When you could go many ways...

Decisions, decisions, decisions. How do you answer your million dollar question?

Practicality? Matters of the heart? "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe"?

Case in hand: Hold your applause. I got a job!! But... it pays $10,000 a year. Yes, it is full-time. How can it be possible, you ask? It's AmeriCorps. And it does come with $200 in food stamps every month, if that helps. In a year's time, however, I'll be right back where I am now - searching for a job in a tight market amongst qualified applicants.

When $10 an hour internships go to people with Masters degrees that speak four languages, you know there's an economic problem on the loose.

I turned down the AmeriCorps job. I don't know if I did the right thing. I'm holding out for my dream. But how long am I going to give this dream before I decide to earn pennies and live like a pauper while doing something that would make me happy? Everything about the AmeriCorps job sounded fantastic. Except the salary. That's reality speaking.

I let my heart speak last year and it took me to Santiago, Chile to teach English. Might it be time for practicality to dictate this time around?

Practicality seems to be taking its sweet time. I'm learning my lesson in patience.

In the mean time, I am living life. I made it up to Whistler the week before the opening ceremonies of the Olympics started and got to rub shoulders with all the athletes in Whistler village. The energy was dripping with enthusiasm, excitement and goodwill. Frowns were not to be found. On our last night there, we went to a Haiti benefit concert and silent auction and are now proud owners of tickets to the men's free-style ski jump event tomorrow night at Cyprus Mountain in Vancouver! Holler.

I'll make sure to let ya'll know how the Olympics are!

In regards to AmeriCorps -- because the people there are so awesome -- I will be able to re-apply in a few months for a similar position and probably get it if my whole "dream" of having a career job that pays a normal salary doesn't pan out. Here's what it boils down to...

Life is unpredictable.

I can't say what I'll be doing in a month.

But somehow, someway ... it all works out. Right?

Over to you -- Let's hear about your transition periods. What path did you choose? Did you ever have a heart vs. head decision to make? Which path did you choose?

(PHOTO credits: image one: http://juchiaetan.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/payperpost-realrank-decisions.jpg ---  image two: http://www.gamesbids.com/english/images/article/van_2010_logo.jpg)

Resiliency -- life's secret

"You'll bounce back."
The famous last words from a best friend's ex-boyfriend after breaking up with her. Not exactly what you want to hear, right? It certainly didn't make the situation easier. But she cried for a few days, ate a carton of ice cream and went on her way. She's now in a happy relationship with an engineer she'll probably marry.

Life's greatest lesson of all is this -- amongst those topsy turvy turns and unexpected changes is a new day. Everyday.

Dealing with things you don't want to hear isn't easy. Especially when your situation depends on it. Unemployed? Great. Minimal savings? Even better.

Instead of getting antsy and irrational -- get creative. An unexpected blessing of this downturned economy is the push it gave those out there that were coasting. A sense of discomfort in relation to jobs or life leads many to one of two options: stressed, panicked and shut-down or inspired, energized and optimistic. Perhaps elements of both. Generally, however; personality traits dictate where one will stand.

Resiliency = the ability to "bounce back".

Let's test your resiliency. This test comes from Awakenings, found at http://lessonsforliving.com/index.htm.

First, get a clean sheet of paper. Number the right side 1-20. Next, list 20 things you would like to do. Anything from taking your dog for a walk to changing the world.

Simple enough, yes? Maybe not. You may have trouble coming up with 20 items, according to Awakenings. I'll keep you posted. I'm about to make my list.

Let your list sit for a week. When you check back in, put a W next to the things you did the prior week. If you hit 75 percent, you probably had a fantastic week. Did you really go sky-diving? Nice! Maybe you met 50 percent of your to-do list. Good. Anything under 50 percent means you might want to wake-up and get proactive.

Alright, time to evaluate your list again. Now go over it and mark a P by the activities that take more than 20 minutes to plan and prepare for. Are nearly all of them marked by a P? Maybe it's time to be spontaneous and simplify your life. Many enjoyable activities, like going for a walk or watching a romantic comedy, take a minute or less before you're on your way.

This evaluation measures what you set out to do and what you actually accomplish. Are you resilient? If you are, you'll make life necessities happen. And yes, painting your toenails is a necessity -- if that's what makes you happy at the end of the day.

There you go.

What do you do to boost your resiliency? Have you ever faced a significant challenge? What did you do to keep your spirits high and your optimism roaring full-speed ahead?

(PHOTO credit: http://denitza.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/creativity_504x428.jpg)