The End and Beginning

Dear Follower-Famalam and Friends:

I hate dislike reading posts about a person explaining why they are not blogging anymore. I never want them to stop blogging. But here I am, thinking about the reasons why Globetracer, the personal blog, is coming to a close. Don’t hate me. Today is the first day of the year. Happy New Year! I hope you’re thoroughly enjoy a day of doing the least. I am typing this from the comforts of my bed. The holidays drain me socially, so this day is very necessary to regroup before heading back to work tomorrow.

Many of you who have been here from Day 1 know that it has been an amazing journey. This blog is a testament that you can go from not knowing what the hell you’re supposed to be doing in life, to stepping out on faith and reaping the benefits of hard work and sacrifice. I started blogging in 2011 when I was 26 years old and living in Costa Rica for a short stint. It’s been 6 great years of triumphs, setbacks and so so many blessings from God. IF you’re struggling with finding your passion and purpose, HOLD ON! All the steps you’re taking to actively find that place you’re supposed to be, make a difference. My biggest take-away from this blogging venture is that writing will always be a part of my life. That will never change. Globetracer, as it exists in this platform will no longer be updated but I will continue vlogging on my YouTube channel and posting the videos here for some time. Please subscribe! Also, follow me on Twitter if you don’t already (@TracitaLinda.)

It has been a joy to connect with so many of you, and I really do appreciate all the love and support throughout the years. If I had 2 gems that I want to remind you of, it’s to get back to happy no matter what you have to do to get there! and that happiness can be found right where you are. A lot of time we focus on being happy when we reach such and such milestone but there’s so much to revel in right where you are. I’m reminded daily to look for those moments:

• Finding a new show on Netflix or Hulu to Binge (I’m thinking to start Glow here in a few)
• Finish coloring the picture I started yesterday
• Spending time with Brandon, making future plans.
• Making trip plans for Spring Break!
• Trying to decide what I’m going to grub on today…
• The reality TV shows starting back up today and tomorrow (Married at First Sight anyone?)
• Preparing for family to come into town…
• Making my 2018 book list with SPECIFIC titles.

It’s a brand new year, time for new tings. I wish you all the best in 2018, beloved. See you around the internets. Kisses and hugs.

Signing off,

Tracey

What’s Rockin’ My World: I’m here

This is my second post of the year (sad face, kind of.) That’s just the way it’s supposed to be, I imagine. I’m trying to get my life, ya’ll!

I didn’t plan it that way, but I am also very much about not forcing what is not coming organically. Writing is my happy place, not my deadlines and forced writing place. Occasionally, I did feel that nudge to get something down on paper, but I also don’t like writing just to write. I am very much about content, not just about post numbers. 2017 is bringing a lot of changes, and I’m both excited and ready. Here’s what’s been rockin’ my world thus far:

• In the tune of self-care, I have decided to cut down my work hours per week. I currently hold a full-time and part-time job, and I used to work 3 afternoons a week, but as of January I cut that down to 2 nights. Yes, I’ll miss the money but I really love having my Monday nights back.
• I am gearing up for the next physical move in life. I’m saying adios to the DMV! I’m hitting on 5 years in the area (come August), and I’m ready for something new! More details to come… #newcity2017
• I have to start DISCARDING stuff from my apartment. Namely my paperwork and things I’ve accumulated from graduate school. To prepare for this, I’m reading The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up (audiobook.) https://www.amazon.com/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-Decluttering-Organizing/dp/1607747308
• Speaking of books, I have a 6 book goal for 2017. That sounds like an elementary goal, but it’s realistic for me and I make no apologies for it. Work is the main thing that keeps me from leisure reading, and the other part has been that I “consume” a lot and have no desire to read outside of that. I’m working on it, because I do miss getting lost in books.
• Work is work. There’s peak high and low times, I’m currently about to hit the peak “pre-spring break” time. IEP meetings galore, therapy, testing and everything in-between happens crazily in the days leading up to spring break. This year, we have spring break a little bit later in the year, which means the weather will be getting nicer and hopefully we won’t have any crazy snow storms. I don’t mind the days off, I just don’t want to extend the school year past June 12^th! The good thing is when we come back from spring break, it’ll be almost May, a less-than 2 month countdown to the end of the school year.
• I want to pierce my nose. I have always liked nose piercings, but wasn’t sure how professional this “appeared.” I think nose piercings are more accepted now (even those septum piercings are very common) and so I’m going to go ahead and do it! #newpiercing2017
• I’m tired of working for other people, so I’m going to slowly and surely start my own contracting business. Nothing to it but to do it. This has been on my mind for almost a year, gotta set it in action!
• Love has found its way back to me. We are making it work with effort and transparency. I’m happy.

