Happy New Year... What a month!

Well for starters can I say January has been quite a month!? Mostly good things ;-)

I hope to finally get that start on-air in the TV business that I have been working towards. My new resume reel is finished and all I need now is that opportunity to expand on my desire of being a journalist. Here is the YouTube Link:

Ashley Connor 2012 Reel

I'm truly proud of the product that I delivered on my new reel. One thing I do not like to do is brag, I like my work to speak for itself. I do a lot of things on my "off" time and this is a BIG reason why I am always so busy. Since none of my jobs involve me working on this part of my career I have to do it on my own time. It know it will all pay off one day. I did get the opportunity of having my first interview at a TV station about a week ago for Reporter/Producer job. I will say it went well and no matter what the outcome is I know I made an impression, it's up to God now if he feels that is where I should get my start. In the mean time I'll leave it all up to him.

I also received an email from my editor for the magazine I freelance for and she commended me on the improvement in my writing from when I started in September. It helped me realize the time I put in to perfect my craft is working. I take pride in the things that I do and I never want it to seem like I am "half assing" with my work.

Another great thing this month was being able to see my cousin, Donna. She is a reporter in Atlanta, GA and also one of the reason I want to pursue this career as a journalist. I look up to her so much and it's a blessing to have someone in this business that I know will be honest with me. She tells me things I may not want to hear but need to hear and keeps me on my toes. I haven't seen her in a couple of years so it was nice that we were able to see each other for a brief moment. It's motivation when someone who has had a career like Donna continues to encourage me and lets me know I can do this.

I've been told a number of times by my friends and family that 2012 is going to be my year. To me it is very cliche but those words I will say help me stay focused on my goal. I pray that 2012 will be a life changing year for me and although I know every moment won't bring a smile to my face it will add to the seasoned woman that I am. My trials and tribulations are not over and my pursuit to being a journalist is still underway. I welcome everything that this new year has to offer me. What I will do is stay encouraged.

My Journey: Goodbye 2011 >>>> Hello 2012

My Journey: Goodbye 2011 >>>> Hello 2012: Out with the old and in with the new! That seems to be the general mindset of most when a new year is upon us. Hence my urge to give my blog...

Goodbye 2011 >>>> Hello 2012

Out with the old and in with the new! That seems to be the general mindset of most when a new year is upon us. Hence my urge to give my blog a face lift. It works with my theme for this blog, "Out with the Old in with the NEW!" The last design wasn't me... so I fixed it! It is a work in progress but the look now is DEFINITELY more ME :-)

So..... how should I start this one? Of course! I have to reflect on this past year! I started this blog in March of this year and I must say it was ONE of my best decisions in 2011. I was able to show a different side of myself to those around me. The responses that I get from my blog are wonderful, I truly appreciate all of the words of encouragement. So first and foremost I thank whoever you are reading this right now. Your support is never unnoticed and little do you know when life gets hard I think of people like you, encouraging me to keep striving. I like to consider myself a pretty independent woman but I wouldn't be anything without God, my family and friends supporting me every step of the way. I couldn't thank you enough!

When I take the time to realize the wisdom I have gained this year alone, it amazes me! I'm nowhere near the Ashley I was a year ago and to anticipate the new lessons that 2012 will bring only makes me more eager to live life. I appreciate the good and bad in life because of the lesson(s) learned; it is a great aspect to living life. I'm only 24 and I am so sure of myself and what I want to do that I have a hard time being patient.

2011 has been a whirlwind! Filled with ups and downs, certainly the ups outweigh the downs. I gained new friends and let go of some of the old. I learned more than likely things will NOT go as planned and to only focus on the things I have control over. I gained a new outlook on perception and reality because there IS a BIG difference (That statement STILL hits me like I never heard it before). I also learned that I can't force things to happen, as much as I may try to move on something if it is not in God's plan there is nothing I can do but have patience and let time take its course. I have come a long way and I know I still have a ways to go, I'm on the right path though.

As we bring in 2012 I just want to say no matter what you do in your life at the end of the day YOU are your number one priority (unless you have a kid). Every decision you make has a consequence and whatever the consequence make sure you can handle it and you can look yourself in the mirror afterwards. If it doesn't feel right DO NOT DO IT! Be happy, Be healthy and BE YOU! Happy New Years!

This thing called, LIFE!

I'm excited!

About what?

Well my future of course! I have a lot of things going on in my life right now and as I have said before I know that God is truly guiding my steps. Things have been going great at work and I feel a lot of progress with everything I am doing. This weekend is going to be BIG. I'll be finishing up my new resume tape and pumping it out to TV stations all over the place.

My hunger for success is only growing and I am working hard continuously to make sure I don't lose sight of what the BIG picture is. It's amazing how God moves in my life and the people he has introduced me to in 2011. Most people that know me, know that I am not too open to just meeting random people and calling them my friends and forming a relationship with them outside of my work environment or wherever I come in contact with people at. What God has done to change my perspective with new people I come across is amazing. He knew what I needed. I'm where I am at today because this is what he has for me. Realizing that I am being prepared for something that I have no clue what it is makes me even more focused. I am open and ready to accept whatever is to come. I don't know when or how but I have faith that it's coming and God never lets me down.

The fact that it is December already is wild! This year flew by so fast... and from what I hear it only goes faster. This May will be three years since I graduated from Clarion and in June it will be seven since I graduated high school. Where did the time go? Those time frames right there are reason enough to make sure EVERYTHING I do has purpose and is getting me closer to my ultimate goal. I re-tweeted a tweet from a friend that said, "When things don't add up in your life, start subtracting". In 2011 I did A LOT of subtracting, I can't say that it was easy or I am done but the progress that I made this year was necessary and I couldn't be more at peace with life and the decisions I made.

