Accounting On A New Possibility

Who knew that accounting could lead to freedom?
When I offered to do the bookkeeping for the new company my husband was starting back in September, a large part of me was thinking, “What am I, crazy?” I remembered back when I was 8 years old and my parents, who were business owners, were trying to explain what a “profit” was after I had my first lemonade stand.  They jumped through hoops trying to explain it to me a million different ways, and I just couldn’t get it. Even my friend, who was a year younger, understood. But, I just couldn’t grasp it.  Right then, at 8 years old, I gave myself a life sentence, as so many of us do when we are kids.  I decided at that moment that I was stupid, and I would never be someone who has a good business/financial mind.  It’s no wonder that I went on to work in education for ten years, became a great “people person", and stayed as far away from numbers as possible.
As crazy of an idea as it was, my intuition told me that I HAD to do this. I can’t really explain why. I know I really wanted to learn the inner workings of the business, and I really wanted to support my husband in this endeavor.  Really, though, I think that the 8 year old in me had to see what I was made of.   I had to prove to myself that I COULD do this.
I will be completely honest. It wasn’t easy for me. A lot of late nights I would be up working, trying to figure out how QuickBooks, the accounting software, worked while being exhausted from taking care of the kids all day. I would fight with my husband trying to tell him that he didn't know what he was talking about when he tried to help me.  I would be up all hours of the night, searching for that one lost journal entry. I would eat sweet snacks in an attempt to calm thoughts like, “The success of this company is dependent upon these figures being correct.  What if I missed something?” I would wake up in the morning and not be able to look down because the muscles in my neck and back had been so tense the night before.  
But, as Tom Cruise, in "Jerry Maguire", one of my favorite movies, said so succinctly, “Breakdown...breakthrough.”
Now, 5 months later, after having gotten the hang of the program and successfully closing out our year, ready to start fresh in 2011, I have to say I have never felt so free.  I know exactly what I am doing now, and I am ready to move forward with our company’s finances.  Although it was difficult, I fought that demon from my past and won.  It’s no wonder that all of a sudden, new possibilities are opening up.  I am creating this first article of a new blog in an attempt to forward my writing, tackling clutter I haven’t touched in 3 years, taking my family’s health to a new level, and attending a workshop that aligns with my goals for a career in life coaching.  
Am I a natural born accountant?  No, definitely not, and I will be the first to admit it.  However, with focused time, attention, and determination, I learned what I needed to learn in order to master it.  I know that I can take on anything in life and win. Who knows, maybe this will be the first stepping stone to creating my own business someday.  I will definitely hire someone to do the bookkeeping though!

-Amy

Knot Expected

I’ve been given a gift...in the form of a profoundly tangled heap of yarn. It wasn’t given to me as a gift. It started as an assignment. Crochet a scarf for my niece, Ava. Simple, right? Not exactly.

Hours of my week have been spent—sometimes delicately, others, furiously pulling and twisting this yarn. I’ve studied it like a mad scientist. I’ve come to know it well.

My revelation: this extraordinarily tangled, stubborn mass of yarn hasn't really required much study. It’s as familiar as the hands I've watched untangle it. It’s me. 

There I am in beautiful shades of blue. Tangled by life experience. De-tangled by choice. The knots seem to have a life of their own—a memory. Strands find solace in the curves and bends of others. If for nothing else, to bask in the comfort of familiarity. There are so many moments when all seems lost—twisted and tangled beyond repair. I fight the urge to give up. It’s those moments when suddenly, inevitably, a knot comes loose, unravels like a crumbled up cloth cast out into whipping wind. There's hope.

So, I'll keep pulling and twisting—navigating my way through this treacherously enigmatic, beautiful collection of knots. 

When I see my niece wearing her scarf, I'll be sure to thank her.

-Jayme