reason #394012390...

...why I love my life: I have a boyfriend who, when he mixes leftovers, thinks up a restaurant chain for them, complete with name, cartoon character, and jingle. And then acts out the commercial for me. :)

socializing

Since my natural inclination is to curl up at home, I've been making more of an effort to make plans and see friends now that I work from my kitchen table. (Still bootleg freelancing while waiting for my desk and chair to arrive. Oh, the glamorous life.) Monday I met a friend for yoga, and yesterday we went to walk the dogs at the local animal shelter. Tomorrow I'm having dinner with an old coworker, and my calendar is pretty full for the next few weeks. The other good thing about staying home? I have more energy, so I'm more apt to go out. In fact, I feel so much healthier these days: I'm logging more sleep, eating fewer crappy treats and snacks, and experiencing less stress. This decision has probably added a decade to my life. Also, I'm finding it ironic that I had to stop working for a fitness magazine to start getting fit.

weekend fun

I've been likening my post-office life to the movie Pleasantville: what used to be black and white is now turning into brilliant color. This weekend was a perfect example. While I'm a pretty outgoing person, I can be a little shy when it comes to meeting new people. But yesterday I decided to step outside of my comfort zone in honor of my "new adventures" mindset: I went to a brown- girls-in-media brunch hosted by a friend-of-a-friend and had a blast. It was rad to meet such a cool group of interesting, inspiring women. Then, last night, I rocked out to Sarah and Amanda's 80's prom fundraiser, and—as always—it was the best time. We sang at the top of our lungs to Whitney, Journey, and Bon Jovi, and I danced until my feet hurt. I guess what I mean to say is that sometimes, when we get super busy or simply fall into a rut, it can seem like life passes us by. But lately I feel I've been making the most of every moment, and finally seeing in full-spectrum.

happy Friday!

Okay, folks, first week as a freelancer down. How was it? Kind of crazy, to be honest! A few last-minute assignments came down the pipeline—which I was grateful to get—but that meant working around the clock. Literally. As soon as I rolled out of bed, I jumped on my computer and then pretty much interviewed, researched, and wrote until it was time to hit the sack again. The only breaks I took were for meals and to get drinks with some pals on Monday. I know there will be times when I'm going to *wish* I was this busy, so I'm not complaining one bit. But, needless to say, I'm looking forward to the weekend...I have yoga, brunch with friends, and a prom party on tap, and I'm excited!

P.S. I guess I was more stressed out my final weeks at work than I thought. Not only did I get a doozy of a cold sore, but I've also been sick all week. Yuck!

6 things... (freelance edition)

...I've learned about self-employment.

1. You can get soooo much more done in a day when you don't have to shower, choose an outfit, iron said outfit, dry your hair, put on make-up, and then walk 10 minutes and take two subways to work. I feel like I've done a week's worth of work in two days, people!
2. There is a whole lot of paperwork involved in freelancing: contracts, invoices, etc. The irony: I don't own a printer yet. Or a desk.
3. My cat is a lousy officemate. She tries to lure me to the couch.
4. It's really, really hard to set home/life boundaries. So far, I've worked through the weekend and from 7 a.m. into the evening. (Ah-ha, so this explains point #1.) Granted, I've been kinda sick and on deadline, but I need to get better about this or I'll burn out.
5. There's still stress in my life, but a much better version of it. Now it's more self-imposed and less "Hey, guess what, you're going to have to stay late tonight. So go ahead and cancel last-minute with your out-of-town friend you haven't seen in two years."
6. I *love* the freelance life, especially these things: I can make lunch in my own kitchen. It doesn't matter how late I have to work, because I can do so from my couch. My mid-afternoon break is a long walk around Williamsburg. I don't have to wear heels or pantyhose. And last, but not least...I can see the sun ALL DAY LONG!!!

endings and beginnings

On Friday, I finished one chapter in my life: I left my job of five years to be my own boss! For those of you who know me, this is nothing short of momentous. I've always been a careful planner when it comes to big life decisions; I'm like that chess player that keeps her hand on the piece for three minutes while studying the board. And while I did make some Sharon-esque moves—squirrel away an emergency fund (I love you Suze Orman, despite your scary tan!), line up freelance editing gigs, and map out a contingency plan/life goal—venturing into uncharted territory still scares the bejeezus out of me. There are so many unanswered questions (How do I set up my web site? Will the social isolation turn me into Piggy from Lord of the Flies? What if I wind up penniless?), but I'm taking inspiration in a quote my friend and former office mate Alice shared with me: "At the end of your life, you rarely regret the things that you did, but you'll always regret the things that you never did." And already it's ringing true: I'm just two days into Sharon 2.0, but simply knowing that I'm in charge of my own destiny and taking a gamble on myself makes me realize that I won't look back.

sunny outlook

As I've mentioned before, the subway have been a madhouse lately. Usually, the ticker tape going through my head is "GetMeOuttaHereGetMeOuttaHere" or "IHateThisIHateThis." But tonight I started giggling when two sets of people smooshed me into the subway pole. The woman getting squeezed on the other side caught my eye and also started cracking up, and it evolved into a sweet, funny moment. I guess it really is true: Laugh, and the whole world laughs with you.