A Better Door
The last part to my story….closing the door.
“Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don’t fight them. Just find a different way to stand.”-Oprah Winfrey
I end the story that I began on this blog two months ago with this quote from Oprah Winfrey because I truly did find a new center of gravity when I left that unhealthy place in January 2018 and walked into my new life.
It was ten weeks from the date of my resignation to the start of my new job. Those ten weeks were the most painful and fearful of my life. I had worked so hard to get to where I was professionally and, I felt, I may have thrown it away. What if I made a mistake? What if I ruined everything I had worked so hard for 25 years to achieve? I was fortunate to have many opportunities offered but the position I ultimately chose for one reason: It was my passion. I made a conscious decision to go back to what I love rather than chasing material interests. This choice has changed my life and the person I have become. I have changed physically-I no longer have chest and stomach pains from stress; however, even more importantly, my entire “essence” has changed. I have this “Happiness Planner” that I had started before all of this “change.” In the beginning, you are supposed to circle your weaknesses or negative traits. Some of the traits I chose for myself were “aggressive”, “arrogant”, “stubborn”, “intolerant”, “impatient” and “controlling.” I had a huge “ah hah” moment (thanks again Oprah) when I realized I am no longer any of these things. My new “center of gravity” is kindness and gratitude. I am happy. I am free.
There’s the quote: “When one door closes another door opens, but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” I am forever grateful that I opened that new door of opportunity that was given to me.
“Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it.”-Brene Brown
-The Strong(er) Stumbler
