I started working when I was 17 years old. I worked as a sales associate at Clothestime, a clothing store with the latest and greatest casual fashions for  women (at least that’s how I saw it back then). That was the start of my work life. This new journey took me through many more retail clothing stores and ultimately to the financial industry where I found my passion in training and development. I spent 19 years growing and learning in the financial industry before venturing into the healthcare industry in order to further my career. Well, that was short lived…On February 24th, after 23 years of working and only taking holidays, weekends, maternity leave and scheduled vacations off (I may have taken 1 sick day off somewhere in there too), I was let go from my job. WHAT?!?! What the heck do I do NOW? My bonus daughter starts college in June! We have 3 kids! Crap, where is that savings account?!? AND then began all of the “if only…then…” scenarios in my head. And oh, the scenarios did not just focus on the past 14 months in the healthcare industry, OH NO!! The “if only…then…” scenarios went as far back as 1983 when I lost my mom in a car accident, they went back to 1995 when I graduated high school, they went back to 2008 when I got divorced, and continued to 2015 when I lost my dad to cancer. Holy CRAP…what was I doing! I was digging myself into this pity hole that no one would be able to pull me out of. So I sent out my SOS smoke signals and thru the amazing support and love from my husband, kids and dear friends (special thanks to Mr. Energy) I DUG MYSELF OUT!!! What the HECK was I doing? So what, I lost my job…BUT I have an amazing husband, healthy kids, a roof over my head, food on our table and I have the skills, knowledge and experience that NO ONE can take away. So I put on my big girl pants (well, more like my pencil skirt and high heels – more my style, LOL) and changed my mindset.

Yes, I am going on 3 weeks in this new status but the journey is just beginning. I have faith that this is where God wants me to be right now, so for now, I will enjoy my family, keep learning and growing and keep on blogging…What challenges have you faced and thought “If only…then…”? Guess what, if you are reading this today, you have either made it through that challenge or you are MAKING IT through that challenge. You are alive and breathing and THAT means YOU CAN MAKE IT!! You are not alone. I know the right door will open up for you too…let’s turn this challenge around and LEAP into the new possibilities! The only way we fail in this journey is by not learning from it and growing from it!