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	<title>WIRL Project &#187; Work</title>
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	<description>What It&#039;s Really Like.</description>
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		<title>A: Adversity &#8211; What It&#8217;s Really Like</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/a-adversity-what-its-really-like/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/a-adversity-what-its-really-like/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2015 08:30:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Brody]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health/Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love/Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work/Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ABCs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Adversity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Compete or Be Beat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Experience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=7139</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This post is part of a series titled, “A-B-Cs – What It’s Really Like”. Each week a new letter and its word will be revealed. Each word’s explanation will illustrate significant personal meaning, application and ultimately demonstrate, What It’s Really Like…  I believe one of the single biggest indicators of a person’s character is how one reacts to adversity. In a previous post to the WIRL Project I wrote an open letter to the parents of my baseball players in which I emphasized the importance of experiencing adversity through competition as a means of learning traits such as humility, respect and accountability. Unfortunately, many of these traits have been lost upon the new-age generation in a culture that places heavy importance on the popular front-running winners. There is nothing wrong with embracing accomplishment and the prosperity of hard work. But what happens to those individuals or groups when accomplishments fade and large obstacles loom? I am a firm believer that in the real world life&#8217;s high fives come on the back or the face.  When it&#8217;s going well, many are there to pat you on the back and congratulate you. When things are not going well, it can be a humble, sobering smack across your face. It is between these innate transitions that we learn how to deal with non-ideal situations.  Adversity teaches us to compete or be beat. I recently have read some fascinating editorials stating that America is no longer the top superpower in the world. Much of it revolves around the backpedaling economy, education and scale down of worldwide military presence. Last week during a very awkward home plate pregame meeting with the umpires before a baseball game one of the men discovered that I was a social studies teacher. He immediately asked me how I taught the subject and if it was the &#8220;western civilization&#8221; as he learned it in his day or the &#8220;world&#8217;s view&#8221;. Of course as an educator I have been well trained to navigate neutrally through no-fly zones like politics and religion. I could sense the political undertones of the conversation and was able to produce a statement that was directly on the fence. Something that I said pleased him as he replied, &#8220;Well, good.  I am a firm believer of teaching exceptionalism and that America is the greatest country in the world. We had better keep it that way.&#8221; Hmm. I consider myself patriotic, but I am not sure that I agree with the umpire&#8217;s statement. I think that everyone can agree that our country has had much brighter days. America is currently facing adversity. I am not sure if an attitude of exceptionalism would be the best strategy for rising above and conquering our country&#8217;s major obstacles. Relying on past experiences and favorable outcomes my not always win the day. Adversity is certainly is a bitter pill to swallow, especially for those who have experienced high levels of favorable outcomes in the past. Compete or be beat. The bigger lesson is what we can learn from adversity and what it can teach us. What about adversity on an individual level? Over the past few weeks I have found myself asking several difficult questions about adversity: How can a sixteen-year-old boy recover his life after having his arm bitten off by a shark? How can a race-related mass shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, intended to segregate and destroy a community, bring a community closer together? How is it that my mother can get herself up to battle a third major cancer diagnosis? Compete or be beat. Each of us faces some type of adversity on a daily basis; no one man&#8217;s burden bigger than another. It is what you do in the midst of that adversity that means the most. Compete or be beat. When faced with adversity, which will you choose?]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>I Left My Shy Self At Home This Year: BlogU15</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/i-left-my-shy-self-at-home-this-year-blogu15/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/i-left-my-shy-self-at-home-this-year-blogu15/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2015 17:00:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Guest WIRL]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology/Web]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WIRL Challenge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BlogU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Not so Super Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WIRL Challenge BlogU]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Write]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=7006</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last year I went to The Blog University known as #BlogU. Hashtag getschooled. And