Author: Vian Wheatley

Don’t Stop Me Now

2021 is ending with COVID still hanging around us. Yes, it permeates everything around us – every move we make, decisions we make, plans we create. It is our major buzz killer. It may be hard for someone reading this as I am unaware of your loss, so I am not writing this lightly. However, I do want to end this year on a positive note for I am grateful for everything that this year has given me.

I think 2021 was my roller coaster ride which I hate because I think I will die if I ever ride one. So, let us review how my year went. 2021 started with an uphill climb to a promotion, then speedy turns on vacations with family and friends (love, love it so I added some pics I took). A high for me because I love traveling – anywhere, anytime.

Chugging along there was a harrowing twist of pelvic pain that eventually ended with a surgery (and an infection that resulted in another surgery). I was decommissioned for six weeks – longest I have even been out. And before I could breathe, I was on another long uphill climb towards a new business and a new job that came out of nowhere. I was on a free-fall that has given me all the butterflies in my belly.

My free fall drastically ended with COVID the week prior to Christmas week – my symptoms were not as serious because I was vaccinated. My biggest Christmas gift was finally testing negative for COVID on Christmas day. To date – I still have the most awful headache (not migraine) and my taste and smell are not back yet.

So, you see, I want to end this year on a high positive note as COVID will not dampen my spirits. God has been very faithful and has blessed me beyond everything I could ever imagine.

Do not stop me now (sing like Freddy!). I have a lot of things to look forward to in 2022. Yes – I am extremely excited for this new year so much so that I ordered this vision board from Amazon. Don’t you just love it?

It is time for me to visualize my dreams and make a proclamation. I will not hide my shine any longer. It is time to come out and dazzle! How about you? What are you proclaiming for in 2022? Are you ready for this year to be your best year yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Let us stand tall and take that first step towards achieving our dreams.

Happy New Year’s Eve my friends – til my next post!

Stepping Out Series: I Dreamed a Dream

My last entry was in Jan 2018 – when we were still living in Louisville, KY. More than three years have passed with so many remarkable things that have happened in our lives. It has been quite a journey.

First, we moved to Bellbrook, OH because of a job opportunity – something I have never thought of while I was writing my last post. Little did I know that it was going to be the boldest and biggest stepping out we would do as a family.

We took a leap of faith and transplanted ourselves in a new community, new jobs, new schools, and new life with just us. We embraced the changes and allowed ourselves to dream more – after all, a whole new world just opened for us.

We were ready and then the world stopped altogether in 2020. I was following the news late in 2019 and knew this new virus was going to hit hard. Pandemic was an unfamiliar word that was hard to comprehend. A different world emerged.

We sheltered in place – worked from home and studied from home. The isolation hit hard but it came with it big rewards. It gave us time to the develop new hobbies: me with organic gardening and my husband’s passion with grilling and smoking meats (it is a hobby 😊). Also, we had friends that became more like siblings from another mother.

The pandemic also gave everyone a chance to reflect on how we live our lives. For me – I called it the Great Awakening. It was time for a career change, but I did not know where to begin. I was afraid to look forward because times are uncertain, and I had a very stable job. Why rock the boat? But there was this burning hope to dream and that something must change – I dared to believe it.

And it did happen – we became small business owners in June of this year. Woohoo!!!! Our biggest news ever. We stepped out and made our dream a reality. We believe nothing is impossible, so we named our company Wheatley Empire, Inc. We know it is not going to stop at just one company – our vision is large for our future. We are in our forties and starting a new business even during COVID because it is never too late for anyone. I cannot wait for 2022 when we open our first clinic – Fyzical Centerville. And yes, you will hear about it from me.

We also switched to new jobs which was bittersweet. Sadly, good things had to end to welcome new opportunities and growth. We welcome these changes in our lives once again. They are our springboard for more opportunities to come for us. I believe and claim it!

From my last post to this – I can say I dreamed a dream. It is happening for us. It can happen to you too. The new year is coming so shake off the dust. Lift your head up and write down your dream and visions. Believe in them. If you are reading this, you are not alone. Send me a comment and we can be in a journey together.

