Birthday wishes and thank you's

Every birth year has always been significant to me, because it is one in which I choose either to pick up certain things or to let go of certain traits/projects or people. This years' was one just like the other years in which I got a chance to review certain choices I had made and got a chance to correct them.

About three and a half years ago, I walked into a certain project because at that time, I was hurting and I needed to surround myself with what made me happy. Working on that project brought me some healing and on the other hand opened my eyes to certain things that were not right. I will say that project made me an adult. As years progressed, I realized that certain things were not going to change, behaviors were still going to remain the same, and certain attitudes will continue on the way it is and I realized that there were two options: a) either remain within the project and close my eyes and let things continue the way they are or b) walk away and work on projects in which I have part ownership. It was a very tough decision because, yes, I had been part of them from the beginning and because I believed I had some sort of loyalty to my peers and all.

But, after analyzing, reanalyzing and talking to a friend of mine who sees things in dollars and cents (spent approximately 200 dollars per month out of my pocket - I don't want to calculate how much that was out of my pocket for the past three years) - we all came to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with letting something go when its focus has moved to a place that is destructive. There is nothing wrong with moving on. So, I decided to do so.

I want to use this opportunity to apologize to all those I brought onto the project..I know many of you didn't want to but just did so because I asked. I want to say thank you for the support through the years. I want to let you know that by Mid October - late October, I will be with a different group, still within the same kind of project but I will be meeting eclectic needs which will be challenging and fascinating - we are still negotiating.


By the way, I currently have bags under my eyes...STUDYING IS difficult particularly if you've taken a break for about a year (I really do not know how some people do it)!!... and I still LOVE my field - there is so much versatility in what I do. People look at the field of HR as one of just benefits and compensation but there is so much to it. In what I do currently, I work with different kinds of people from so many backgrounds and each person has a different story of what made them who they are and brought them to this point. Will this feeling last I wonder? (Some friends will say that is the question of the moment)!

How was my birthday? It was great - I want to say a huge thank you to those who remembered, I got so many birthday wishes...lol!!...that really made my day and someone, even understood my love for cheese cake and flew my cheese cake from his hometown to the studio so I can have that on my day. Thank You....you know that really brought tears to my eyes!! :-) I really appreciate the blogging family and that was what made me realize that there are different kinds of families but the online family could also be strong...


So to the next adventure.........and as I always say, "always remain true to yourself because at the end of the day...YOU are the one that will be held accountable for the decisions that You've made".


Pammy

Yes...O... I am Twenty - Something Today!

It all began on September 17th, about twenty something years ago in a hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. A little girl was born to a young mother who was still a student and an Engineer who had just begun his career. They both looked at the little girl and saw something. The Engineer saw a gift and her look reminded him of the old lady in his village who had always taken him in as a child. As such, he decided to name this girl, God's gift. The young student saw the child and looked into her future and saw that there will be many who will try to toy with her pride and gave her a name in metaphorical Igbo which means "may the eagle remain in the sky and keep on soaring". That little baby was Pamela.

To keep a form of balance in their lives, (as most people know, Engineers particularly in my dad's field tend to travel a lot), the little girl spent her baby years in a University in Jos and was catered to by her mother and her friends. To keep this little girl calm, so that her mother could study - the little girl was introduced to the library and the world of books. That started her thirst for knowledge and that is where my story begins.

Approximately, a year ago - I came to blogville and told you that I was quitting my job and was going to find myself. The push to go find myself was brought about by reading Paulo Coehlo's book, "the alchemist" and I realized that I had locked myself, particularly my creativity in a prison of fear that will not let me go. I quit my job and began my journey.

The journey was often times brutal and difficult, many times filled with different kinds of trials but within these trials there was often a form of joy because I knew I was doing what I wanted to do and I was at peace with my decision. In the process of my journey, I lost a lot of people (who called themselves friends) but also gained a lot of people who had my back with every stage in my life. I heard the sniggers and often times the stupid comments made by people who didn't understand but felt that because they had made certain choices, I should live my life like they did but I refused to budge. In the process, I rounded up one of my educational goals and put the finishing touches on other goals that I had left on the sides.

People who've followed my journey closely have often asked if I regret my decision and if I sit back at night wondering at what could have been if things hadn't gone the way they did. My answer is NO. Taking the plunge, involves the ability to ASSESS your risk and forgive yourself for past mistakes. To be quite frank, if I had remained where I was, I wouldn't have been able to achieve what I have now in terms of education, finance, job experience and information.

So, as I turn and still remain in the same age group, I start a new page today in my next journey (a couple of people know what it is) and I laugh as I face my future with courage.


PS: It will be quite ungrateful of me if I do not say a huge big thank you to you all and most especially the Paulo Coehlo's camp that reached out when I started my journey and actually sent me an email.

Thank You...Thank You..Thank You...

As I eat my cheese cake....I will think of you guys as I savor each bite and you guys will always remain in my thoughts.


Happy Birthday to all Virgos out there and also to me.
My birthday present to you guyz is the faith in dreams and the courage to pursue it.