Starting Over

2011 has been quite a year for me both personally and professionally. It has been one of both exciting changes and disappointing lows, yet despite all of this I've managed to find an inner peace with starting over again in a variety of ways. I published my first book this year, due to be released in October and I've taken my first international trip to London in September. I stood up to corruption and bullies and lost my job as a result, and turned a passion into a potential new career. I've made and eased away from many new friendships and have been preparing myself for that next phase in life. I have no regrets no matter how difficult, trying or downright hard any of this year has been for me I know that it could always be worse and I remain humbled by the continuous new friends I've met thanks to social networking due to interest in my book and a shared love of Tudor history. Starting over may not be easy for anyone at any point, but it can be possible to pick up the pieces  again stronger and even better than ever.

Interest in the Paranormal?

I'm always interested in hearing the views of others both believers and skeptics on the issue of the paranormal. I personally believe that there is phenomena out there that we can't explain, whether it be through a higher spiritual being or leftover energy from a person who has passed on, etc. I also believe that the paranormal is just another field of science/study that we haven't fully explained or explored yet. I love watching shows like Ghost Hunters with the TAPS team because they seem to be one of the most scientific teams out there set on disproving paranormal activity in place of high EMF deposits in a home, rattling pipes or what have you; so that when they do encounter a true unexplained occurrence they have eliminated all other options.  I'd like to hear from you on what you believe. Do you believe in spirits/ghosts/otherworldly beings, etc.? If so what has helped shape your viewpoint or your lack thereof? Let's have a dialogue! Cheers!

Making No Apologizes

I realize that this article isn’t going to land me many friends, nor future lady bosses without a grudge but something needs to be said about this epidemic of women in the workplace who socially abuse their employees and even other superior’s subordinates. Where this hits the hardest is middle aged women who feel insecure in their position, whether it be how they obtained it or that they need to feel on equal playing field with a man; but their lashing out is evident, damaging and psychologically abusive. Younger women in the work place know what it feels like to work for a woman who constantly nitpicks, questions their judgement calls, denies opportunities for training or travel and passes them over for other "preferred" co-workers who in their view takes a kicking and keeps on going; even asking for seconds. This isn't me, nor is it a quality that has landed me many great bosses in the eyes of my superiors. 

We all hear of bullying from children at school and while that is entirely serious, so is bullying in the workplace. Take the case of the VA Magazine Editor who was accused of bullying her subordinate so badly that she took her own life. If you are one of the ones who suffer in silence taking this b.s. from your bosses or know someone who is, the best way to defeat a bully is to take a stand and do what's right. It may cost you your job, but it puts the bully back at the level they really are - low and insecure. 

I would be lying to you if I didn't admit that my failure to put up with the false rumors of sexual harassment from my own female boss about a male co-worker didn't fire up a heat in  me that put a target on my back and is most likely responsible for me being unemployed today. But I'll tell you something, no matter what she threw at me or her partner in crime, I took it gave it back to her even harder. She went so far as to praise me to my face and bash me to my peers until I publicly called her out for her, which naturally she lied about. I'm the kind of person in general, forget employee that if you have something you want to say, say it but be prepared and I mean fully prepared for the consequences to follow. While I was let go less than a week later on trumped up charges, I'm free and happy following my true passion of writing and what I want to do. I'm certain I'll still get back into the work force at some point but I wont be changing my attitude any time soon towards bullies or their protagonists, I make no apologizes for doing the right thing. Funny thing about karma is that I'm going to have a book come out this Fall which hopefully will be mildly successful while she's still having literal emotional breakouts in her office each week and admitting to abusing psychiatric meds. Ah karma :)  So I implore all of you where you see or hear workplace bullying going on, to stand up, say something and stop it. While adult suicide statistics due to bullying haven't been conclusive and are rare, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Be the bigger person and never make any apologizes for that.