What’s currently rockin’ your world?

-She

Monday Night

It’s Monday night. I have paperwork to do, so naturally, I’m blogging instead. It’s the end of the first quarter and I have progress reports due, daily notes to catch up on, two reports, and meetings to prepare for. Oh yea, and I have to plan daily for therapy. I’ve given myself a break off Twitter because sometimes breaks are necessary. I am sitting at my dining room table which I never do alone, but because I paid for the table I figured I should use it for more than storing paperwork and appliances that don’t fit on my counter tops.

I’m in a bleh place right now. The glass of wine is helping me (maybe) but I am constantly in my head now-a-days trying to sort through being in an uncomfortable place. Instead of dwelling in the uncomfortable present, I do what comes naturally: I plan for the future. So, right now I’m thinking about the professional conference I’m attending in November, the plans for Thanksgiving…and possibly winter break. I’m spending money before it hits my account. I’m thinking about adopting a kitten. I’m wondering how travel is going to affect me taking care of a cat. I’m thinking about where I will be next October 31st. Anywhere but here. Okay, not anywhere.

So. The exercise is to be here.

In the present, I’m heartbroken. I’m trying to take things day by day, but it still hurts. I’m trying to function and I don’t feel like myself, just a version of myself who longs to get the day over with so I can go home and take off the mask. A mal tiempo, buena cara I wrote on June 11, 2011.  ‘During bad times, put on your best face.’ Well, I don’t wanna. But, even if I don’t want to, the world still requires a lot of me, and I don’t have the privilege not to be present.

In the present, written affirmations a la Mary Jane Paul, friends, distractions, work, doing those things I love when I can, nail polish, blog posts, lists, my therapist, white wine, my clients, rupi kaur, and music pushes me forward.

Doy gracias a la vida.

(From 6-11-11) Moral of the story: Whatever you need to, wherever you need to go to get back to happy- do that! No matter how impossible it might seem. If things are that bad right now that most mornings you don’t want to get out of bed, hide under the sheets for a couple of days, bawl your eyes out, let the ugly out.  But remember you have to face the world sometime, and when you do, put on your best face!

The world needs you & me.

Following After Love Leading (F.A.L.L.),

-She

OBX, North Carolina

It’s Wednesday. But an atypical Wednesday. I am halfway through my vacation in the Outerbanks (OBX), North Carolina. It’s about 6:26 pm. Today, I woke up a little after 8am to make breakfast for about 12 people and then spent most of the day at the beach. I once thought that I couldn’t do the beach for more than 2-3 days in a row but turns out, that isn’t the case. We (B and I and his group of friends) have been here since Saturday and each day the beach offers something different. Different views, different water temperature, different crowds, different vibes. I also have never experienced “beach house” living– wide verandas, outdoor lounge areas, outside showers and a backyard pool complete with a hot tub. It’s been new experiences all around for me. If I were at home, I would be finishing up work and heading home to figure out what’s for dinner and watch TV. I prefer this kind of week much better.

I feel like this was a much needed get-away, as I’ll be going back to work in less than a month. I’m not sure what next school year holds for me, and I’m trying not to think too much about it. My mother comes to visit next week and I’m looking forward to it. Ready to soak up what left of the summer. Here are some pictures of the week so far:

I’m excited to be putting my coloring book to some use again. Since purchasing it in January it’s been sitting in my apartment with half-completed wishes collecting dust. I’ve also started reading Issa Rae’s new(ish) bio, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. Now I’m reading two books simultaneously which is always hit or miss for me. Well, hope you’re enjoying your last week of July (the best month of all.) Gotta go enjoy the sunlight while it’s still here.

Summer baby,

-She