Update: Week 3&4 – Welcome to wherever you are

So, clearly I slipped a little since this is a joint Week 3 & 4 post, but I have a slew of excuses reasons at the ready, to help explain myself, the largest of which is.... I got a wee promotion! My boss Meghan has abandoned us to take up a fantastic opportunity in Cambodia, and I’ve recently been asked to take over until my contract (and current funding for the program) ends. Actually, it just occurred to me that I haven’t officially told anyone official that I’ll officially accept for that long, so I guess I better make a note to speak up tomorrow.

Today’s Bon Jovi lyric has been selected in honour of Meghan, the new adventure her and her family are about to embark on, and the relationship we developed over the last year. Inevitably whenever someone moves on to the next part of their lives, it is easy to think back to the start, which we’ve been doing a lot recently. For Meghan and I, the start was pretty rocky. It was a difficult time and not the best introduction. And yet, we totally found our way through it. As she described to someone in the office just before she said her final goodbyes, it didn’t take long before I was her “Person” in the office and she was mine... for me, it will take awhile to adjust, not just to the empty desk at the front of the room but also to all the other implications that vacant space means to me personally. I’ve promised to let her continue to life coach me via email (I need all the help I can get -and she knows it- which is why she eventually intervened and said she was taking over). It won’t be the same here without her, and I’ve got some pretty big shoes to fill, but I’m lucky she didn’t leave me with the mess she arrived to a year ago.  

Welcome to wherever you are

This is your life, you made it this far

Welcome, you gotta believe

That right here right now, you're exactly where you're supposed to be

Welcome, to wherever you are

When everybody's in, and you're left out

And you feel your drowning, in a shadow of a doubt

Everyones a miracle in their own way

Just listen to yourself, not what other people say

When it seems you're lost, alone and feeling down

Remember everybody's different

Just take a look around

Here’s an update from the third and fourth week of my 7 Week Plan.

Every week:
1.	Stick to my Isagenix program	Ok, so I totally didn’t expect to lose much in the last couple of weeks, considering I had plenty of weak moments (like caving on my Week 3 full day cleanse and eating chicken and cabbage for dinner), or making questionable choices (instead of doing a Sunday cleanse day I decided to go in a different direction aka the Sunday Night Roast Buffet dinner at Honiara Hotel), or simply having some tantrum-esque, “EFF-THIS” moments (and eating pasta for breakfast), but I’ve actually done surprisingly well. Total weight loss since last update: 5.5 lbs Total weight loss since Day 1:  7.8 lbs
2.	Exercise 2 hours per week	Thanks to 2x a week Zumba class and my workout buddy Penny, I’ve exceeded my 2 hr goal for the last two weeks. Bring it on!
3.	Connect with at least one friend that I haven’t been in contact with in awhile	I’m actually doing pretty badly at initiating this even though I totally thought it would be an easy one. Closest I’ve come is having a catch up with a dear friend Caroline (of “why I don’t like to ride things” story fame), who had amazing news to share: she’s going to be a mom! And not only that, the baby is due the day after my birthday, so clearly this kid is going to be phenomenal. Am super excited for her and Charlie!
4.	Extend an invitation to do something with someone	Week 3: I invited Meghan’s husband to dinner to satisfy this requirement (no joke) but ended up going to their place instead. Week 4: See #7
5.	Do at least one fun thing on the weekend	Week 3: Another dinner with friends (still fun, still counts) Week 4: Dinner at the French restaurant with friends and, See #7
6.	Update this blog	So I’m a little late, but who’s counting?
By the end of the 7 Weeks
7.	Host one dinner party	So on Sunday evening I had 8 friends over for dinner. The premise was simple: I’d google a couple of new recipes and then we’d all convene to cook and then eat together. It’s the second time I’ve done it, and we learned how to make homemade tortillas and flat bread (last time was perogies – which were incredible – and gnocchi – which wasn’t). Despite one friend saying she thought my original request for her to bring a few of the ingredients was “bossy”, I successfully won her over and everyone had happy bellies and a great time. Special shout out to my exercise buddy Penny who made an awesome mexican beef stew that totally stole the show (and really necessitated my participation at Zumba on Monday).
8.	Find a hobby or start a project	Needless to say, it’s been a bit hectic at work, and who knew that exercising a few days a week, socializing, keeping up with interesting reading/blogs and trying to start a side project would mean that I have significantly less time for my one true love: tv. As for a hobby or project, I remember telling a friend somewhat recently, that I really wanted to create something. Something to add to the world, that wouldn’t be there otherwise. “Um, a baby?..” he responded, hesitantly, cautiously Which I found funny at the time because it’s totally not what I had in mind, though was super on point and is totally up for grabs as an option if anyone wants to partner with me on that venture... ...anyone? Don’t answer right away, feel free to sleep on it. Anyway, since being home last, I’ve found myself spending a lot of time thinking about all the amazing things my friends are doing. Things they are creating. Not just marriages and babies and relationships and well rounded lives for their dogs, but other stuff too, like businesses and “projects”, and hobbies/side gigs that actually are something. A contribution to the world. That wouldn’t otherwise be there. I was inspired. And jealous. And then decided that I could probably do something too. So what am I doing, you ask? No, I’m not writing a book (sorry Teri Herbert) Don’t laugh: I’m building an app. Like, not totally on my own, I’ve got a partner in crime (coincidentally, Meghan’s husband, Paul). More details to follow as we wade through this. It’s pretty exciting though, and also a bit intimidating and it probably won’t go anywhere, but it’s been invigorating to learn about something new, consider possibilities and basically, just try. It's going to cost a bit of cash, but probably way less than if I choose to pursue my back up plan of scrapbooking. Stay tuned for details!
9.	Learn Twitter	Follow me on @HeatherCQuinn I still don’t really get it. I mean I get it, but I don’t really understand the appeal. Or all the shortened link names etc. Nevertheless, I’m trying.
10.	Learn how to do something new	I think trying to figure out how to design and launch an app counts.
11.	Make a new friend	No progress yet – but I have a lead.
12.	Figure out what the heck I’m going to do for Christmas	THIS JUST IN: yesterday I booked myself on a 9 day tour of the North Island of New Zealand, from Wellington to Auckland. So holidays still start with 5 days in Brisbane for Bon Jovi and hanging out with a friend, then 5 days to explore Wellington and hit up some Lord of the Rings Tours because I’m really cool, then 9 days making my way up to Auckland via tour. Back to Brisbane on Dec 31st in time to stock up on essential supplies (like cheese) before the shops close for New Years Eve, then back home to Honiara Dec 2nd. Much love and thanks for the friends who offered to have me, but I think this is going to be a good Christmas Orphan option, but who knows when I’ll get a chance to see New Zealand in the near future. Of course, I’m probably going to end up with a bus load of old people, but if they’re as hilarious as my Grandma is, I should be good. (Grandma, please don’t get upset that I called you old. At 82, it’s more a fact than a judgement and you should be proud  that you're still awesome. Also, don't forget that you can't hit reply to this email. Love you!)

4 weeks down, 3 to go.

Hard at work, tortilla making