[Mike] The best thing that happened to me this week is I hung in there. 

I’ve mentioned my usual stressors before. There is a job I eagerly await word from. I’ve tried my best, so whatever happens with it I’m good, but it's just a little tough waiting. In the meantime, I have been working on this blog, as a means of coping and so far it helps. I have been much better at dealing with the trials and tribulations of life but everything was compounded this week by the news. 

I don’t need to go on and on about the horrible events of this week in the news. You expect that crap out of Donald, but to see “normal looking” people marching with torches and just the hateful signs on their own. Those are people who have coworkers and family, it's just really depressing. 

So I researched stories. I worked on new logos, and assets for all the sights. Basically a lot of work, but still felt discouraging. It takes some time to plan stuff ahead and so the prep-work is a necessity, but it doesn’t have the “thrill” of having tangible work done. 

So, working through the uncertainty was the best thing to happen me this week.

-Mike Olguin

[Crystal] What was the best thing to happen to you this week?  

So I was out with a friend for breakfast on Saturday morning and we were all discussing the blog and the progress on our yard work and I told her that we would like to advance into doing You Tube videos and trip reports in the next couple of months. The only problem is, I admitted that I need to face my fear of being in front of the camera instead of always being behind it. I just get sooo nervous. We laughed about having blooper reels where I blank out, completely tounge tied and awkwardly knock over racks of items I'm trying to showcase. I told her there would probably be a bunch of those!

But she told me I should just go for it. Practice somewhere I'm comfortable talking about something I'm comfortable with. So I came home, took a selfie of my cat and I and said, okay - let's do this. Today! 

I wrote down some basic thoughts on what I wanted to talk about and that basically entailed telling the "Facebook world" about my fear. I sat at my desktop computer, opened up PhotoBooth and put a room divider up behind me so there are less distractions (like tiki masks) behind me.  I had butterflies in my stomach, my voice got higher pitched and my mouth was super dry but I pressed the record button anyways and tested it out. 

Mike listened while I spoke and said, "Good practice, now take a deep breath, lean back and try again. Slower this time." I grabbed a Coke, cleared my throat and started again on a rambling tangent. Mike suggested I review it, but I didn't want to get caught up on how I sounded or looked so I just pressed on. One more for the road. This time I set my notes aside, I leaned back with my elbow up on the desk and talked from my heart. Third time's the charm! 

So there it was, all recorded - now ready, set, post! Putting it out there for all to see.

We're working on being more and more transparent. Being real. Admitting to faults and fears and real human emotions. So conquering these hang ups one at a time has felt so liberating! 

So that was the best thing that happened to me this week. Next week, on to the next challenge (whatever that may be)! 

Thanks for reading and soon to be watching!  

-Crystal Olguin

August 20, 2017