there was definitely a lot of schooling to be had there. Writing, promoting, making money, social media, &#8220;branding&#8221; your blog, treating your blog like a business. A lot. And despite the notion that one should go to a blogging conference to learn about blogging, I actually learned more about myself last year. I learned that in a large group of people that are not my family or friends, I will revert back to my introverted and shy younger self. It prevented me from meeting a lot of fellow bloggers that I was quite comfortable with chatting online in various writing groups. People who share my love for this medium and who understand what it means to want and to need to do this. I wasn&#8217;t 100% sure I should even be going to BlogU since until then I hadn&#8217;t considered my blog to be much more than a hobby and an outlet for me to write. (Of course, this might be a bit of an understatement since I do have a facebook page and twitter account under my blog name&#8211;but I guess part of the vanity of writing is wanting people to actually read what you write.) I didn&#8217;t know if I could justify spending the time or money on what was (for me) the huge luxury of a conference. I had dabbled with a few small social media campaigns and a sponsored post that helped offset the cost, so that sort of sealed the deal for me in my mind &#8212; if I had already invested the time and energy in those efforts, maybe there was more to my whole experience as a blogger than writing every once in a while and begging my friends to read it. At it&#8217;s most basic, blogging is writing and I&#8217;ve been doing it ever since I can remember. I am certainly not the best, and I am definitely not prolific, but I believe I am a good writer&#8211;even if I might be a crappy blogger. I felt that I had a unique &#8220;brand&#8221;, but not necessarily a unique perspective&#8211;which seems to be a key to blogging success. But then, success is defined differently for all of us. The main reason that I feel BlogU is for me is that it is approachable. No one there is keeping tabs on how often (or not) I&#8217;m posting. They don&#8217;t care if I don&#8217;t have some sponsorship deal with a brand. They care about me because I care to be there. I want to learn whatever it is that will elevate me as a blogger and a writer&#8211;whether that&#8217;s writing for money or simply writing for myself. It is about our craft and how we can do it better: for ourselves, for our readers and for our families (as a potential source of income). I was determined to have a more successful year at #BlogU15 this year. My shy, introverted (and coincidentally Middle-School-aged) self was nowhere to be found. (Except on the bulletin board full of #MiddleSchoolAwkward pictures for the Nickelodeon-sponsored #MiddleSchooltotheMax dance party on Saturday night.) But despite the previous year&#8217;s shyness, I really made an effort to meet and talk to more of the little people from inside my computer&#8230; &#160; But enough about me, there are SO many things to know and do depending on what your goals are for your blog or yourself as a professional writer. I did make an effort to focus on my blog and what I wanted to take away from #BlogU15 as a writer and a blogger. The things I learned about blogging are these: Blogging is work. If you think this shit writes itself, you&#8217;re crazy. I&#8217;m sure some people can sit down and bang out a post in 15 minutes but it takes me some serious time. (In fact, a good bit of THIS post was started last year after #BlogU14. I never finished it then, but a lot of the thoughts stuck with me this year.) Blogging is not merely writing.  Writing is just the beginning of it. There is design, analytics and social media involved. All of which are time consuming and necessary to different degrees, depending on your goals. Blogging is universal. The heart of blogging is communication. We write to share, to teach, and to reach out&#8211;regardless of the topic. You can be a parenting blogger, a fashion blogger, a food blogger or a lifestyle blogger but no matter your genre, you are speaking to an audience. And they are listening. That is communication. &#160;  *This was originally published on TheNotSoSuperMom Join The Conversation! Easily contribute your story here. &#160; About the Author… Melanie Madamba is The Not so Super Mom: recovering nerd, mother of three, and coffee addict. She would never want to be confused with a Super Mom or anyone else who seems to have it together. She’s not trying to do it all–she’s not even trying to do it right. She’s just trying to get something, ANYTHING, done. She writes to escape the laundry and to pretend someone is listening to her. If you are trying to avoid your laundry, you can kill some time checking her out on Facebook or twitter.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What It&#8217;s Really Like to Be a Flight Attendant</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/what-its-really-like-to-be-a-flight-attendant/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/what-its-really-like-to-be-a-flight-attendant/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2015 18:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[WIRL Project]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Work/Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flight Attendant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[job]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[What It's Really Like]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WIRL]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=6910</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Being a flight attendant comes with some major perks: For one, you get to travel the world. But the job isn’t without its own challenges, too. Those of us in more grounded offices get to go home everyday; if your office has wings, though, you might be away from your home on nights you’d rather be in your own bed. So what wins out: Homesickness, or love of travel? Turns out that’s just one of the questions that comes up when you get ready to start a life in the sky. We got together with Glenn and Curtis, two flight attendants (and partners—they met on the job!) at the same major airline with a combined total of 37 years experience, to find out what the lifestyle of a professional flight attendant is like, from being a newbie to a pro in the business. 