In awe of Him

I don't blog too much about my part time sorta now full time job unless its just insightful little timbits on Tumblr or brief and noteworthy sharings, but lately I've come to reflect on how much I love my position as a bridal consultant and more.

Since September of 2012, it has been my longest running part time and retail job. Initially just applying out of an interest for weddings and something more applicable to my studies, I've grown a passion and excitement to being submersed into the wedding industry. It has satisfied a lot of daydreams I had when I was younger upon reflection, such as being able to get dolled up and model for a day, styling models for photo shoots, and of course being able to display my creative side in visual displays I get to assist with. My boss is someone that dreams big and is such a fantastic support and encouragement for me to fulfill my own dreams as well. Other then the pay factor, I can say on behalf of my co workers and I that we thoroughly enjoy collaborating with one another, working with glowing brides and graduates, and being able to manage the boutique as if it was our own (which covers up the rather low pay we complain about, but ironically maintain a content stance on).

Lately, I feel a lot of my hesitations in regards to staying in this industry and making it a career a "reality" being answered. I feel I'm not just working for the sake of just doing my job, but I'm actually doing my job as if this was something personal, as if I was helping a friend find her dress, giving her mutual support, and even tearing with the bride when she got emotional, such as today.

Saturdays are our busiest days of the week and its an understatement to say that we are steadily and maybe even constantly occupied to the point where we don't even get a break (though this doesn't bother me too much-that's how much I enjoy my job!). I've been making a mental note of the brides I work with, pieces of personal information conveyed, and their needs. It's not just a means to getting a brownie point in the customer service department, but I like to feel it closes the distance between just doing a job and displaying enthusiasm and a desire to excel and make each day at work meaningful. Despite the gong-show Saturdays can bring, I feel I've made a 'mark' on these brides in some way or another just being able to assist them in finding that special look for their big day.

Today I had a bride scenario that blew me away. It reminded me why I'm still here and made me realize that though retail can stem from sales, profit, excessive consumption, and further on the stereotype that the wedding industry sells the idea of- large, grand, expensive, glamorous, DREAM parties and people, that its all rooted in love and love stems from God in its whole absolute. When I first saw this bride, her personality just shined as she was very outgoing and bubbly. Throughout our consultation, she and her entourage were so into it-I loved it! Taking photos, being engaged (haha get it?!), telling me what they liked and disliked, and so on. She eventually found the dress and I could tell it on her face too, but since it was her first time trying gowns on, she like many other brides felt she would regret if she didn't look elsewhere. Long story short she went to her other appointment(s), but came back knowing that the dress she was getting had her name written all over it.

As she twirled and beamed in her wedding dress, she was telling us how the 'stars' aligned as her mom wasn't suppose to be in town this weekend, how they weren't able to find one of their appointments before returning (as we weren't expecting her to return the same day), and so on and so forth. To them, it may seemed like 'stars' aligned, but for me, I realize it was so perfect because God had made it that way. I can't describe it as well as I felt it, but I knew so strongly in my heart how good God was to that bride and each and everyone of us-Christian or not. She was so blessed in a divine way that she wasn't able to acknowledge it except by fate, but I just knew by faith that God's presence and His love was all over the boutique today. They were an emotional party, thus I couldn't help but tear up, but definitely tears of joy as I was gladly and sincerely happy to be a part of.

When the bride left, she gave me the sweetest hug over the counter and told me a genuine thank you that I will forever remember. It delivered an upspoken answer that I wanted to continue exploring a potential career in this field and reminded me that God always provides. I don't need to worry about money, what other people think or occupied with doubts and fears of taking risks. There is no need to when the creator of Heaven and Earth is on your side.

The wrong door will always close on you, but the right one will remain open.


God is Good. All the Time.

Swimming into the New Year

I originally wanted to call this blog "Lessons from Swimming" but since it's my first post of the New Year, why not make it more relevant and literal?

So last night I started a new term of swimming lessons at Grand Trunk Leisure Centre. The main reason being is that you now have to a become a member to take lessons at the YMCA. There's other politics to it that's plain stupid to me, but otherwise the switch doesn't bother me, in fact, I'm so glad I made the switch after my first lesson!

Grand Trunk just recently renovated so it's way less crowded and there aren't kids jammed pack in the pool learning to swim while adult lessons are going on. Secondly, though my previous instructor teaches here as well, I'm glad she didn't end up being my instructor because my current one is a really good teacher and she's actually a synchronized swimmer working towards her masters besides coaching it and teaching swimming lessons, how cool is that? Lastly, I swam my first lap without the aid of any floatation belt and here's how that happened.

Towards the end of our lesson (there's only 5 others besides me in the class), the swimming manager comes to us and says she may need to switch us out to 'basics' if we aren't comfortable swimming to the deep end (I'm in 'strokes'). I panicked because I didn't want to learn beginner stuff when I knew how to float, glide, and in a noob manner, tread water. Also, at the Y, I was comfortable as long as I had a floating belt or board with, on or near me, but it sounded like she wanted us to go 25m to the far end of the pool to show her our potential. Right before this, our instructor just taught us the technicalities to doing a front crawl and so we were expected to front crawl, and me being on one end of my swim-mates against the wall had to attempt first. I can't explain how intimidated I was initially because I think I do have a slight fear of drowning-I mean who isn't? AND even though my instructor would be near me, I really wanted to stay in this class.

I think my survival skills and feeling attacked under-pressure kicked in because my whole focus was just getting to the other side in order to pass the 'test' and stay. I started just gliding and blowing bubbles, then I remembered that I had to move my arms, then every third stroke I came up for air. I was so focused that I lost ground to where I even was so I looked down at one point, and that was bad because I panicked as I realized how far deep the other end was, but I kept going because I didn't want to drown! The Y was baby stuff compared to this depth. I went a little farther than grabbed onto the divider near me. My instructor commented that I did a good job and told me to go all the way to the end. I was blown away that I was actually swimming?! How did this happen? I was in shock and disbelief, but the feeling also felt extremely good! 

This experience made me realize how much doubt is in my head and how much time I probably wasted at my Y lessons when I actually had the potential to swim. I don't know why I thought swimming was SO hard and that there must be some 'special' technique to stay a-float without any floatation assistance. I was exhilarated plus out of breath swimming my first lap (I apparently need to work on breathing when I come up for air), but I learned the biggest fear holding me back was and is myself. I'm in no way labeling myself a 'swimmer' as there is still much for me to work on, but I'm ecstatic to have accomplished this mile stone so unexpectedly.

Going with this stamina and relating it back to my life, I want a life coach. One that will continually encourage, push me beyond my beliefs, and keep me working towards my goals realistically despite the dreamer in me. Of course God is my ultimate life lesson coach, but like that swimming manager, I hope I can find a mentor or person in life that is willing to believe, support, and even scare me at times so I stop questioning, and just do it.

I can't wait to see what else I will accomplish this 2014! What a great start =)