The last time I posted it was April 2014... too long ago! A lot has changed! I will do my best to capture all that you have missed.
As my last post stated, as of January 2014 I had become unemployed. By April, I was starting to go stir crazy. I was missing structure, routine, and yes having a job. I was missing working for the American Cancer Society; the organization I thought I would retire from... I was wrong.
I continued to search for a job that I could do and I would enjoy. Here is how the rest of the year went.
In June I took a Director of Public Relations position with Care Free Medical. I enjoyed this position incredibly. Unfortunately, this position was only a part-time position. I knew it was great for the time being, but could not be my final stop.
In July, Kathy Lynch, best college friend ever, came to visit me here in MI. We had a great time, seeing the sites around time. I even got her to go on a 3 hour tube trip down a river... for those of you that know Kathy that is a big accomplishment on my part.
In Sept I took a full time position as the Executive Director for the Old Town Commercial Association. This position is in "my hood". I live just outside Old Town and now I would be able to help this area grow and thrive. I have enjoyed this position. It has it's challenges... daily, but I have enjoyed getting to know the community; the wonderful business owners, residence, and property owners. They have all been extremely welcoming.
Also in Sept I took an amazing road trip with my sister. We went back to our childhood home in Maine and visited it for the final time. My father sold our house in the fall of 2013, luckily the family who bought it was okay with Amanda and I going back for a visit. It was wonderful to see friend again and relive a piece of our childhood together. Walking through that house was weird, difficult and amazing. The house had a weird sense of "not ours" and yet still "home". I can't explain it, but I felt comfortable there and yet still out of place. We both got some wonderful pictures, that I hope to post later when I do my year in review - all pictures. This was a trip filled with memories that I will never lose.
In February, I was lucky enough to start a relationship with a man who was there for me through this rough, unemployed time. He was (and is) fully supportive and willing to just listen to me get excited, disappointed, hopeful and discouraged all in the same day. I'm not sure how I would have made it through this past year without him. In November, I was able to spend time with him and his family and get to know them a little more.
In December, Amanda, Matt, the nephews and I took a road trip to Florida to see my Dad and Jen for Christmas. It was a long trip down and back, but the stay was worth every second. It was nice to get a week with family, and enjoy some warm weather.
This year had it's ups and downs, but here is what I learned: I was able to see who my friends were. I am happy to say that all of my friends came through for me with support. Everyone is busy and everyone has priorities that take their time, but all of my friends were there for me. Whether it was for just a dinner or drink to talk, a night out to distract me, a phone call to here me complain, lunch time talks while they were working and I was bored, or to help me make connections to move toward that next step.
Even though being unemployed was stressful and not fun, I am thankful that I had that time. It gave me extra time to spend with my family. I was able to do more things with my father, nephews and sister. The extra time also helped me focus on me and I was able to give time to starting a relationship; time that I usually gave to work.
Although, this was a tough year, I have learned a lot about myself and just how precious time really is. I have experienced some losses this year; loss of dreams, loss of time with those I would have liked to know better, and loss of my childhood home. I have gained so much more; love, friends, time with family, memories that I will keep forever and most importantly I gained the sense strength in myself.
