For me, the year started with a huge commitment of time, work and creativity to finish up an important project at work. I had the opportunity to be part of the official product launch in Bangkok, Thailand. I was invited to be part of the panel that presented to 30,000 people and conduct (what seemed like endless) product demonstrations and presentations to those in attendance of the event. As part of that experience, I was able to participate in some sightseeing and explorations of Bangkok and the area. It was an incredible adventure and I will always have a special love for Southeast Asia.
To prove that when we start to get comfortable in life, challenges inevitably follow – I was laid off in March and found myself unemployed for the first time in my adult life. As unpleasant as it is to be out of work, I also found it opened some ideas to me I hadn’t considered. I parted ways with my former employer with fantastic experience and friends and associates around the world – for that, I am very grateful.
Over the spring, I visited family, took a holiday to Provence, and brushed off a few hobbies I had been neglecting. France was just a dream and exactly what I needed to get motivated and refocused in life. Southern France is an amazingly beautiful corner of the earth! Upon my return, I started some consulting work and actively interviewing around the country.
In the summer, I kept at the work of finding work and found an opportunity to work with a start-up project. It was a lot of work, but put me in partnership with some amazing professionals. I did some local exploring of the western US and kept at some fun personal projects. Sadly, my dear grandmother passed in June and I feel her loss in my life keenly. I am grateful for her legacy of learning, service and hard work. The happy side effect was the opportunity to reconnect with family and family history.
In the summer, I kept at the work of finding work and found an opportunity to work with a start-up project. It was a lot of work, but put me in partnership with some amazing professionals. I did some local exploring of the western US and kept at some fun personal projects. Sadly, my dear grandmother passed in June and I feel her loss in my life keenly. I am grateful for her legacy of learning, service and hard work. The happy side effect was the opportunity to reconnect with family and family history.
With fall bought a singular experience of completing my first half marathon in Park City. It was absolutely amazing and terribly taxing, but I am thrilled I put myself up for a tough goal and accomplished it. I was elected to my community’s HOA and returned to tutoring at an elementary school nearby. The start-up project I had been working on over the summer failed to accomplish its goals and so I redoubled my efforts to find an employment opportunity as I DO NO do well without something challenging to do.
Here we are in winter and I have a few more consulting and start-up projects, but not yet the gainful employment I have been working for. I am still doing some searching and interviewing across the country and locally and feel confident something will come my way soon. My dad and stepmom joined me for Thanksgiving (my first solo) and we had a lot of fun and a lot of food – a perfect way to start out the holiday season. I have entered this season with the spirit of gratitude and excitement for the future. With love and well wishes – Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!
Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home! ~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836
Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home! ~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836
