This exact moment, one year ago, I sat on this couch with a heavy heart.  I knew, right then and there, I could not continue as things were.  I had to make a change. 

It was Thursday, November 28, Thanksgiving Day.  Joe had to go into work for a few hours so I got up with him.  After he left, I sat on the couch with my cup of coffee and my laptop planning to scroll the black Friday sales as they were releasing.  But, as I sat there on Thanksgiving morning, I cried.  I cried because I felt so stuck in a place I knew I did not want to be.  I saw no future.  I was having a hard time finding things I was thankful for and I HATED it.  I hated having a wonderful husband and four healthy kids and not feeling thankfulness on THANKSGIVNG MORNING!  Who was I?  What a selfish victim I had become.

But that is the thing about me.  I wallow for a minute and then I fix it.  I have not been to therapy, YET, so I am curious if I am handling my emotions properly.  I hope I am.  I feel them.  Cry about them.  And then move the freak on. 

So, as I sat there trying to find the best deals I was like ok, how do I fix this?  And by fix I mean follow my passions and make more money. 

Joe has been the bread winner in our family for forever.  I was having and raising babies.  That was my job.  And I loved it.  But we have big dreams and I had to figure out how to help him.  He was already working 10-12-hour days and, by the time he did work around the house on the weekend, his time was maxed. 

I had recently “gotten our house in order”.  Ava was heavy into showing her horse on the weekends and show season was about to ramp up again.  I needed our house to run like clockwork in our busy lives and, to me, that meant organizing as much as I possibly could.  Everything had a place and we had no room (mentally or physically) for clutter.

Joe kept saying, man you are pretty good at this.  And I would reply…I love it…too bad I can’t make money doing it.

Insert the big eye emoji face.

And at that moment, on that couch, looking at black Friday sales, with my coffee in hand…it happened.  I CAN make money doing this.  And all of a sudden, I was thankful.  I was hopeful.  I cried.

Organized by Di was born.  I instantly created my logo in canva.  (see I told you I don’t stay down for long).  And got to work.  What would I charge?  I shut down those black Friday windows and opened up other professional organizers’ websites.  Funny, because I was already following so many professional organizers without even realizing it!  I came up with a rate.  And I prepared my “launch”.

I booked my first job in March.  It was my dream job.  I was already heavy into personal development at that time and we were being taught to picture our ideal customer.  So, I did.  I pictured her, her home, her space, and her style. 

And guess what…that exact person reached out to book me.  FATE!  Hell yes it was!  And it gave me chills.  I looked up to the sky and said thank you God.    

Covid hit and the kids were home learning.  I was juggling their schoolwork and my full-time job working for my parents.  I could not justify going into people’s homes and honestly did not have any hours left in the day to even consider it.

I started posting free content on getting organized.  Look, its not rocket science and we can for sure all organize.  A lot of us were home and our schedules had been cleared.  It was the perfect time to organize.  You all were sharing your before and after pics with me and it was invigorating.

I kept my focus through the chaos to completely overturn our lives…organize it from all aspects…I began our non-toxic journey.  I joined Young Living and started my obsession with clean living and essential oils.  I was still missing a piece of my puzzle and so a month ago I dove deeper into my fitness and health journey.

GUYS, all of this started because I had a “come to Jesus” that moment on the couch ONE year ago.  A moment where I said I need to do something different.  And so, I just did it.  It was the scariest thing I have ever done in my life!  So much unknown.  So much judgement. 

But I did it anyway.  And I kept doing it even when covid happened.  Even when my world as I knew it became completely undone. 

Do not read this and think, oh good for her or say congratulations.  Read this and think IF SHE CAN THEN I CAN TOO.

Just start moving in the direction you want to go and away from the things that don’t bring you joy… and opportunities will present themselves.  I truly believe in willing your future.

Do not think for one second that I have it all figured out.  Our next overhaul is our finances.  We are not where we want to be as we move through our forties.  Which is another reason I am staying so focused and working so hard and putting myself out there.  I can’t continue to sit on my couch and expect my income to increase. 

I’ve recently started meditation and focusing on good vibes and good energy and my soul.  GEEZ.  Who am I?  What woo hoo will I get into next? 

All of it.  I will be doing all of this for the rest of my life!   Why?  Because its working! 

As I sit here again, with my coffee on this couch and my laptop I am not browsing black Friday sales.  We are on a strict budget now and I normally just bought stuff for myself anyway.  After doing a year of organizing I do not NEED anything.  So, what am I doing?  Deep diving into myself.  This morning I have read a few pages of my current book,  done a meditation, wrote in my gratitude journal, read today’s devotional, and I am about to get a 30 minute home workout in. 

I have so much to be thankful for and I love fresh starts, the holiday season, and a new year.  Because I made the scary decision to move towards the life I want, I have connected with people that I never would have.  I am forming my own tribe.  A tribe of beautiful soulful people that lift and empower.

So, as I end, I leave you with this by Morgan Harper Nichols:

Notice where the light gets through.  Notice how despite the unknowns, there is room for growth all around you. 

Don’t lose hope for this journey you have been traveling for a long time, but your heart still hasn’t seen all there is to see.

Embrace the wildness of it all.  This is a journey, and you’re still learning.

Keep noticing all of the little things, keep noticing where the light gets through.

Notice how the heart keeps beating.  Notice the pulse for something more.

Keep going, keep growing, keep trusting ever-knowing, after all that you have traveled through, there is more ahead of you.

Notice how desert flowers bloom.  Notice how sunlight keeps finding you.

Don’t lose hope for the journey.  You have been traveling for a long time and your heart still hasn’t seen all there is to see.

Growth never ends.