My journey is far from over but I have to say the process is trying, scary and confusing but I'm learning every step of the way. I constantly evaluate the things I do in life and writing this blog has been a tremendous amount of help. I occasionally read through different blogs just to remember and learn from moments that I have had so far. Although things have been going good it take one second for things to go bad. I know it's going to happen and I welcome the bad times too.

I wouldn't be the person I am today if I didn't go through the things I have gone through.    
 

A sense of clarity

So my last blog that I attempted to write last week was deleted as I was finishing it up. Talk about PISSED OFF!! I literally prayed that it was saved and would come back... well that didn't happen. I then thought to myself well maybe that blog wasn't supposed to be shared and that was God's way of stopping me.

One thing about my blogs is that they come off the top of my head. When I sit down to write I always have a motive; there is some kind of message that I want to share but it is never complete. It works better for me to just type away and then go through everything and organize my random thoughts.

I am such a random person... I think of the oddest things at the most random times and more than likely if someone is around me I will let it all out. It's why I love to be able to come to my blog and just express myself. No holding back just telling you what I think and what is weighing on my heart. Take it or leave it... either way I don't care.

I couldn't begin to tell you where my last blog began and where it ended. I'm pretty sure this blog will entail a few things that were in my last blog because if I thought that way then I more than likely feel the same way today....

24 Years has brought me...

Twenty four years and some days ago I was brought into this world. A day I don't remember but to many I was anxiously awaited and the nurturing process for my parents at the moment was changed. They had birthed their second child, their only girl and no one knew what was in store for me.

I can honestly remember vividly back to Kindergarten. Days before that milestone in my life are like sneak peeks. I remember places and things but nothing of substance. It's amazing how fast life moves. As a child when my birthday came along I would always think, "I wonder how my life will be when I am..." Each year the age went higher. First it was turning 16, then finally legal 18, then the unforgettable 21st birthday and now I am one year away from being a quarter of a century.

As a child if someone were to ask me where do I see myself when I am 24 years old I would have never in a million years thought here. Who could really guess something like that at such a young age. Then I think about my own mother who at my age was married with a 4 year old son and was pregnant with me.

Here I am 24 years old, college graduate, pursuing my career dreams and in a commited relationship. The complete opposite of my parents. At my young age my parents had it all together. I didn't comprehend at that time what they were doing at such a young age but never the less they were doing it.

Because of my parents at a young age I made a decision to always put myself first and to never stop working to towards goals I have set for myself. If I'm not happy how can I  make someone else happy? I know for myself every year after my birthday I always do a lot of reflecting. Things are never the same as they were the year before. I just always thank God for getting me through those changes and making me a better person.

At this moment I think the biggest thing for me to accept in life is things change and there is nothing me or anyone else can do about it. Whether it is the people, places, things or situations in life. I have come to a point where I focus on what I feel is best for me. Those who are going to be in my life will be and those who aren't won't. Life moves too fast to focus on things or people that aren't adding to my life.

The past two years of my life have been the most drastic and life changing. I have outgrown a lot of things and I don't look at life the same as I did two years ago. I have to be more sure of each decision I make from this point on. Everything is critical and time isn't waiting for me.

The biggest humbling factor for me this year has been my job search. I'll call it silent rejection because there aren't any letters of recieving my resumes and there isn't notification of rejection. The rejection could very well be they just didn't get to my envelope or email that stacks up in the office of some news director or human resources manager. Despite that I continue to apply. I know when my time comes it will be at the perfect time and it isn't for me to know when that will be.

In the meantime I have stumbled upon some great opportunities that continue to give me an edge. Those are the blessings that God sends my way to constantly let me know he has my steps ordered and this is what I am meant to do.

Despite the numerous discouraging instances in life I take those with a grain of salt and keep on trucking through.

These 24 years of living life I have experienced some very beautiful things! I am a daughter, sister, friend, aunt and girlfriend all of those which shape the person I am today and to all of those things I am greatful for.

Life Lessons

So I'm long overdue for this... wasn't really sure what I wanted to write about next.

The past few months have been a whirlwind for me. I constantly recognize a change in myself and for me I feel it is for the better. I'm becoming more blunt and I don't hold my tongue. Sometimes things might not come out the best way but if I said it and however I said it, it needed to be said. I have realized I won't put up with anything I don't want to and some people can agree and others won't... I don't really care!

I am currently going through one of the hardest moments in my life. I have a constant drive and it is honestly ALL I AM FOCUSED ON. What I am going through I know takes TIME. So my patience, humbleness and faith are all I have to get me through.

STRESS... I have enough of it so I have chose to eliminate the things in my life that stress me out that I have control over. What put the icing on the cake for me was when I went to church this past Sunday, July 31, 2011. For one I haven't been to church in a long time and that was also something else that was LONG overdue for me to do. It was a message that I needed to hear and it just gave me more confidence in the decisions that I have been making. The scripture was taken from 2 Kings Chapter 4: 1-7. It was a story of a woman who had two problems, one she couldn't change and the other she could. She asked a servant of the Lord for help and what he did was give her advice & not the answer. She listened and the problem that she could change was solved, the other was a dead situation and she had to make due with what she had. When something is dead and there is nothing you can do about it you have to let go. Holding on to something that isn't helping you or is bringing you down only holds you back. When you have a situation that you can do something about you fix it! The message I heard touched me and it gave me a sense of peace with a lot of things in my life. As much as I stress I always get through and when I do make a decision that may not have been the best one I learn from it.

I have learned to appreciate things and people for what it may be and I can't expect too much from anyone but myself. People change and that is life because we all have a different outlook on what we call life. At the end of the day I learned a lesson and that is always be true to myself and I don't have to please anyone but myself & God.