Heading into crazy time - celebrating the little things

Fat Tuesday is almost upon us, in fact, in 1 more Friday I will be touching down in New Orleans where my many beads, tutus and MG family await so that we can ride in our Krewes, dance in the Garden District and pay the proper respect to both Pat O's and Marie Laveau.  Rest assured that I do not forget tiaras, they simply travel with me on the plane so they are not already in the Crescent City (unless I buy a new one again this year, then that one is still waiting for me in the store but I digress).

While Mardi Gras in itself may seem crazy to most, for me it is the time leading up to it and following it that is even more insane.  Between now and then I will be traveling to see family and friends - UD will beat SLU while I am cheering in red at the Arena, I have no doubt AND I get to see the Kiddo doing his thing, always awesome - working and doing other adult things.  Immediately following MG, we have a busy month of out of state weddings, games and a jaunt to CA for a race and some baseball.  Now you see my crazy, however, I don't mind it.  What I hold on to is the calm  - the routine of getting up and working out, feeding the dogs, hanging out with friends, working during the day and spending time with the Big Guy at night.  I find time to celebrate the little things like the fact that the dog didn't catch the rabbit, drinking wine on the porch with my neighbor in rocking chairs, the bed being made when I get home in the morning (and not just because I make it wrong, but because Bill rocks), What's App and SnapChat messages from the kids.  Sometimes it is hard to find the little things because life is overwhelming, I have A LOT to get done before the travel starts next week but sitting here, sipping coffee, looking over work email and writing this blog reminds me that the little things make the big things worth it.

Keeping in the theme of my last blog and my journey - I have a new little thing to celebrate today.  Green.  No, not money, while important, it is not the green I am talking about.  It is the colors of me in the green, and orange while still in my red.  Yes, check-ins at OTF help different charities (while giving them free marketing, something I also support), it also helps me and reminds me that I am not alone in my journey.  I have friends across the US in OTF and when I see them check-in, I feel like, even with the distance, we worked out together (yes Mel & Kim, I am talking to you!).  For someone who traveled and moved most of her life growing up, holding onto the fact that no one is more than a plane ride away and that we are still living life together is important, this has not changed as I have gotten older. Anyway, back to the celebrating my little thing - GREEN AND ORANGE!!!  Yes, I run red on the tread (I see what I did there 😂😂) but I am celebrating the green and the orange! What are you celebrating today?

Pretty Greens and Orange!!!!! 

A journey without a suitcase - but it has lots of color so why not?

I started a new journey last month, one that is personal in it's own way.  At 35, I started working out hard core and ran the first of many races.  Since then, I have completed numerous halves, a marathon and enough mud runs with obstacles to be considered a mud loving pig.  I really do miss a good mud run.  I have also gone up in down in fitness and weight, and when the weight goes up, let's be honest - it is harder to get the fitness back.  The word embarrassment comes to mind, but why be embarrassed about who you are?  Well, that is an age old question and I am NOT tackling the world here, only my world.

My new journey includes some pretty hard core fitness at OrangeTheory.  Today was distance day, and while I am a distance girl, even at a much slower pace than I ever was before, distance on a treadmill is a whole different story.  And then we need to add in the very daunting heart rate monitor that posts your effort range on very large TVs in the room.  The intent is to get green, orange and some red.  Now, I run red - shocking I know, drama everywhere - my heart rate runs very fast and it seems that I am dying if you look at the screen and yet, if you look at me on whatever device I am currently using, I could be singing or smiling (unless during all out - then I am full on game face, RBF has NOTHING on my all out face thank you very much).  My amazing coaches have assured me that I am good - and they are trained to know - at my 50 splat points while others work to get to 30.  Today, I still had my 48 splat points yet I somehow also managed 21 minutes in orange and 14 in green.  How?  No idea other than the distance run felt good - like, really good.  What is the point to all this build-up?  It is not an OTF commercial I assure you.

The point is I was scared to get back into working out with others, and I need others to be successful in my workouts just like my life.  Yes, the competition is against yourself - be better than the you of yesterday is not just a cheesy saying - but my old self was kind of badass and the new self?  Well, she is getting there again. This is all in my eyes, and how you see yourself is very important to your personal success. 

We are past the first month of dying new year's resolutions so now is the time - challenge yourself, not to be who you may have been in the past - stop comparing yourself to that person, rather challenge yourself to take on your fears (mine was humiliating myself in front of others while trying to better myself, I know, ridiculous) and get through them.  You might be in the best shape of your life right now, you might be exactly where you want to be, but as a human, there is something you are afraid to take a chance and do, DO IT!  Don't do it for me, or your kids, your loved ones, do it for YOU.  Find your green / orange, don't fear the red - and no, this does not only apply to fitness.  I hadn't written since October of last year...another fear overcome.  If I can do it, I know you can.

Reality - you are not alone

My public life (the SoMe one) is all travel, good times and fun but let's be honest, no one has a life that is perfect like that - okay, maybe someone does, but not me. My life is amazing, and I try to live every moment of it, good and bad.

This weekend was a weekend home after a week of reality - a welcome weekend home that was just as amazing as the weekends away.    The weekend was  mixed of mourning and celebration of life, comforting a dear friends and family, dancing and dining with friends.  Now, I am back sitting in front of my computer, where you will find me Monday-Friday, working on a job I really do enjoy, and that affords me the flexibility to work wherever I am.

Right now, as I sit in front of my computer, I am praying for friends, for family, for all of us as we all have things going on in reality that others may or may not (more times than not, it is the latter) be aware of or that is to be shared.  So here is what I say today - I am praying for all of you, whether you think you need the prayers or not, whether you believe in prayer or not, I believe in the power of prayer on my end. 

