It’s pretty much how I felt this morning. As some of you know I’m in a masters program at UAB, Information Engineering and Management in the school of Engineering. I knew going into this summer I would have class at least once a month. Add on top of that, I left my corporate job and decided to start a consulting business and focus on kayak instruction. I’ve been going pretty much seven days a week since June. Am I tired? Yep. Is this the happiest I’ve been in quite a while – you bet.
It has been an interesting journey, one I have learned tremendously from and am so very thankful for. I have been blessed to spend more time with my family and friends. My parents are in their 80’s and I’m blessed that I could help them when they needed me. Before, they were admittedly afraid to call me because I was always busy. I’ve also spent more time with my sister. Still not as much as I would like, but she recently retired from teaching. She is amazing, and has skills in working with young women that I never knew existed. Then there are my friends. I’ve had great talks on the way to the river and around the campfire. Before I would usually ride by myself, because I couldn’t take off work to go. And, there is my running partner, who I’m sure has seen a little transformation in me, but carefully chosen her words and guidance. These conversations are all gifts of great joy.
It was August a year ago I started the UAB IEM masters program. The program director, Dale Callahan, Ph.D., talked a lot about finding your passion in our first semester of class. I read his book “Resumes are Worthless,” and thought to myself at the time that I spent my whole life searching for my next job, not looking at what I truly wanted to do. Dale challenged each of us to find what we are passionate about. I was lucky in this area because I know what I’m passionate about. I love teaching kayaking. Is it a full-time job – maybe, maybe not. I’m also passionate about helping people tell their story. Since I started the IEM program I’ve met a lot of entrepreneurs, some tech focused, others not as much. One thing they all have in common is they have an interesting story of how they got where they are today. I happen to have the knowledge of how to convey those stories to the media.
I’m looking forward to this next chapter in my life. I can’t really say I’m slowing down, because it is quite the opposite. But, I can say that I’m living more. I’m looking forward to sharing the journey here.
helen2o 
Nicely done, friend. So excited for you. Look forward to following your posts. And to many more trips together to the river, on the river, in the river…and all the other great, fun things we do together. You’re one of my “mostest” favorite people!