1. It’s not just a career. Glenn: “It’s a career, but it’s also a lifestyle. We have friends all over the world. We’re professional travelers. I’ve been based in London and Hong Kong, as well as San Francisco, where we both are now. You get used to living out of a suitcase, and bringing your little toiletry kit with you everywhere. You have your set of routines, depending on whether the flight is domestic or international, what the weather is like in the place you’re going, things like that. But you adapt to it, too. At home we have this big bag with a bunch of little bags inside, all stuffed with different currencies.” &#160; For the rest of this confessional written by Sarah Purkrabek of Afar, visit the link below. *Photo and excerpt source: Afar.com]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The A-B-Cs &#8211; What It&#8217;s Really Like</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/the-a-b-cs-what-its-really-like/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/the-a-b-cs-what-its-really-like/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2015 08:30:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Brody]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love/Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work/Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ABCs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beyond Basketball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coach K]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Experiences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Show and Tell Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=6906</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is the introduction of a series of posts titled, &#8220;A-B-Cs &#8211; What It&#8217;s Really Like&#8221;.  Each week a new word will be revealed. Each word&#8217;s explanation will illustrate significant personal meaning, application and ultimately demonstrate, What It&#8217;s Really Like&#8230;   This week at preschool &#8216;T&#8217; was the letter of the week. Each Friday my son is asked to bring an object from home for show-and-tell that begins with the letter of the week. After about six weeks of this process little B has taken over full responsibility of this task. My wife and I are thankful for this because we usually remember to grab the object on Friday morning right when we are walking out of the door. This week my son chose one of his trains to represent the letter &#8216;T&#8217;. Friday afternoon while he was wildly explaining his full day at summer preschool, I wondered what I would have chosen for show-and-tell. It quickly dawned on me that I had seen something like this before and then I remembered a book my grandmother had purchased for me several years ago. The book is titled, &#8220;Beyond Basketball&#8221; written by Hall of Fame college basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. The book, which is only 171 pages in length, is 40 short essays centered on an important keyword and illustrated with anecdotes from his personal experiences. Coach K chooses a keyword or several keywords from each letter in the alphabet. Each word is then defined through a personal experience (on and off the court) and its application is described. Recalling this book made me realize that this was the adult version of show-and-tell. Beyond that, it gave me an idea for a contribution to the WIRL Project. &#8220;Everyone should be able to write a book like this, illustrating the words that are important to who we are using stories from our own lives.&#8221; &#8211; Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Beyond Basketball Over the next 20+ weeks I plan on choosing one word for each letter in the alphabet to essentially &#8220;show-and-tell&#8221; the meaning of each word and illustrate its function in my life. My hope is through doing this you will also join me in reflecting and sharing your own words that apply to your life to show What It&#8217;s Really Like.]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Breasfeeding Baby Beyond Maternity Leave &#8211; Pumping in the Workplace</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/breasfeeding-baby-beyond-maternity-leave-pumping-in-the-workplace/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/breasfeeding-baby-beyond-maternity-leave-pumping-in-the-workplace/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2015 08:30:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mandi Johnson]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Baby]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Breastfeeding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pumping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Working Mom]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=6830</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As my daughter is quickly approaching her 6 month birthday – it also means I am almost done with my goal of exclusively breastfeeding her for 6 months. I know for some moms this is easy. No problem. For others, it can be a challenge and sometimes it&#8217;s not an option.  