I am Alena and this is My Story...

How I came to be where I am...

A few years ago I came to an important realization and it changed the course of my life. It came to me one day, while I was contemplating how depressed I felt, that I was working at a job I hated so I could pay for a house, and I was paying for this house I didn’t want so I could work at this job. After that I did some soul searching to find out what I did want in life. What I really wanted was to move back to my home town to live on a derelict farm that I had inherited. Playing into this decision is my conviction that we all are headed for an economic collapse. I strongly felt the need to be where I could feel safe and get ready for whatever might come. So after setting my affairs to order, and quitting my job, I moved to my rundown old farm and started trying to make something of it.

After two years the house is 3/4 renovated and the garden is coming along but it’s still hard work! You see, the farm had been abandoned for about 8 years and Mother Nature had taken over (picture the scene from Sleeping Beauty where the Prince had to fight his way through acres of brambles to reach the Princess). But it turns out that all those nasty brambles are actually acres of blackberry vines! Now I have a beautiful all organic garden and I’m finally able to do what I feel is my life’s mission…start a small animal rescue. I currently have 3 dogs, and 11 cats!

I have also gone back to university to complete my PhD in Psychology so at least if the world doesn’t end I can come out of this with a new career.

I currently have an MS in Health Education, Kinesiology, and Sports Studies. I am also certified as a Personal Trainer and in Dietary Guidance. That was the job I had that I hated – I had really started to resent fat/unfit people and I thought if another person told me what they had for lunch I might kill them – see time for a career change!

I am still concerned about the economy but at least I will go out doing something I truly love and I am happy.

I am out of class for the summer and soooo bored so I decided to bite the bullet and do my intro thread. I can’t wait to meet you all!
-Alena

Welcome aboard.

Have fun and I'll see you on the boards.

GM

I love your solution and wish I had the latitude to do what you did (and the inheritance). The only thing I am wondering is... when you decided to go back to school, why did you pick Psychology? You were getting sick of people telling you what they ate for lunch, and now you are in training for a profession where people will tell you all their problems...

What you are doing sounds great!

Need any help?

Welcome to the board. Enjoy your stay.
Neat story.

That sounds great, I've felt I need to get out of the city for a while now, I sit and look out at the mountains many times a day. The fear of change, having no shops or services nearby etc. It's a tiny bit daunting.

I always found Kinesiology great fun but in truth it still freaks me out a little having it done, I guess it's the feeling of losing control of my body even for a split second. Good fun watching other people though

Anyway nice to meet you, look forward to more of your posts!

The countryside is definately where it is at Good move, I hope you are feeling better about your situation and each day is more enjoyable than before.

I also ditched the high pressure job and ridiculous commute to start my own business and it has been a pleasure for the last 2 years.

Goodluck with your quest!

Hello and Welcome to the Jungle we call ATS
lots of good topics to get into on here !
Again Welcome to ATS from Texas
Enjoy the Forums

Hi,
That too is my dream,to start a cat sanctuary and I can see where you are coming from re peoples inconsequential "problems" working and caring for animals that have had a rough start in life sure gives you a strong sense of perspective!
Keep us posted on how your sanctuary works out.

reply to post by Alena Michelle



Hi Alena, welcome to the Introductions Forum, a place to say hello to the ATS community. For now you can reply to any thread in any member forum you wish, as well as send & receive (PM's) Private Messages to Staff only for now. Once you have achieved 20 posts, you will then be able to start your own threads and additionally send & receive messages to and from fellow ATS members.

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Take your time and enjoy. If you have any questions just ask.

Sauron,
Super-Moderator.

Welcome to ATS!

Hope you enjoy your time & manage to find any answers you're lookin' for...

Hold on...you've been a member since 2009, so why are you introducing yourself now?

reply to post by Alena Michelle


Glad to have you here. I am a new member too. I am happy to here that you have made changes to make your life better. I look forward to reading some of your posts.

reply to post by nake13

you got that right..while we whine and pine something or someone is suffering and we might be able to
do something if we were not so centered upon ourselves..after all, what good would it do you to slave all
your life over a job you hated to own a house you really did not want. the lady woke up before it was too late..
when you age you may or may not be physically be able to turn your life around. it can't be perfect, her
decision but it was not meant to be perfect..otherwise she'd not be living on this earthly plain. it's just that
she is probably more balanced mentally and emotionally and who knows maybe spiritually as well.

reply to post by Grey Magic


Thank you!
I look forward to it!

reply to post by gwynnhwyfar

Hi! I decided on psychology because 1.) It pays well and if I have to listen to people's problems at least I can charge them $100 per hour for it. 2.) I will be in school forever - thus putting off having to return to the "real world" for as long as possible 3.) In psychology, unlike personal training, I do not have to touch/measure people's body fat. I don't really like touching strangers - ugg. I am a good listener and I do like helping people I just feel like I can do it in a way that doesn't make me touch them

Originally posted by CaptChaos
What you are doing sounds great!

Need any help?

Only of you own your own lawn tractor and your life's passion is hoeing weeds

reply to post by granpabobby

Thank you for the welcome - I am in TX too - far far NE corner.

Originally posted by nake13
Hi,
That too is my dream,to start a cat sanctuary and I can see where you are coming from re peoples inconsequential "problems" working and caring for animals that have had a rough start in life sure gives you a strong sense of perspective!
Keep us posted on how your sanctuary works out.

Do you have cats/dogs too? How many?

Originally posted by SmoKeyHaZe
Hold on...you've been a member since 2009, so why are you introducing yourself now?

I like to put things off for as long as possible - procrastination is my best coping skill

Actually it's because I have a tread I want to do - "The Underwear Gnomes Strick Again." Its a working title - that may not be what I call it.