I am feeling gratitude. I am feeling blessed.
These last few years been rough – but good. I had to throw my plan out the window – the career I was working for was crumbling under my feet and I had to spread my wings to fly. I took myself across the country to experience the East Coast. I left everything familiar behind. I sold and stored my belongings – packing my life into my car. This experience was priceless.
I met one of my best friends – without her I would be lost.
I met a colleague, with whom I have endless conversations about the demise of our industry and our passions and visions for ourselves. He has been an indispensable resource.
I drove from Wisconsin to New York. Then From New York to Texas. Then Texas to Minnesota. In search of something that I did not know. I ultimately found it in Wisconsin.
Recently, during a discussion with my colleague – who is currently in Ohio, it occurred to me that I was in search of my value. MY value. I had to drive quite a ways, but I found it.
The things I learned
There are countless things that I learned. But there are several that have been ‘life-changing.’ I love how I can look back on my difficult times and see how they are blessings. I can remember dealing with knee pain and surgeries, thinking: why, why, WHY? But today, I am a much better trainer and coach because of that experience. I am much more invested in injury prevention, knowing the struggles of the aftermath. I wouldn’t exchange the years of pain for anything! But, what did my cross-country journey teach me?
I learned how to build and maintain relationships.
I learned to be confident in what I know.
I learned who my true friends are – some of this was very painful.
I learned how to let go.
I learned to enjoy downtime – something that otherwise had made me anxious.
I learned to be slow to talk (ok, so I am still working on this one).
I learned to stand up for what I believe in – this was moreso solidified.
I learned what my dietary needs were – and that I had fine-tuned my body far better than I had realized.
I learned that you can call yourself an expert, and very few will no whether you are or not.
I learned that the people in Texas really ARE the friendliest people you will ever meet.
I learned that I have a strong Wisconsin accent – although most of those telling me this had never met a true midwesterner – so they may be in for a shocker someday.
I learned how to say when enough is enough.
I learned MY VALUE.
The bottomline
I was called back to my home state. The former clients who have been displaced. I could not turn my back to the plethora of opportunities: writing, training, coaching, business development, corporate wellness, and MORE!
What is my value? I cannot quite put it into words. But I know that I offer something that very few do. When asked who my local competition is, I can confidently say: NO ONE. No one else does what I do, how I do it.
And that feels good.
