At first, I struggled a lot with stepping down from Management, a role that took me years to achieve.
I started with the company fresh out of college with a degree suited for the role but first, the experience was necessary. I became a shift within 6 months of landing the job.
Life doesn’t happen the way I want it to? Strange.
The company started to downsize versus expand. Hence my ASM goal was quickly snuffed out. Left smoldering I returned from Chicago to Kalamazoo (3 years later). Still in the role of a shift supervisor. I had a friend approach me and ask if I wanted to start a catering company.
I don’t even know if I like cooking food, I thought to myself.
So I poked around on the internet and found a sous chef job on a mountaintop. Let me go take this Job and see if I like cooking in bulk. WHAT? That job was in California, all the way on the other coast. Do you ever think to yourself in your current role, what am I doing here and why, how did I get here?
To shorten this up, it was a 9-month job that led me to the town of Chester CA. Which led me on adventures to Quito Ecuador. That experience was broken up into two parts. With a stint back in the states working for Nature’s Classroom in Groton MA! Back to Quito, where I took a ropes course (yes, in South America) that ropes course would land me BACK at camp (A role I’d had for 5 summers during college, right before Chicago happened) Low Ropes Instructor with one of my favorite Campers, turned Staff member. Fell for my Husband (who I’d known 7 years at that point)
After that summer. I went back to Starbucks and resumed the same shift supervisor role. That was 2010 I spent a year as a shift in 2011, got married, and was pregnant. 2011-2013 two babies pregnant forever “almost ready” to get that ASM spot. Just need to work on a few more things.
Miraculously after Esther was born. I paneled and passed and became an assistant store manager! And in a shorter time frame a manager. I graduated from college in 2005. Took me 8 years to land that role I’d wanted from the beginning. But 8 years of Amazing exploration and life!!
My point.
Don’t question life.
If we try to make things work in our time and in our way what do we miss out on??
Take chances, and change it up even though you might think you need to keep on the same path because it’s “working” don’t let that path WORK you.
You know it in your gut/conscience/soul if you’re meant to switch it up.
Trust in that feeling.
Trust (It’s the Lord speaking to you)
If I’d pushed to get that role in 2005/2006 my first year, what would have happened where would I have been, and who would I be?
Just to clarify I’m NOT perfect and that was a hot mess of a bumpy road.
I stopped listening to the Lord
I stopped seeking him because I thought he stopped seeking me.
Yet he never stopped seeking or loving me.
And I never stopped trusting in him even when I thought I had.
I always listened.
And I found my way to here and now, and I’m still not perfect but I aim to be!
On the days that I struggle to wonder what I am doing at this juncture of life, I trust and have faith I’m right where I need to be.
My management is just directed elsewhere it is directed towards my children and helping them to manage their lives. To guide them to grow into the amazing people they already are, to help their story unfold, to lift them up, and to love unconditionally!
Proverbs 22:6 Direct your child onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.
What is your path?
Even if you step off the path or have been following alongside it.
It’s never too late to step onto the path and step out in faith!