Now, I don’t want to say that you have to breastfeed – please, just make sure that your baby is fed! But for me, as long as it was working out, and we had no issues – I wanted to reach that 6 month mark. Putting all of the other breastfeeding issues aside, (poor latch, low supply, mastitis, cracked nipples,) there is one more huge issue. That is the workplace! I work in customer service at a manufacturing facility and I believe that I am the first employee to ever pump at work. Ever! This is how I have made “pumping at work” successful:  1) I pump first thing in the morning. My daughter sleeps through the night most of the time, so I always have enough to pump and then feed in the mornings. While it is not fun getting up at 5:15, it does mean I do not have to pump as soon as I get to work.  I usually get about 6 oz. – which I leave out for her first bottle. Then I clean all of my pump parts and load up my Medela Advanced Pump in Style and head out the door.  2) Once at work, my goal, at first, was to pump three times. However, this just wasn’t working out and two pumping sessions seemed to be doable. I try to pump between 11-11:30 and again around 3:30, yielding 5-6 oz. I store my pumped milk at work in my manager’s small fridge in her private office. This way I don’t have to worry about bringing ice packs or leaving it in the communal fridge. 3) I pump in a small office that is a little away from everyone else. It does not have a lock – but we have affixed a “DO NOT OPEN” sign – that is visible when the door is closed. It has worked so far, I have not received and unsuspecting visitors! Surprise! I usually tell the other ladies in my department that I am “off to the parlor” when I need to pump and have had some fun with it! 4) Second pumping session is usually between 3:30 and 4 pm. Lately, I’ve been skipping the later and pumping when I get home. Between the morning session and the two times at work I would pump enough to feed my daughter the next day. I have not been able to “stockpile”, but I have made enough to feed her day-to-day and that is what is most important!  For anyone having second thoughts or worried about pumping, please know that your employer must be supportive and offer you a place and the time to pump!  For more information visit: http://www.dol.gov/whd/nursingmothers/faqBTNM.htm &#160; Even though it has been a bit of a hassle, pumping at work for me has been successful and completely worth it! A few pumping tips: 1) Start pumping before you need to return to work. By pumping before, you can get used to your pump and know how to assemble, disassemble and clean. This will also allow you to build up a stockpile in case you don’t have enough to feed throughout the day. 2) Try and figure out how many feedings you will miss to figure out how much/how many times you should pump. 3) Know your workplace plan – where will you pump? Where can you store your milk? Discuss with your employer what you plan on doing. 4) Remember that if you have to supplement, it will be ok! &#160; &#160;]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>My Not-So 9 to 5 Job</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/my-not-so-9-to-5-job/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/my-not-so-9-to-5-job/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2015 13:00:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Guest WIRL]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health/Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WIRL Challenge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work/Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[9-5]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coffee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Drug]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hours]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[medical]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pharmacist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pharmacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Phone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WIRL Medical Professionals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[workday]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=6845</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sometimes I dream of working a 9 to 5 job. Where I can SIT at a desk, wearing something other than a blue polo and khaki pants, and sip a cup of HOT coffee. I could have had such a job, or most any job for that matter, but I chose to become a retail pharmacist. When people ask me why I chose to become a pharmacist I don&#8217;t really have a good answer. To be honest, I kind of just picked it. Although I was always a really good student (if that was a paying gig, I&#8217;d be a permanent one) and loved to learn, I didn&#8217;t grow up aspiring to be anything in particular. But when it came down to it, I had to choose something so I chose to focus on a career that played to my strengths in math and science. I breezed through pharmacy school. But all of the coursework in the world could not have prepared me for the hardships that come with the profession. I will assume that most of you reading this are like my typical customers: that you assume I am overpaid for counting pills and putting them in a bottle. But please allow me to tell you what a typical day in my shoes is really like (cue rant). I breezed through pharmacy school. But all of the coursework in the world could not have prepared me for the hardships that come with the profession. Typically, I arrive to work 15-20 minutes early to prepare for the day. Mind you, this is unpaid time, but necessary for me to start my day with peace of mind. But that peace is instantly interrupted by the person standing outside the gate who simply &#8220;just has a question.