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Kudos and Thank you

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Nichole Abbott

Nichole Abbott

Virtual Assistant at AVA Virtual Assistance
My blog posts will more than likely consist of ways to enjoy being a virtual assistant, while still having time to spend in the great outdoors.
Nichole Abbott

Latest posts by Nichole Abbott (see all)

I would love to give a shout out to the gentleman that I see walking everyday – rain, snow or shine. 

This stranger to me is always carrying a grocery bag in his hand as he takes his morning or afternoon stroll. This grocery bag is for picking up any trash that he sees along his journey! Kudos to this gentleman for taking matters into his own hands and making a difference in the appearance of a heavily populated area of south Grants Pass!  

I appreciate that you are always courteous to drivers; making sure not to stop traffic to pick up something a driver or passenger, more than likely, threw out their window. 

I was raised to always pack in what I pack out when camping or hiking in nature and I have tried my best to instill in my daughters that if we find something on a trail, to pack it out with us. “You always want to leave the trail looking better than when you got there.”  Some days that could be just one empty soda can and other days it could be a large amount of garbage – somebody dumped intentionally. We take away as much as we can possibly fit in our packs.

It can be devastating to witness people leaving a trace on the trails and by the way, those public trails could potentially be shut down if we don’t take proper care and dispose of our waste in the (often provided) dumpsters or trash cans.

So my challenge to all is please look for a way to be more like the gentleman who walks daily and picks up any trash he comes upon. AVA does everything virtually preventing the use of paper. My family has a goal to always find something to pack out with us when we are out in nature. Every little thing we do to help keep our planet clean is actually a huge thing when we all contribute to the cause.

If you are looking for a way to contribute this holiday weekend, REI is hosting a huge event called Opt Outside Cleanups. Check out the link for locations near you. What a great way to spend Black Friday!

What have you packed out or picked up that has made a difference?  Do you have any hacks that help with cleaning up the trail? Leave a comment below. 

Changes

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Nichole Abbott

Nichole Abbott

Virtual Assistant at AVA Virtual Assistance
My blog posts will more than likely consist of ways to enjoy being a virtual assistant, while still having time to spend in the great outdoors.
Nichole Abbott

Latest posts by Nichole Abbott (see all)

As the weather starts to get cooler, the cooking moves from the outside grill to the oven in the kitchen. The meals turn from BBQ’d hamburgers and macaroni salad to homemade lasagna and hearty vegetable soups. 

“Mom! Why are you smiling?” asks my daughter while we are driving to school.

I come back to reality and tell her that this is the happiest time of year for me. Normally, I try to avoid driving anywhere that I don’t have to, but during the fall months, I could spend hours upon hours driving around the city and country. Ideally, this would be the perfect time of year for a road trip or backpacking trip. I explain to her that some day, I want to learn how to paint so that I can capture all of the colors I see and put it on a canvas so that I can enjoy this majestic view all year round from the comfort of my own couch!

I am so amazed by all the extremely vibrant colors and how iridescent some of them can look when the sun is hitting them just right. I love the sound the leaves make when I am hiking on a trail and the sun has dried them. That crunch you hear is what my daughter considers to be aesthetically satisfying. I would have to agree. 

It never ceases to amaze me that the leaves can change so gorgeously right before they shed down to bare branches. Then they withstand the cold winter months only to start anew when the first sign of spring hits. I believe they come back stronger, bigger and brighter than the year before. Getting totally vulnerable ends up making them stronger! What a concept!

This tells me that I can also (and should also) do the same. We all should be more open to change whether it be in regards to your career, your health, your relationships etc.

Maybe it’s time to do a downsizing on your closet or the financial goals for your family need to be re-evaluated. Whatever the case may be, know that personal growth is unavoidable if you accept and allow that change to happen. 

It’s no wonder I have fallen in love with being a virtual assistant because with all the technology changes (almost on a daily basis) and client needs varying on a day to day basis…..I embrace the idea to grow with my team and expand my knowledge 

“Life, the universe and everything which we see with our eyes is changing constantly. Change is life and if you want to live and enjoy then accept the change. Remember you can’t move forward if you are not willing to accept change.” ~Vandana Sehgal (Wisdomtimes.com) 

See Brilliance, Be Brilliant!

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Nichole Abbott

Nichole Abbott

Virtual Assistant at AVA Virtual Assistance
My blog posts will more than likely consist of ways to enjoy being a virtual assistant, while still having time to spend in the great outdoors.
Nichole Abbott

Latest posts by Nichole Abbott (see all)

That’s like one of those inspirational quotes that you look for, “See Brilliance, Be Brilliant” but it’s true.

A few years ago I wrote an article about the many works of art currently displayed in my office at AVA Virtual Assistance. Still so proud to be displaying them! Each one was created with so much love and thought. And now there’s even more. I find that I’m a better person when I surround myself with the workings of other brilliant minds. I’m continually inspired by them and still feel as I did years ago – that my own creativity is elevated by them.

The most recent work to grace my walls is a piece done by Hannah Batty, VA and brilliant mind. She continues to amaze me and inspire my life. Here is a photo of her work, which YOU KNOW doesn’t do it justice.

I took it off the wall and still couldn’t avoid photographing the glare shining from the glass. I’ll try to update the photo someday with a scan for you, and if you’re local to Grants Pass… you might stop in and see what I mean…

There’s so much detail! It’s beautiful. (This took her MONTHS by the way.)

These cute little characters are her “babies”, Hopi and Navajo (from left to right). That’s one incredibly annoying chihuahua who thinks he’s the big dog on campus and a chi-weener!?! What the hell is that!?! …think, if Yoda were a dog what you would get. LOL! She’s VERY sweet. Anyway…

Every day I feel as though these adorable little furballs are cheering me on. The piece reminds me to breathe, laugh, approach the workday as if you were a dog waiting for your master to get home. It speaks to a saying that my close girlfriends and I have…

“I get to go to work”

It’s about feeling gratitude for the life we have, the work we do, the people we help and the people who help by supporting us. Funny how you get all that from a couple of chihuahuas.

Seriously though, a sliver of Hannah’s brilliance reminds us to go ahead and hang our own brilliance on the proverbial “wall”, for others to enjoy also. Here’s how you do it (inspirational quotes style…but ya gotta say ’em with fake accents):

  • Go with your gut, ya swanky bastard.
  • Trust yourself, pilgrim.
  • Enjoy your own creativity, mk?!
  • Duuuuuuuuuude! Speak up if you have an idea.
  • Sing out loud, lil’ diva.
  • Try something new, ah-ight!
  • “Choose Happy” (or just sing the Happy song by Pharrell Williams)

So, what does your office look like, I wonder? Is it covered with inspirational quotes? What might you have on your walls, bookshelves (even digital ones), window sill?

You don’t have to be good at something to be great. Just let the brilliance in and see what happens. When you surround yourself with who and what you admire, you’ll internalize the goodness without even trying.

Looking for a little more freedom to do your hobbies? Connect with our Virtual Assistant team by Booking a free consultation. Oooh! That’s brilliant too. 🙂 Or just send us an inspirational quote… those are fun too. 😉