Recessionista: Christina Ciani
InternetAddressBooks.com
Old Unfun Job: Waiting tables, bar tending and cooking in a kitchen. Jobs that are hard on the knees, and the hours are too long for raising a family as a single mother. When my youngest son celebrated his 1st Birthday at daycare, I knew I wanted to be free to work from home and have more control over where I spend my days. After years through divorce and the court system, I wanted to enjoy every minute I can with my children.
New Fun Job: Author and web creative: Inspirations for single mothers and Internet Address Books for everyone on the web. It was a leap of strength and faith to write what I needed to hear, and no one was saying, for single mothers raising children alone. After publishing “IamthatIam” and “F Bombs 4 Single Moms,” I created Internet Address books to help people stay organized on the web. Scraps of paper get lost. Notebooks get used for other things or put away and lost. Then so do the websites, user names and passwords. With an Internet Address Book you have a special book just for that information. The ability to put an uplifting and fun Internet Address Book in a someone’s hands is better than any meal I’ve ever served.
Internet Address Books.com has allowed me to help give people ease and security – something we all need, and deserve. It’s the simplest answer to hackers: they might hack the web, but the likelihood of anyone taking your Internet Address Book is near zero. Peace of mind for the price of a piece of cake and a cup of coffee: that’s delight I love to deliver.
Ciani "firing up her bliss."
So how’d you stand and deliver, baby?
I got bored! Restricted to another person’s dream and payscale was annoying. When I want to follow my dreams I don’t want to ask for permission or time off. Being with my children while they are growing up is at the top of my list, to do this you have to write your own schedule and rules. Daycares may care – but no one loves your children the way you do. I wanted to do a few simple things: be home with my kids, have fun creating, inspire single mothers to enjoy their role and earn a living helping people who use the web. My books for single mothers help them keep going and continue to believe in themselves and stay upbeat. The Address Books are a way to inspire people to keep organized and showcase their photos and art.
It may be inspiring, but what about, um, paying the bills? Inspiration doesn’t sound like the most stable thing during these tough economic times…
Change is the way life is meant to be, fearing it is futile. When we were kids we were brazen. We weren’t afraid to express ourselves, stand out and have fun. As we got older we were fooled into believing if you’re happy, having fun, then you can’t be taken seriously. Who are we drawn to in entertainment? People who wow and amaze us with their creativity. Fun is natural – and the more you authentically express yourself, the more people love playing with you and paying you.
True — but the best is fun and paying bills! What would you tell your old unfun self?
Start today to do at least one thing fun in your life. Keep practicing, every day find ways to make living fun for you. If it’s doing the dishes, put on some music and sing. Stick your tongue out more at the world in a playful way – dare to be silly again – joy isn’t irresponsible, it’s just unusual these days, and you probably don’t need one more day of “normal.” Stop telling yourself stories about how bad it is and how “stupid” you are – because it’s just fear, and fear lies. Tell a different story – and love yourself through the growing pains of reclaiming your bliss.
I like it — but it’s super hard to trust yourself in the midst of the recession, right?
Trust your gut – make it a game. Give yourself permission to be happy. Once you feel good, that vibe spreads. Enthusiasm can’t be bought or sold – it is contagious though. If you’re in a place to choose what you want to do next, take the risk to let your heart sing. Find everything you can about the field you are passionate about and take the leap – believe in YOU. This is your life – don’t let anyone tell you aren’t worthy of the best it has to offer. Ignore the naysayers, don’t tell them about your dreams – just build them, one step at a time. You will be amazed how much happiness it brings you, and it won’t be “work” any longer – it’s the thrill of being yourself every day. The bonus: being true to your vision is worth more than your weight in gold. Go for it.
If only there were more clever poelpe like you!
Wow! Thank you! I am so happy and grateful!
Thank you Nicole!
Thank you Keesha! : ) My children are honored and proud!
Frequent reader/ non-frequent cnmeeotmr here, but I had to write because this post is up my alley I am a medical student in NYC so I usually run around like a mad woman during the few hours per day I’m not at the hospital to fit my life in! I 100% agree with all the other suggestions here and I would add that my top tip is to not compare yourself to others, especially health bloggers! I used to get really stressed not being able to fit in all the healthy meals, trips to whole foods, yoga sessions, etc that others in the blog world did, but you just have to do what you can and what works for you given your current situation. Remembering that you are working really hard right now but it’s temporary will help you be gentle to yourself when you need to be instead of feeling the need to run 8 miles that day because someone else did (something I used to get way too caught up in). You can’t do it all, so I like to think about balance over the course of weeks or months even if it’s not possible every day. And isn’t it better to have a life way too packed of things you want to do than the other way around?
Awesome!
What a great woman!