&#8221; Who cares that I am juggling my coffee mug, work bag, and purse. Let me drop all of this and help you right now I think…Then I file the daily paperwork, start up all the equipment, and log-on all the registers so that I can open on time. But of course this isn&#8217;t good enough for the person in the drive thru, who obviously can&#8217;t see our posted hours, incessantly hitting the call button for service. I go over to &#8220;kindly&#8221; remind them that we are not open yet. At this point I wish that there were blinds I could hide behind to get some work done. Who cares that I am juggling my coffee mug, work bag, and purse. Let me drop all of this and help you right now&#8230; Right from the get go there is work to do. There are orders that were placed overnight and pre-dated scripts awaiting my attention. But the phone rings. It is a customer wanting to know if their script is ready. I &#8220;kindly&#8221; remind them that it wasn&#8217;t due to be filled until today and I just opened so they need to give me a minute. What I really wish I could tell them is that the magic elves didn&#8217;t show up last night to do it so I guess I would have to. I am already annoyed. Meanwhile, my coffee is getting cold. It is no wonder I have taken a liking to iced coffee. Fortunately the next few hours are usually uneventful and I can get some work done. But when 10 o&#8217;clock rolls around, all hell starts to break loose. I honestly could use the degree of commotion around me like clock work. The doctor offices start to send their e-scripts. And there are errors on them or drug interactions that are flagged, which cause me to stop what I am doing and pick-up the phone to call them for clarification or alternative therapy. But I am put on hold. And I hold…and hold…Then people start to stop by after their appointments to pick up their medications. And they have questions. So, I stop to counsel them. Then they remember they need to get some immunizations. So, I stop to do that. But when 10 o&#8217;clock rolls around, all hell starts to break loose&#8230; The doctor offices start to send their e-scripts. And there are errors on them or drug interactions that are flagged, which cause me to stop what I am doing and pick-up the phone to call them for clarification or alternative therapy. But I am put on hold. And I hold…and hold… When I come back to my work station I am told that I have phone lines waiting for me. Oh joy! Line 1 is a doctor&#8217;s office getting back to me, line 2 is another pharmacy calling for a transfer, and line 3 is a customer complaining that they got yellow pills instead of the white ones that they like. Where is the spot on the wall where I can slam my head? Oh wait, now the cashier at the register needs a manager override…how am I suppose to run over there while I am on the phone? At this point I wish I could clone myself. And my work area looks like a battle zone. It is covered with sticky notes to remind myself to call this person, order that drug, document this, and report that. And what is that over there…why yes, my now ice cold coffee. PERFECT! That is just how I like it. And I have been too busy to notice that it is way past lunch time. But what does that matter? It isn&#8217;t like I get a lunch break or any break for that matter. If I am lucky I can grab a snack during the course of the day. But if I can&#8217;t eat it with one hand while working with the other, it just isn&#8217;t going to work for me. At this point I think to myself that I should have warning labels like the medications I dispense. Mine would say warning: hangry! At this point I think to myself that I should have warning labels like the medications I dispense. Mine would say warning: hangry! As the day pushes on I become immune to the deafening noise of the machines around me. From the fax machine, to the printer, to the overheating computer, to the labeler, to the dispensing robot, to the overhead loudspeaker, to the phone…and let&#8217;s not forget the phone. I HATE the phone!! It never stops. I swear people just sit at home hitting redial. And if all of that isn&#8217;t enough to push my buttons, something usually breaks. Which brings me to another thing I HATE: technology. Typically someone jams something in the drive-thru drawer, or the robot malfunctions, the registers shut-down, or the fax machine won&#8217;t connect. All of these are things that I cannot fix!! I just want to do my job. What is that again? Oh yes, I must dispense medications. And my location dispenses a lot of them. So I get back to work and before I know it the day is winding down and the end is in sight. I have been so busy that I am completely unaware that I have yet to use the restroom or eat. I think I might have super powers! I can easily work a 12 hour shift with little to no fluids, no food, and no restroom breaks. Unfortunately, I become acutely aware of the last one the minute I sit down in my car to head home. Typically someone jams something in the drive-thru drawer, or the robot malfunctions, the registers shut-down, or the fax machine won&#8217;t connect. All of these are things that I cannot fix!! I just want to do my job. What is that again? Oh yes, I must dispense medications. Just as I am getting ready to close down shop, in walks a customer. I listen to their sob story as to why I HAVE to stay and fill their prescription (as if the other 12 hours of the day weren&#8217;t good enough for them) and agree to fill it quickly. But after handing over their medication, 5 minutes after close, do I get a thank you? NO! I hear them mumble, &#8220;I can&#8217;t believe they are only open until…&#8221; SERIOUSLY? At this point my feet (and patience) can&#8217;t take any more! I have just stood here for the last 12 hours and then some. And sometimes, when I am really lucky, I get to work until 10pm and go back in at 8am the next morning. It is like I never leave. Seriously. I think the phone rings in my head while I sleep. I wish I had more time to spend with my customers, but the day&#8217;s work just doesn&#8217;t allow it. But don&#8217;t get me wrong. It isn&#8217;t all bad. It is worth all the while when a mother thanks me for being open on a holiday to fill her sick child&#8217;s antibiotic or when I can help an elderly lady understand how to work her new blood glucose meter. I wish I had more time to spend with my customers, but the day&#8217;s work just doesn&#8217;t allow it. Most pharmacies are understaffed and overworked. We have to deal with a lot. And while that paycheck makes it easier to get up and face it all, it cannot buy back all of the birthdays, weddings, or holiday celebrations that I have had to miss. While each job has its ups and downs, that 9 to 5 starts to sound better and better. &#160; Join the conversation! Easily contribute your story here. &#160; About the Author… This WIRL was contributed by Shelby Ricketts, PharmD.]]></description>
