Well it’s that time that I look forward to the most during the year…summer vacation!!  Woo Hoo!

Starting this Thursday I will be enjoying some much needed rest and relaxation.  It comes at a fantastic time, the end of my year long temporary position as Coordinator for the Virtual Assistant Certificate program at Red Deer College.  This week I will officially hand back the “reigns” to Bev McCrostie, and I have to admit, I’m happy to do so.   Although I really enjoyed the experience, I learned a bunch and had the opportunity to interact with individuals I may not have had the chance to do outside this position, I am happy to get back to focusing on strictly being an instructor and developing some new kick butt curriculum.

It’s amazing what you learn about yourself when you take on something that’s totally outside your comfort zone.  For instance, I learned that the best opportunities are the ones that make you shake in your boots a little.  Those one’s that make you ask yourself “Can I pull this off, really?”  The bottom line is you can, and you will.  

 Don’t get me wrong, this position did not go off without a few glitches here and there, it was by no means smooth sailing, but for each bump in the road, I learned something new and for me that makes it a success. 

So, for the next two weeks, it’s time to ask that question again, “okay Michelle, what’s next?”  That’s really why I love these vacations, because it helps me look at things with a new set of eyes, a new perspective.   I finally have the time to really sit back and reflect on that question, and see what new opportunities are out there for me.  

Don’t get me wrong, I have no intention of giving up anything I am currently doing, I’m simply just looking at the new possibilities that are waiting, and yes even those that I may be “shaking in my boots about.”   It’s very exciting to have the space to explore this.

For me it’s about re-defining what it is I love to do, and ensure that I am doing it.  It’s a way of getting back to basics, stripping away all the “have to’s” and getting right to the “want to’s.”  

I’m not saying you have to take a two week vacation to have the ability to evaluate where you are in life; in fact I encourage you to take some time to do this wherever you are. 

Sometimes we all need a little time to get rid of all the “fluff” and simply get back to the basics. So, that’s what I’ll be doing for the next few week, I’ll let you all know how it turns out!