New Name, Same Face

I decided to change the name of my blog, because it isn't just about Life in the Kountry. It's about my life, my whole life, and I want the title to encompass my whole life.

So, how did I come up with the new name? It's a nickname that I was given by some friends of mine in Alabama. I was in Biloxi, Mississippi at a meeting of NALS...The Association for Legal Professionals, and we had broken up into our Region meetings. Our Region Director was asking for assistance in locating speakers for our upcoming Region meeting in Atlanta, and I spoke up and said I'd be happy to help. One of the ladies from my local chapter looked at me in horror and said, "You can't do that!" (She was thinking that I needed to live in the same area as the meeting being held in order to know local speakers.) I replied, rather loudly, as the room had gotten quiet - "WHY CAN'T I DO IT?"

That phrase sums up my personality perfectly... don't tell me I can't do it, or I WILL do it, just to prove you wrong. It's a great trait to have most of the time, because it's an awfully powerful motivator. However, there are times when "Why Can't I Do It?" has gotten me into trouble.

The "Why Can't I Do It?" attitude permeates every area of my life - work, school, church, professional association, relationships. I can't get away from it. I have trouble saying, "No," when people ask me to assist with projects. I am always running myself crazy between my personal and church responsibilities, my professional association, and my job. My husband constantly tells me that I create my own madness by not being able to say, "NO!" You know what, this is one time he is right. (And I put it in writing!)

I am a control freak of sorts, not being able to let go of certain things. Take, for instance, the monthly bulletin of my professional association. Several years ago, I was appointed editor of the bulletin by the association President. I took what we had been doing (a paper version printed on an office copier) and made it digital. I began using color in it, which made a huge difference in making it look more professional. I scanned it in and emailed it instead of printing it and mailing it, because it made sense to save money for our non-profit association. After a few years in a row of being the editor, I became President of the Association and was told I couldn't do it anymore because the President isn't supposed to be chairman of any committees or serve in any other capacity. When the first issue of the bulletin came out, I almost cried. Please understand, the sweet woman that took over the bulletin did a fabulous job, especially when you consider that she wasn't all that computer-oriented and was publishing an electronic newsletter in Microsoft Word. My problem was that it wasn't what I had created. The next year, I managed to be appointed editor again, and have been ever since. I am being installed as President for my association again next week, and so far I haven't had anyone say they want to be editor of the bulletin, so maybe they'll let me keep it this time. We'll see.

I guess you could say I am a born leader. I'm not afraid of talking to large groups of people, and I am not afraid of stepping on people's toes when I am in a leadership position, if what I am doing is for the good of the whole. I've held numerous offices in my professional association, and I would like to hold office on the state level and possibly the national level eventually. My husband owns his own business, and I have recorded radio commercials for him and speak to groups about his business. I taught children's choir at church for several years. I don't have an ounce of shyness in my being.

I am also a learner. I read everything I see, which can be annoying for those around me. There is so much knowledge in books, even in fiction. You never know what you may learn when you pick up a book. I prefer reading books over listening to them. There is something about holding a book in my hands that makes me feel very wholesome and happy. (Yes, I know... most people call this nerdiness.) Being a learner and loving books makes me naturally attracted to challenges where reading is involved. I love to take classes and better myself through learning. If there is an award that can be obtained for learning, I want to win it. And don't tell me I can't, because WHY CAN'T I DO IT will do it for sure.

My first marriage ended when my daughter was nine months old. Some people said I wouldn't make it financially as a single mom, so I consulted a financial advisor who said I'd be bankrupt within in a year. When I told the advisor I could make my finances work without going bankrupt, she said I couldn't. Guess what I said? Yep - WHY CAN'T I DO IT? And you know what? I often robbed Peter to pay Paul, but the good Lord provided and after almost 9 years, I became free of credit card debt in March 2007.

So, as you can see from these brief illustrations, I can do anything I want to do. I must let you in on one secret... my successes aren't because of anything that I've done. I am successful because I ask God to guide me through each venture, and I follow His lead.

Now, why don't think about what you CAN do today?