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		<title>What DIY Blogging is REALLY Like: Q/A Session</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/what-diy-blogging-is-really-like-qa-session/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/what-diy-blogging-is-really-like-qa-session/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2015 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[WIRL Project]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brepurposed]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Time]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WIRL Blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WIRL Challenge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=6547</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We sat down with a successful DIY / Furniture Repurposing blogger, Bre, from Brepurposed and asked her to let us in on the insider scene of blogging. She shared her honest answers and stories below: WIRL Project: Where do you get your pieces of furniture to repurpose for your blog?  Bre: I get my pieces from a number of places! Craigslist, garage sales, estate sales, and I have my go-to thrift shops in my area that I try and hit up at least once a month. My friends and family are always on the look out for me too and have brought me some amazing pieces! WIRL Project: How long does it take to flip a piece around? Bre: The timeline is different for each piece and also depends on the type of paint I&#8217;m using. If I&#8217;m going for a distressed, shabby chic look, I&#8217;m usually using a type of chalk paint which requires minimal prep. I don&#8217;t have to sand or prime so I can just clean off my piece and get to work. The paint dries super fast too, so I could be done with paint in a day or two and then I just need to distress and seal. Sealing takes 1-3 days because you want your wax or finish to completely dry and set before you recoat. If I&#8217;m going for a more polished look, I might be using a different type of paint that requires primer. This adds in an extra step and can extend the timeline by at least a day or two. Of course there are the final touches of adding new hardware and maybe some fun paper. All in all, I would say a painted piece of furniture could take anywhere from 3 days to a week and a half. Of course that&#8217;s if I had free time every day They usually take longer! WIRL Project: What do you do with these beauties when you&#8217;re done? Bre: Most pieces I try and sell. I would love to open up my own shop one day. Of course there are pieces we keep and I&#8217;ve also donated some to auctions, etc. I&#8217;ve also done a bunch of pieces as gifts for family and friends. WIRL Project: Have you ever had an epic fail?  Bre: I wouldn&#8217;t be where I am today if I didn&#8217;t have any fails! It&#8217;s all about learning what works for you and doing a lot of trial and error. WIRL Project: Does repurposing furniture and blogging take up a lot of your time? Bre: Blogging takes up a TON of time. It&#8217;s like a second job. I was unemployed for a while, so it was my main focus which was awesome because I had the time to focus on it. Now that I&#8217;m working again, it&#8217;s been a struggle to find that balance. I don&#8217;t have all that extra time to spare and I have to manage it much better. It can get frustrating because I would love blogging to be my full time job (or owning my own shop). I know it will happen one day if that&#8217;s what God chooses for me, so for now I&#8217;m continuing to grow as much as I can and refine my skills and technique so I&#8217;ll be ready for that day &#160; &#160; &#160; Join the conversation! Easily contribute your story here with the tag “WIRL Blogging”. &#160; About the Author… This WIRL was contributed in part by Bre Bertolini from Brepurposed. She is a successful DIY blogger who likes to repurpose things. If you visit her blog you&#8217;ll find she stalks craigslist, thrift stores and friend&#8217;s basements to find hidden gems, and gives them new life. She can be found at her website, on Facebook, and Pinterest. &#160; &#160;]]></description>
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		<title>The Mad, Mad World Of Blogging</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/the-mad-mad-world-of-blogging/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/the-mad-mad-world-of-blogging/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2015 10:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Guest WIRL]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WIRL Challenge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work/Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[editing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life of a blogger]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WIRL Blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=6357</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It has become somewhat of a whispering joke amongst family members. Oh, look at her! Maybe this is the year she gets a REAL job! The truth is that bloggers work hard —DAMN HARD — probably harder than most. We are writers, editors, proofreaders, and pimps: hustling our lives and submitting our stories for the sake of personal gain. We are also critical of ourselves and thick-skinned because we have to be, which often makes it hard to