Sustainable Fashion Show
Sustainable Culinary Showcase
Showcase-sustainable cupcakes!
Trashcan Joe played on recycled instruments at the showcase.
Portland Taiko Drums Opened the Conference
Showcase event
The program
The program
So here is a little snapshot of what I have been doing with the last year of my life. I interviewed when I was 7 months pregnant and out of 100 applicants I got the contract. A one year contract planning the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference for the International Ecotourism Society. I knew it would be a challenge and that I could do the job but I didn't know how much it would interfere with raising Boston and my family life. 5 months after I started I still had not received any money yet, because my contract was commission based...BIG mistake. At that point I realized that I would not be making the amount promised. Still I had so much time invested...I kept going. As September 8th through the 10th approached the hours got longer and longer. Many nights I was up until 2am working after working an entire day. Working from home no longer seemed like a luxury, I literally felt chained to my desk. I finally made it to the week before the conference, I was strangely excited that all of my hard work was about to unfold. Everything about the conference went as planned, a few snags here and there but to the public eye it was the best conference they had ever had. The board clapped for me as I walked in the room the day after event. I was overcome with emotion and quickly realized that I had put my heart and soul into this conference. They offered me another contract...same terms.
For the last two weeks I have going back and forth on whether or not to continue working with TIES (the International Ecotourism Society). When your husband makes only commission and as a small business owner it is really hard to walk away potential income. After all of the should I do it, yes or no discussions, Ben and I decided that my time is more valuable elsewhere. Finding new business and raising Boston as much as I can. Last Sunday there was a lesson on faith. The simplest subject shed so much light on this deep debate of ours. One of the women mentioned when she was younger that in tough times she would try to do more and more of everything. She shared that it was taxing and took so much out of her. As she got older she started using a different method. She started stepping back and living by faith. That if she focused on her family, faith and what really mattered that it would work out.
From that lesson I learned that my faith, my family and my time is more valuable than anything else I have.
7 comments:
I can only imagine how hard it was for you to make that decision. You are amazing!
All your pictures look awesome and I'm sure you put more than 110% of your effort into. I also totally understand wanting to step back and putting your family first. I'm sure you'll be blessed. Love ya!!
Congratulations on a job well done and an even bigger congratulations on making a commitment to your family and home.
Wow the event looks amazing! I know you worked so hard on it and it really shows.
What a beautiful testament to faith. Great pictures of the event, it would have been so fun to see it in person!
Wow, looked good... and no Birkenstocks or hemp anywhere to be seen.
Q
Sounds like you did an amazing job! But that's great that you also feel comfortable that you can do something else. Its so hard weighing those choices and figuring out what the best use of your time is.
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