There's ALWAYS a reason...
Throughout my life I've faced some things that, at the time, I felt were the end of the world, but now I see that those things happened for a reason and led me to where I am today.
An old friend and mentor popped up on my feed today and it got me thinking. Almost two years ago I applied for a transfer from morning news to work alongside her on Twin Cities Live. At the time I avoided talking about my interviews with anyone for fear of embarrassment if I didn't get the job. Only a few close friends and family knew I was applying for this job. Needless to say, I didn't get the job. I was pretty broken up about it and eventually quit my morning news job to go work for my mom's company, Dahl Consulting. It was safe and easy. I knew what to expect and I knew I wouldn't be hurt if I didn't grow in the company. Later that year she sold the company prompting me to move back to California.
What's my point? At the time I thought losing that job was the end of the world. I didn't understand why I missed the opportunity. I already worked for the company and my references were great. My experience wasn't perfect, but I knew I could get there. I now understand that it truly wasn't meant to be because losing that opportunity eventually led me to move back to California. I needed a push, something to remind me that I wasn't meant to be in Minnesota.
With that move came a lot of heartbreak. It was not easy to leave so much of my family behind. My relationship at the time, that I thought was going somewhere, ended up fizzling out and I thought I was losing my future. When I eventually came home to California, I fell head over heels, all over again, for the guy I met freshman year of college. I'm not certain I ever would have found my way back to him without those few uncomfortable pushes. Our relationship isn't perfect, but it is the most real and raw relationship I have ever been in.
Do I have it all figured out now? Of course not, and I don't think I ever will have everything totally figured out. I used to think that by my mid-twenties I'd be settling into a great career, my health would be on track and my anxiety would be well managed. But what I've learned, especially in the last two years, I am always a work in progress and that is wonderful.
The take-away and the thing I want everyone to remember is we're on this path and everything happens for a good reason, even if you don't see it yet, you will.