Sorry about the hiccup here, folks. Turns out there were some glitches in my website hosting that affected my comments on posts and my e-mail. The comments are fixed, but the e-mail is not, so if you have been trying to get ahold of me, then just write me a message using the contact page on TMP website. There’s lots to update you on, but I still have some phenomenal guest posts to run and I know you want to get back to that.
Without further ado, and in honor of this being the week that we have spent together for the last 6 years, here is a post from my dear friend and assistant (when I’m lucky), Emilee. Emilee has a heart bigger than North America as well as a wicked sense of humor. If Emilee is your friend, you are blessed beyond belief. Blessings on your journey, Em.
When I graduated from college in 2006, I had a plan. I would work for 2 years, pay off some of my student loans, save some money, and then go back to school to become a music teacher. I got a job right out of college working as an administrative assistant in the alumni & parent relations office at my alma mater. 5 years later, I’m finally leaving. But not to go back to school.
For the past 2 years I have been feeling like I needed a change. I needed something different in the way of my work. I was feeling stagnant, bored, not challenged. I had been volunteering with the youth group at my church for about 3 years and loved it! I started looking for new jobs that would use my love of students with my other skills and gifts. I ended up getting a promotion that provided new challenges and managed to get me excited about work again.
Six months ago, everything changed. I still liked my job but there was something missing. I found myself laid up in bed with a broken leg and torn ligament in my ankle. I was bored and had actually grown tired of looking at Facebook and random hysterical blogs & websites (yes. It IS possible). So, I started poking around on some online job boards. I happened upon a job description that blew me away. As I read through it I kept thinking, “Wow. Did they write this job description FOR me?”
Long story short, I applied and was offered the job. As I went through the application process, I realized this was my dream job (other than becoming a rockstar, of course). I would basically get paid to do everything I love to do. I would get to help plan & organize programs for middle school & high school students, put my music degree to good use, and even get paid to hang out with kids! But it would mean leaving everything and everyone I know.
As my great friend & mentor Michele has taught me, my life is what I make it. I get to call the shots. Sure, I may not have control over everything that happens, but I get to choose how I respond. And in those moments when there are 2 (or more) paths to choose from, I am the only one who gets to make that choice.
Self-leadership is really about owning that power and recognizing that my life isn’t something that just happens to me. I play an active role.
The easy thing would be to stay in my good job where I have history and medical benefits and get to run great programs. The easy thing would be to stay in my cute cottage with my amazing housemates just a 10-minute drive from my best friend. The easy thing would be to just stay in this nice little life I’ve built for myself.
Instead, I made a big decision. I accepted the job. I will soon pack all of my earthly belongings (and I mean ALL) in to a U-Haul and move my entire life 7 hours away from everything I know and love. This fact simultaneously terrifies and excites me. I am so excited to start this new chapter of my life, dig into my new job, explore my new city, and build new relationships.
But every now & then, fear creeps in. What if I hate my new city? What if my new job isn’t as awesome as I’m expecting it to be? What if I don’t make any friends?
I have this place I go when I need space to breathe. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining or sunny, day or night, this place rejuvenates me and brings a peace to my soul. What if I don’t find a place like that in my new life? I made the mistake, the other night, of reminding myself of all I’m giving up. From upcoming concerts at local venues to amazing co-workers who I can’t imagine doing a job without to local festivals and summertime events. Not to mention my friends, my church, and the girls that I have mentored for 5 years.
Deep down I know this is the right thing. The doors that opened up at just the right time were too perfect to just be coincidental. I’m getting the opportunity to do what I’m passionate about for a living! That’s incredible! So I know I’ll be fine and I know made the right decision. Despite the moments of sadness, nostalgia, & panic, I am so excited to move forward.
What’s more, I can be confident in the fact that I am putting to good use the things I have learned about self-leadership. I am facing my future head-on. I am not just letting life happen to me. Instead of sitting in complacency, I am making (life changing) choices that will move me (quite literally) out of my comfort zone. But there is a peace in knowing that I’m on the path that I am supposed to be on. I’m just taking one step at a time and, hopefully, becoming more the person I’m meant to be.
I will leave you with this, MOXY friends. Life doesn’t always have clearly marked exit signs when it’s time to take a new road. But even when it does, it’s up to YOU to take that exit. No one else can do it for you. Your life is what you make of it. So have courage, take a breath, and go for it.
As Michele likes to remind us, “Lead your life.”
Emilee Hurlbert is a graduate of Westmont College. Her passions are her faith, youth ministry, and music. She is currently transitioning into a new job that combines all three. She loves to laugh, travel, eat sushi, and drink iced tea. She recently decided to give blogging a try and you can see if she follows through at: http://mylifeflowson.tumblr.com/
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