Stepping Out Series: Personal Brainstorming

Happy Sunday everyone! It has warmed up here in Louisville, KY so the snow has melted and it’s a whopping 54 degrees today.

I’m chilling out here at church waiting for a parent meeting for my son’s middle school Believe conference. It is so quiet without the kids here. Their vibrancy can sometimes be so overwhelming but without their boundless energy this place is not the same. They’ll be here soon so while I am waiting, I will use this time to write.

Chill Tea

I have been thinking about writing a series on what I have been talking about the last three posts – about stepping out to follow your dream and joining me in this journey. For lack of creativity, I am just going to simply call it Step Out Series.

I have been encouraged to really do this after a lunch date with a friend last week. She and I were talking and updating each other about life and I shared with her my daring faith journey.

I asked her what would she like to do that she’s always been passionate about but never thought would happen. Sitting there and listening to her just reaffirmed that I am not alone – that there are so many of us out there that’s just afraid to take the first step and believe. It doesn’t matter how young or how old you are at this point. Truth of the matter is that we have this fear – of the unknown, of failing, or succeeding so irreversibly we believe that it’s not ever going to happen. Dreams (or goals) become suspended in mid-air and out of reach.

My goal is to help you and in doing so, you are making me realize that I too can make my dreams happen. So are you ready?

First step is personal brainstorming – understand what it is you want to happen in your life. Write them down however weird or unattainable. Is it losing weight? Is it starting that art class? Is it going back to get that degree? Is it finally taking the courage and take that bungee jump? Is it starting a blog like I am doing? A business? Anything that has been a burning desire that has been in your heart and you feel strongly about. Write them down and don’t mark them off your list. This is what brainstorming is all about. No ideas too mundane or stupid. Write them down to acknowledge your innermost desires and passions.

So are you ready?? Get busy and start this journey with me. Let’s all Step Out!

Snow Day Diary

Today is Snow Day which translates to No School Day. I finally got my snow – woohoo! You would think that someone who grew up in the tropics would hate the cold and snow but I love it! There’s something about snow-covered picturesque landscape that touches my soul. I find beauty in this wintry panorama – until someone starts walking on my perfect snow landscape and the sun turns my white dust to dirty slush

I’m sharing some pictures from today – the first one is the View from our front yard and the next one is to show you how much snow we got today.

We got snow!

I’m waxing poetic here so let me get down to what I promised on my last post. I shared that I wanted to have my own website. So, here I am intentionally ensuring I write and share more of me even if I know that not many people will read what I have to say. I’m doing it to encourage at least one person to believe in his/her dream and to take that single step.

For the past week I have been brainstorming in my head the name of my website and what I would write about. It’s already forming in my mind. I finally had the courage to verbalize to my husband and kids what I have been pondering about. I’m boldly telling them that it is going to happen this year. There were some promising names but mostly the name suggestions were downright hilarious and will not pass as website names. What joy it has given me just by sharing with them one of my dreams. I love how they support me.

I know it will happen sooner than I think is possible. What about you? I encourage you to take this journey with me. We will figure d a lot of treasures along the way. I leave you with this in mind. Believe it can happen to you as well.

Photo from All Good Things

Let’s Hustle!

I’m having a late start but I will eventually get there. Two days ago I encouraged you to believe in your dreams and that it is possible for things to happen whatever stage you are in right now or how old you are.

So let me boost you up by sharing this picture.

We gotta hustle friends! It starts with faith and belief that it can happen to you. Next is the courage to take that small step however daunting your goal seems like. As you move forward, your confidence will slowly rise from within and you’ll be amazed at what you can do. There will be some ups and downs along the way but don’t lose your determination and your grip on the goals and dreams you have set. You can do more than what you think you are capable of.

If you need an accountability partner or someone to boost you up, let me know. We are in this together. We are going to scale our mountains and conquer the summit.

Next post I will share what I have been doing to follow my dreams. I am also slowly stepping out in faith. For now I just want to enjoy my day off with the family.