The AntiSyphus Effect

New year, new look, new focus

Well, I've been gone for quite some time now, but I kept the site running for several reasons:

• Folks continue to come by and read what I've written (which is really gratifying, so thank you).
• I always planned to come back to it at some point, because...
• I still have lots to write about.

So, where have I been lo these many months? Well, grasshopper, it's a long story. In upcoming posts, I'll tell you all about how I got sick and nearly died, decided to change my life completely (so as to avoid a repeat performance of getting sick and nearly dying), changed jobs, met a wonderful man (when I wasn't even really looking), became engaged to be married (after nearly eight years being divorced, which - yowza, what an adjustment!), sold my house (without even trying!), and finally decided to return to writing.

I fully expect that my audience (which, in the interests of full disclosure, was probably never all that large to begin with) will have dwindled somewhat, and I'm okay with that. The Internet is truly a 'what have you done for me lately' medium, and I'm sure I'll have to earn an audience all over again.

That said, I've redesigned the blog a bit (okay, so I changed the color scheme - give me a break, okay? I'm busy!), and as the title of the post indicates, I'll be making some changes to the focus of the blog. You'll get to find out exactly that that means down the road. For now, expect to see some very personal writing about some very personal stuff over the next week.

If you're a reader from the good old days, welcome back. And if you're a new reader, just plain welcome!

[sigh] It's good to be back.

Five(ish) Things

Kathy Sierra, of Creating Passionate Users, has tagged all of her readers with a Five Things about Me meme. Being a passionate reader of Kathy's blog, I feel obligated to respond:

0) What's your name and website URL? (optional, of course)

My name is Kathleen DeFilippo; my URL is http://antisyphus.typepad.com/.

1) What's the most fun work you've ever done, and why? (two sentences max)

Managing a temp agency during the late eighties and early nineties. It was fun because there's nothing like the kick I got out of helping people find work and improve their skills (it's also where I started honing my skills as a trainer).

2) A. Name one thing you did in the past that you no longer do but wish you did? (one sentence max)

Performing in musical theater productions.

B. Name one thing you've always wanted to do but keep putting it off? (one sentence max)

Learn karate.

3) A. What two things would you most like to learn or be better at, and why? (two sentences max)

I'd like to learn how to play the guitar, because I've been known to come up with terrific song parodies (and being able to perfom said parodies would probably be useful in speaking engagements). I'd also like to learn Irish Gaelic, because I'm of Irish descent, and I think that it'd be a blast to go to Ireland one day and be able to speak in the native language (yeah, I know they speak English there; humor me).

B. If you could take a class/workshop/apprentice from anyone in the world living or dead, who would it be and what would you hope to learn? (two more sentences, max)

I would love to take a vocal performance class from Ella Fitzgerald.

4) A. What three words might your best friends or family use to describe you?

Funny, persistent, creative

B. Now list two more words you wish described you...

Athletic, artistic

5) What are your top three passions? (can be current or past, work, hobbies, or causes-- three sentences max)

My first passion is being a good mother (raising my son to be independent, happy with himself, and brave enough to follow his true calling in life - whatever that may be). Another passion of mine is helping business leaders to really get that making their employees happy will lead to more success than any other initiative they can implement. Finally, I'm passionate about fun as a cornerstone of a good life (silliness is the original anti-aging potion, if you ask me).

6) (sue me) Write--and answer--one more question that YOU would ask someone (with answer in three sentences max)

Question: In what way has your life turned out differently than you'd planned?

My answer: In a way, my life turned out exactly as I planned it: I started off wanting to be a performer (theatrical actress, singer); although I'm not an actress or singer, I consider speaking and training to be every bit as much a performance art. And I have that child I'd always planned for. Life may not be precisely as I planned it, but I seem to have matched up pretty well to the big picture.

[Bonus: What is one question you wish people would ask themselves?]

What will I do today that will get me closer to the life I want?

If you've read this, consider yourself tagged. So get to writing, and send a link back here.