SabbaticalScapes

Hi All!!

So excited to be featured in the Amazon Best Seller Fit, Fine & Fabulous by Dr. Laureen Wishom! It was such an honor to share some fabulous tips and to support others in their quest to success in career, business, and life. Check me out in the forward and back cover of the book, and on page 166.

Instead of someday, how about today!

Blessings!!

~A

Hi All!

I am so excited to share that I am in the October issue of ESSENCE magazine with Michelle Obama on the cover!!  It is such an honor to be featured in the article “The 10 Principles of Power.”  With a mention on page 18, the interview lists me 4th on page 137 under the caption regarding Power Players “Chart Their Own Course.”  WOW!! I am still in awe.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

Inspiration:  “Don’t be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality.  If you can dream it, you can make it so.”

Be Blessed Beyond Measure!

~A

Have you heard about the Freedom Riders?  In spite of threats, imprisonment, and beatings, groups of courageous Americans journeyed through the South on buses in effort to segregate the South in 1961.  I must say that I was totally unaware of this important part of our American history.  

Taking a deeper look into the people and the times, award winning film maker Stanley Nelson’s powerful documentary airs on American Experience May 16^th on PBS.  Students have also been invited to “Get on the Bus” to retrace the journeys and to blog about the experience. 

In a special event held at Houston PBS studios, I had the honor of meeting Mr. Nelson and hearing from a panel of original Houston Freedom Riders.  The Houston Defender newspaper was also on hand covering the event.  Click here and you will see a familiar face – http://www.defendernetwork.com/freedom-riders/.

“We were past fear.  If we were going to die, we were gonna die, but we can’t stop.”   ~ Rider Joan Trumpauer-Mulholland.

I won!!  In a contest sponsored by Carnival Cruise Lines, I won a spot as a face on their billboard campaign.  Woo Hoo!!Since one of the billboards is located in Conroe, we had to take a roadtrip to see it.  Click the photo to see me in action!!

Inspiration – “Focus on where you want to go, not on what you fear” – Anthony Robbins

Be blessed!

~A

The other day I did something that I never thought I would actually muster up the courage to do. After many flights and fantasizing about how cool it would be to fly a plane, I got the opportunity to do it!!

After a safety check and review, I climbed aboard the Cessna 172 eager for adventure.  As co-pilot with my trainer and pilot Thad, I maneuvered the craft over the skies of west Houston overlooking downtown and Williams Tower. Although I was nervous, Thad was actually comfortable as I took control…Okay, it was only for about 15 minutes, but it was exhilarating!! As I check this adventure off my Life List, I am actually considering getting my pilot’s license in the future.

Has anyone else had flight lessons or earned their license? Let me hear about your experience.

Also, I was so excited to be featured as a case study earlier this year on the Vagabonding website.  Here is the link in case you missed it http://www.vagablogging.net/vagabonding-case-study-angela-petitt.html.

 Keep checking in…Always more to come!

Inspiration – Don’t wait to realize you shouldn’t have waited!

Reprinted from 11/3/2010  http://www.lostgirlsworld.com/2010/11/8915/

This week’s Lost Girl, Angela Petitt, an IT professional and native Houstonian, who decided to take a step of faith by resigning her corporate position during the recession to go on sabbatical. Her sabbatical travels have led her to amazing destinations such as Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Colombia, and Panama.

With a desire to serve, Ms. Petitt has been involved with projects such as volunteer mission trips, faith based outreach, and mentoring at a juvenile delinquent center. In addition, she was recently presented with the 2009 WHS Wall of Honor Service and Leadership award by her alma mater. Follow Angela’s adventures on her blog www.sabbaticalscapes.com.

*****
“Are you crazy?”

“How can you afford that?”

“What do you mean you want to quit?”

“We are in a recession!!”

“Did you win the lottery?”

Those were the reactions I got when I mentioned my plans to my family and friends.  Although they meant well, I felt that there was more to life than a winning corporate existence.  My response to them was “If not now, when?”   I knew that even with a successful career in technology and an MBA, I wanted more…I wanted freedom!  A week later, I was on a plane bound for Italy.

Making the decision to opt-out of corporate America for a while was the first step in my journey. The notion of quitting was several years in the making, being fueled more and more every time I went on vacation.  (Be warned – This is the main symptom of Lost Girl-itis.) When I came to the realization that I really wanted to see the world and was ready to move beyond the cubicle, I knew it was time to make a change.

At mid-career, I wanted my sabbatical to be different.  I did not want to sell anything to make it happen. Plus, I wanted my sabbatical to be a true rest from the ordinary and an escape to the extraordinary. For me, that meant living life to the fullest and making time to do the things that I enjoy.

