupational Wellness - looking for additional ways to learn and grow in my professional career.

Intellectual Wellness - GRE studying needs to become a real thing (for future grad school) Learning by travelling this year - Denver is booked, Orlando (May), Calgary (July), Switzerland (August), DC in the fall hopefully! Maybe Chicago? 

Physical Wellness - Caught up on sleep a few weekends in a row now. Still no working out - that's real. Maybe summer will motivate me into moving more regularly again.