face the keyboard, but we do. And we do it all for minimal pay with little time to second-guess our strategy. We are also critical of ourselves and thick-skinned because we have to be, which often makes it hard to face the keyboard, but we do. Starting out, I had no idea what to expect —still don&#8217;t. Every day delivers a new set of skills and I take each one with pride. I have learned how to build a website from scratch, design my own comics, promote on social media, support fellow bloggers, and triple check spelling and grammar like a boss. Even so, I still don&#8217;t know it all. In the past two years, I have built a foundation for what is to come and in doing so have made friends for life. You see, blogging isn&#8217;t just another job; it is a way of being. And those of us who get to wake up every day and do it are the happiest people you&#8217;ll ever want to meet. Hello, my name is Lisa. I am a mother, writer, blogger and juggler, and there is nothing about blogging that I don&#8217;t love. &#160; Join the conversation! Easily contribute your story here with the tag “WIRL Blogging”. &#160; About the Author… This WIRL was contributed by Lisa René LeClair, who is a writer, humorist, social media junkie and, most importantly, a mother. When she&#8217;s not giggling with her pint-sized Protégé or pretending to sign autographs in front of a bathroom mirror, you can find Lisa sitting at her desk; wearing coffee stained pajamas and a shit-eating grin… Living the dream. You can contact Lisa at Lisa@sassypiehole.com.  &#160;]]></description>
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		<title>The Realities of the Tightrope of Life. What Does Work/ Life Balance Mean For Me?</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/the-realities-of-the-tightrope-of-life-what-does-work-life-balance-mean-for-me/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/the-realities-of-the-tightrope-of-life-what-does-work-life-balance-mean-for-me/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2015 12:00:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Maureen Carlomagno]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health/Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love/Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work/Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Balance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fatherhood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[functional imperfection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motherhood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wellness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wellness success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[work life balance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=5711</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Like most women, I wear lots of hats in my life. Finding an equilibrium that suits me and my family is a constant, free-flowing evolution. As a lifestyle and wellness coach, I see a lot of the same themes with my clients as well. Sharing these common themes with each other is really important, so we don’t feel so isolated in our experiences. I’m going to lead by example with the list below. In my mom, wife, and business owner role, I have learned: To normalize the duality of parenthood and my career aspirations by showing those around me that I can blend motherhood and a career successfully. Originally, I felt that I had to hide the fact I was a mom. Over the years I have come around. I think it&#8217;s important that as working moms, we show the world how we can have our kids with us and still get things done. Breaking down my big dreams into little pieces so they are manageable has been invaluable. I have had to put some things on hold or slow down in order to achieve this balance. It’s hard to be patient and wait. If I were to completely stop every time there was an obstacle, I wouldn&#8217;t be able to move forward in reaching my main goals. Making time to communicate with my partner has kept us from becoming strangers. When you are both juggling so many different balls, it can be easy to put your relationship into auto-pilot. This takes a lot of work, but is worth it. &#160; In my life balance/wellness coach role, I have learned: We are all trying to get by the best we can. Asking for help (lots of it) instead of trying to be a jack of all trades can be a life saver. Choose sanity over all the other stuff. Live a life that is true to you. Peeling back the layers of what I “need” versus what I “want” can be very powerful. What do you really value most? Are you doing the activities that will lead you to those end goals? Take care of your body. If you aren&#8217;t filling up your own tank daily, you can’t be your best self for those around you. Getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising are so important. As is taking time to truly connect and communicate with your loved ones. Do activities that replenish your soul frequently. &#160; For me at this point, it is all about striving for what I like to call “functional imperfection.” I&#8217;ve learned to embrace the waves of uncertainty. Real life is a bit messy and unpredictable. Let’s not be afraid to share our struggles and successes with each other. &#160; Maureen Carlomagno is an enthusiastic advocate of integrated wellness, community engagement, and following your heart. She provides a unique and dynamic style of coaching that inspires clients to find their way to a healthier, happier life. Maureen works with her clients by focusing on personal development through smart decision making and increased self-understanding. Find out more at www.your-wellness-coach.com. &#160;]]></description>