With a mix of land trips and cruises every month or so, I was able to see amazing destinations.  My sabbatical has given me many memories such as cave diving and giving a little girl my watch (you should have seen her smile) in Punta Cana, staring in amazement at the pyramids of Giza, standing thigh high  by the Sphinx – while getting caught in a sandstorm,  getting rained on in the Costa Rican rainforest,  glaring into the mouth of a steamy volcano in Nicaragua, hiking to waterfalls in Puerto Rico’s El Yunque with my precious Mother,  playing with monkeys in Roatan, zip lining in Cabo, sipping apple tea while overlooking the Mediterranean in Turkey, dancing at Music on the Rocks in Positano, marveling at the ancient ruins of the Acropolis in Athens, eating everything in sight aboard cruise ships (I love desserts!), walking in the steps of Jesus in Israel, and many other exciting adventures.

In addition to traveling, I have continued to volunteer at church and have had the opportunity to learn golf, horseback riding, and photography. I even realized that it is a welcomed treat just to enjoy a lazy day, okay a lazy week, at home on the couch.
Last August 2009 when I took a step of faith by resigning my position to go on sabbatical, I really had no idea how things would transpire.

Of course being single with a mortgage and supporting my college–age nephew, everyone thought I was crazy – especially during the recession.  But, I have no regrets. Since starting my journey, I have grown in courage, confidence, and wisdom. More importantly, I have come to understand my God given uniqueness and that life is truly precious and too short to waste.

Furthermore, my time away has instilled in me the renewed desire not to merely survive, but to authentically thrive!  I am now working on my doctorate degree and looking to re-enter Corporate America.

So have faith and step into your dreams.  There is more out there. Fabulous after 40, or any age, is definitely a beautiful thing…Enjoy the journey

Check out my feature on Lost Girls World website…So excited!!

http://www.lostgirlsworld.com/2010/11/8915/

Inspiration – Life is not about fitting in… it’s about standing out. ~Unknown

Be Blessed!

~A

AOL Travel published my photo!! Check it out here (4th photo on left):  http://news.travel.aol.com/2010/06/01/say-cheese-photos-you-hoped-would-never-surface-from-a-vacatio/. 

Coming up?  Updates from Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Grenada, Aruba, Costa Rica and more!!  Sign up on the blog to get all the details.

Inspiration – I know this now. Every man gives his life for what he believes. Every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, and yet they give their lives to that little or nothing. One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it and then it is gone. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.  (Joan of Arc) 

Peace & Blessings!

~A

I am in a magazine!!  WOO HOO!! The Tucson based Desert Leaf magazine featured my sabbatical in their latest issue. I am so EXCITED!! Check it out here on pages 52 -53 and continues on p. 68:

http://npaper-wehaa.com/desert-leaf#2010/03/17/?article=802979

Thanks!

Inspiration – “A year from now you may wish you had started today” ~~ Karen Lamb

Be blessed!!

Hi All!!

One thing I determined to do while on sabbatical was to embark on new opportunities and activities.  So far, I have zip lined in Cabo, snorkeled and played with monkeys in Roatan, been caught in a sandstorm in Egypt, and attempted horseback riding here on Texan soil.  In addition, I took  golf lessons and fell in love with the game..or at least what little I do know about the game – LOL!!

So, it was right up my alley when I saw the Women on Course Luncheon event notice. This organization is all about the golf lifestyle – the game, the fun, the travel, the networking, and most of all, the relationships. I had to be there!!  

Mmmm…who could I get to go with me?  I wanted someone to share my joy – Ahh haa…At that moment, I immediately contacted my savvy friend Dr. Laureen Wishom.  She is an award-winning success coach, strategist, entrepreneur and author.  Since she is all about promoting women, I knew she would be interested.

The luncheon was FABULOUS!!! It was held at woman-owned Fleming’s this past Saturday afternoon. The agenda included a fashion show, financial tips, food, and fun.  I met so many wonderful women like Iman Houston, who “worked it” as one of the fashion show models. Her mom, Ty, appropriately coined the term New Energy to describe the joyous and excited atmosphere that was created by new relationships being formed during the event. 

Oh, I want to mention that Sandy Castillo shared such an amazing healing story (can’t wait for the book)! I was also very much delighted to meet Meredith Raine, Stephani Tipton, Susan Kramer, Denise Marks, and Jane Seaman.  We were all pleasantly surprised and energized with all the great conversations going on between like-minded women. 

On the way out, it seemed like no one wanted to leave. We were all still talking, laughing, networking, and trying to decide what size/color jacket we wanted as our membership gift. It was at this point that I met Susan Deison, Connie Warner and her sister Linda Peck, who was visiting from California.  Although a golfer for many years, I talked Connie into signing up for membership as well.  This was definitely an awesome way to spend the afternoon.  We all had a great time and left with high expectations for the upcoming events.

Thanks Leslie Devitz, Shelley, Shirley, and Women on Course !!

Inspiration – Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.  Mary Kay Ash

Be blessed beyond measure!!

-A