the awareness test

So you think your powers of observation are good?  Above average?  Exceptional even?   Try this.

Do the original test – the one with the basketballers – first.

How do you rate your observation skills now?

countdown calendar

Hey blog, long time no see………. happy new year!

This time last year I was counting down the days until I left paid employment and started my own business.  January 24th 2008 was my last working day, but by the middle of December 2007, I had just about completed everything I needed to do – tied up the loose ends, said most of my goodbyes, celebrated the end of a successful year with colleagues and friends.  After 10 years working in the same organisation, I was more than ready for a change, and was looking forward running my own home-based business. (That’s a bit of an understatement. I was ecstatic.)  Time really started dragging midway through December.

My coach, Belinda Merry, suggested I create my own advent-style calendar to count down to my final working day, scheduling in celebrations and any other fun things that would make that time enjoyable and memorable. This worked brilliantly. I planned out those last six weeks, making sure I didn’t go more than a few days without something fun to do.  As well as the usual pre-Christmas get togethers, I added a few not-so-well-known feast days.  In December, I celebrated Our Lady of Guadalupe Day and St Lucia’s Day. In January, I held an Epiphany dinner.  Courtesy of my Sark calendar, I had a Bed Picnic Day, Nap Day and Day of Reading.  The Summer Solstice was observed.  (I also scheduled in work–related things, but I have forgotten the details – selective memory!)

Of course, the time passed.  Creating a countdown calendar changed my focus during those final weeks at work. Rather than wishing the days away, I had a memorable time of fun and celebration – a fitting end to a significant phase of my life.