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		<title>By &#8220;Work/Life Balance&#8221; You Must Mean: All Work, Bye Bye Life, and No Balance</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/by-worklife-balance-you-must-mean-all-work-bye-bye-life-and-no-balance/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/by-worklife-balance-you-must-mean-all-work-bye-bye-life-and-no-balance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2015 09:00:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sara Brennan]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Balance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lonely]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motherhood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stay At Home Mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work/Life Balance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Working Mom]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=5675</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Since becoming a mom, I&#8217;ve learned that there are NOT enough hours in a day. Many people often wish for &#8220;super powers&#8221; and mine would be the ability to survive without sleep! I actually hate going up to bed at night. Why do we NEED to do this!? There are so many more &#8220;productive&#8221; things I could be doing instead of laying down in a bed for 7-8 hours doing NOTHING resting! Before becoming a mom, I used to be a middle school science teacher and my day was filled with talking/socializing/teaching all day long, followed by the freedom to do whatever I wanted. I loved a good shopping marathon or DIY home project; I was very independent. When I decided to transition to the &#8220;glamorous&#8221; lifestyle of a stay-at-home mom, nobody prepared me for the difficult transition I was about to face. Everyone KNEW I&#8217;d made the decision to stay at home once I had the baby and not one person warned or prepared me for the emotions and changes I was about to face. I would hear comments such as, You will never regret staying at home with your kids or It&#8217;s such a great experience, I wouldn&#8217;t have traded it for the world.  I understand they probably didn&#8217;t want to &#8220;rain on my parade&#8221;, but seriously, I wish someone would have been honest with me and talked about how difficult it can be! So, I left my job, had my son (who I love and adore more than anything), and knew I &#8220;should&#8221; feel bliss, but after a few weeks and months I started to feel alone and trapped in my own home with this baby who couldn&#8217;t tell me what he wanted or needed&#8230; I started to lose it. My work &#8220;friends&#8221; got busy and didn&#8217;t care too much about me anymore. I take that back, in my crazy, emotional, tired, and slightly lonely head, that&#8217;s probably a lot more of what it felt like than the truth. To their credit, I wasn&#8217;t exactly contacting them regularly either. I just felt like nobody could relate to me anymore and that I was very uncool. I couldn&#8217;t go on shopping marathons, mani and pedi outings, or to cocktail hour anymore (unless I brought my baby!) because I was breastfeeding/pumping&#8230;I sometimes felt like a prisoner. I&#8217;d always been a very driven and &#8220;Type-A&#8221; person, so I decided to bottle this strange and unexpected negative energy and put it towards something more positive. I dreamt up an idea, built a website, started my own internet business, and became an entrepreneur! I created a website where real people could share real stories about life and what it&#8217;s really like (WIRL) and I called it WIRL Project. I knew I wasn&#8217;t the only one who had been slapped in the face with this reality that nobody wanted to talk about, so I created an online place where people could cut the crap, be real, and share their stories about life. Since it&#8217;s taken off, I am super busy doing work that I LOVE, but I also have a 19 month old toddler. Sure, I get out of the house several days a week and do something for myself, but now I am faced with GUILT beyond explanation. When I voluntarily leave the house to &#8220;work&#8221;, it means being away from my son. When I&#8217;m with my son and not working, I am constantly thinking about my business; it&#8217;s the epitome of a catch 22. Who knew motherhood could cause such drama (lol)! To avoid the guilt, I try to work as much as I can while my son is sleeping. But, often times this leaves very little time for my husband and I to hang out. Oh, and date nights? Few and far between. I am used to be really fit, I don&#8217;t hardly work out at all anymore, there just isn&#8217;t time for it! I know, I know, everything I&#8217;ve talked about so far comes with the territory of being a (new) mom&#8230; the sleepless nights, the guilt, the exhaustion, the multitasking, all of that, and I don&#8217;t really know how it would have changed things if I&#8217;d known this in advance, but I still wish people would be more realistic about this transition and stop making it out to be so &#8220;beautiful&#8221;. So, back to my super power&#8230;if I had an extra 8 hours per day to accomplish &#8220;life&#8221;, I&#8217;d be much better off! Sleeping just doesn&#8217;t fit into my schedule anymore and I wish that could be the thing I &#8220;quit&#8221; doing! But, unfortunately, my son doesn&#8217;t know (or care) that I&#8217;ve stayed up late, so he wakes up at his regular time every morning, ecstatic to see me, and I go through everything all over again the next day! Don&#8217;t get me wrong, I absolutely love my son and being his mom is awesome. But, if you were to ask me about a work/life balance&#8230; I&#8217;d say there really isn&#8217;t one, not for me anyway, each day is different, yet the same, and crazy! But, I&#8217;m not going to cover it up and make my life seem something it&#8217;s not. I work, I have a life, I balance it as best as I can and I&#8217;m honest about it. That&#8217;s the best I can do right now, take it for what it&#8217;s worth.]]></description>
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