Navigating the Holidays with a Fresh Perspective

Well, hey there and happy Friday! This week my posts have centered around getting ready for the swiftly approaching holiday season, and I have been thinking a lot lately about how to make the upcoming holiday season one of joy, not just for everyone else, but for me as well. This year, I won't be spending the holidays with family for numerous reasons, and it has me feeling a little apprehensive.

My life has been through many changes these last couple of years, leaving my job in August and still not knowing what my future holds career-wise, financially, and emotionally has me feeling a bit adrift during what should be a very festive and joy-filled period. But I do know, that it's during these uncomfortable periods in life that we experience the most growth and self-discovery. That is what I am going to try and focus on for the remainder of the year.

As you may recall, I resigned from my job - without a back-up. This is not something I normally would have ever done, but I knew I had to do it. I had to make some serious decisions about my future, and I felt that I couldn't do it in the confines of my employment or behind the back of my boss. I took a big financial hit last year, which leaves my unprepared to be unemployed, but when you know in your bones you need a change, you have to make it happen.

One of the things I have learned in life - usually the hard way - is that change is inevitable. Sometimes it's planned - moving cross-country or starting a new job or relationship and sometimes it's a surprise...you get laid off or your significant other decides he wants to move to Guam with the nanny. Either way, change is a huge opportunity for growth.

When I am going through a difficult or uncertain time, one of the things I like to do to ground myself is to find something to be grateful for. There's always something. Last year, when my life fell apart in the most spectacular fashion - there was still something to be grateful for. My cousin (more like a sister) Judy, came to my rescue - hopped on a plane from 3,000 miles away at a moment's notice. She booked her flight 5 minutes after my phone call.

When I found myself unemployed, in a new city, where I knew no one...complete strangers on Facebook came to my aid. They provided me with a short list of recruiters - all of which were amazing, and within two weeks I had four job offers. I have connected with a couple of those people in real life and proudly call them friends. Another person from the original post reached out to me months later - just to check in on me and see how I was doing. If that is not something to be grateful for, I don't know what is.

One of the things that kept me sane last year was my condo. I bought the place immediately when I moved here, before I knew that I would be unemployed. The place became a refuge for me...at first because it was warm - and it is freezing here in the winter, but also because it felt safe. I have furnished it now and it is so warm and cozy and comfortable. It is my most favorite place I have ever lived in.

Through one of those Facebook strangers that is now a friend, she connected me with a group of people in the area that get together and do things. Because I believe with every fiber of my being that everything happens for a reason and there are no accidents, I agreed to go to an event - a game night - that was being held in my town. I didn't know the exact address until the night before. It turns out it was being held in my own building...at the home of another member, Aleece, who is now one of my most dearest friends. I really have so much to be grateful for.

I plan to do more posts on Gratitude in November, but I think for the remainder of this month, I am mostly going to focus on how to mentally prepare for the holidays, if you're in the midst of struggle or change.

Next up - because I don't want to bore you to death all in one sitting, we'll talk about using the holidays as a time for self-discovery...

#Holidays #Gratitude #Friends #Growth #GoHappyYourself