I am not praying for your happiness as I don't presume to know what you happiness is to you.  I am praying that you are at peace with where life is today because we cannot always change what is happening, we usually don't have control on that, but we can find peace going through good and bad times.  Peace might mean laughter and joy, peace might mean sorry and tears - peace can only be defined by you, you are the only one living your life.  Live in the moment, know there is someone thinking of you, and embrace the peace and know, you are not alone.

Me and my Llama

So I work with an amazing company as a part of my new role and I kid you not, they have a llama mascot. This Llama emails us new ideas, course, features, you know, helpful work stuff.  Why does this matter?  Well, because I used to sing 'Me and my llama, going to the dentist today' from Sesame Street (oh yes, I included it for your viewing enjoyment) and I like llamas. 

Enjoy adult types - and don't forget to take your llamas to the dentist, they have teeth too.

It just occurred to me, this company I work with is a learning platform (a very general description) and I learned a lot from Sesame Street - coincidence?  I am sure not!  Oh, and here's to Big Bird & Oscar the Grouch...live on fun friends!

I did it my way...and ran for the roses as fast as I could

Today marks another end in my amazing journey because today is the last day of my employment with HPE.  Some records say I started in 1997, some 1999, others 2005 (not 2015 which I mistakenly typed in my email), and others 2013.  Regardless of what the dates say, I have been an EDS/HP/HPE for most of my professional career.

It's a happy day for me as I go out on my own terms, holding my head high.  It's also a sad day for me as I have been through a lot with this company and have a brief moment pause when quitting.  Either way - it is a day I celebrate as this career brought me knowledge, fun times, growth opportunities and friends.

My soundtrack today has ranged from It's All for the Best (Godspell) to I Did It My Way (Frank).  As with everything else in my life, I will always Run for the Roses (Dan F).

24 hours to remember, celebrate and maybe cry a little, then back on that horse and onto the next!

:)

_________

From: Reilly, Erin
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2018 1:10 PM
To: erindreilly@gmail.com
Subject: Until we meet again - may the road rise to meet you!

It is hard to believe that today is my last day with HPE! 

As a co-op with EDS, then a full time employee (a couple times as was the trend back then) with EDS, HP and HPE, I never imagined the ups and downs this career would bring.  From events at Disney with executives dressed as pirates recognizing our best and brightest Fellows and DSEs to 20 hour days of little sleep loading content, and everything in between, it has been a journey I will remember fondly.  I got the chance to help build amazing communities of some of the smartest and most innovative people the industry will ever see.  I authored speeches, blogs, and book segments used on a global stage.  I had the chance to work on megadeals behind the scenes creating microsites and learning more about our company than I thought was possible.  Of course, years later, when I got the chance to create a content management system for our sales teams, I realized once again how there is always more to learn and our business – like everything else in life – is always changing.  More importantly than all the wonderful things I have learned, I have met co-workers that are now life long friends.

Cleaning out my drawer, I found my badge from my second first day with EDS dated June 1, 2005.  This paper badge reads ‘Escort Required’, on Monday, my journey starts all over again.

In short, thank you for sharing in this journey with me, it has been a privilege and an honor.

Erin

Erin D. Reilly

www.linkedin.com/in/erin-denise-reilly

erindreilly@gmail.com

Friday, July 6, 2018 is my last day with HPE. 

Please contact Chris Duggan or Riley To with all Seismic related questions.

An airport with a view - just like life

I am sitting in an airport in Chicago for another whirlwind trip. The difference this time is that it has a purpose other than the adventure.  This trip is for driving the Kid back from his sophomore year.

A few weeks ago the Man and I drove down to see the Tall One rock the Aggie Pitch competition, his girlfriend rock both the pitch competition and her ring dunk and learned how to play 42 at The Chicken.  It was an amazing weekend full of tears (shut up, I cry), laughter and family time. I am always proud of the kids - this blew me out of the water.  I only wish I had had the charisma and skill he does at his age - mark my words, there is nothing he won't achieve when he puts his mind to it.

How does this relate to today? People watching and flying of course. As I sit in O'Hare waiting for the Kid, I am watching people.  Everyone on their own path, their own journey. I see happy, sad, excited and beat down.  Two weeks ago, I watched 10 groups of kids present on their next big thing and heard about the Kid and his upcoming season. For each there are not literal crowds and flashing lights like there are tonight, but I see them all in my mind's eye. I just watched a tiny dog walk buy, collar rattling and huge smile which I bet is exactly what my face looked like when I watched the Tall One on stage and how I feel waiting to see the Kid.  The lost flyer, something I also shared on the large A&M campus and when I can't help my grown boys through challenges.  The planes waiting to fly, just like both my kids are on their next adventure - figuratively and literally - and how the Man and I are everyday in work and life.

Take off and landing - ups and downs, it is all apart of the journey and while our little family experiences in different states, we are always together meeting in the crazy terminal of our family.

Sometimes, the journey is worth the 15 minutes

Kids grow up, it is what we want to happen. We want them to grow up, follow their dreams and take over the world.

We have driven to one university to switch our cars and a 15 minute car ride to see our eldest.  We have gone to other states just to maybe see them for 5 minutes at dinner or in between games.  This weekend, we are once again in a different state just to see one of the kids from afar.  I know he is less than a mile away, yet I also know that we will only see him from afar as he does what he does.

See, the point is it doesn't  matter. What matters is that we have a village here with us.  And they have theirs.  We are sharing in a new adventure, while the kids are experiencing theirs. Sometimes, the adventures take place in the same city, how lucky is that, and sometimes,  you get 15 minutes just to say hi.  Sometimes,  they are in different states or countries.  Either way, it's about having the adventure and supporting them in theirs.

It's the journey, not the destination. Sometimes the journey is all about the 15 minutes.