Hey God, can you hold just a moment, my other line is beeping?

This week will be one year since the Wells Fargo layoff. I was reflecting a little with Linds and felt that this was a good time to share this story. During my years at Wells/Wachovia I enjoyed my co-workers and my amazing manager, Debbie Hines, who I will always have the utmost love and respect for. But, I was like many in the corporate world, stressed, overrun with new quotas, forms, meetings, and processes. What kept me in it? The money and the love of helping people with their finances. I referred to it as the golden handcuff. I did not enjoy some of the things that came with the job, but I was very good at it and it paid well. All of that changed on March 23rd, 2011. I had taken the day off to work on R's playground, when my phone rang. It was my Sr. manager asking if I had spoken to anyone from the office that day. I was thinking to myself, "I am off work, I am trying hard not to speak with any of you." He explained that our office of around 250 people was being closed. I remember being speechless and numb. It is hard to explain to someone who has not experienced this for themselves. This was not a choice, but a powerless feeling like I have never felt. The next morning, I remember waking up in a daze. I would be going in to clean out my desk. When I got out of the shower, I walked in the closet and opened my junk drawer that I keep my watch in. A poker chip that was given out at church a few months prior rolled to the front of the drawer and grabbed my attention. This chip had the phrase; "The Best Is Yet To Be" written on the face. On the other side were the words "Hopeful Imagination". WOW! I remember feeling at that moment that, no matter what happened, I was going to be ok.



Looking back one year later, it is amazing how true that was. 2011 was full of down moments, false starts, and fear of the unknown. But, having the faith that the best is yet to be, I have found myself in a much better place. I still have that poker chip in my drawer to remind me that we will not always know where we are going to end up, but we have to believe that good things are to come to those who are faithful and open to God's plans. Now I am not one to talk about my religious believes in great detail. The simplest reason is that I find this to be very personal. However, I find it difficult to tell this story without talking about it.

In my quiet time first thing in the morning, even before all of this happened, I try to tune out all of life's distractions and listen. For an ADD person like myself, this can be very challenging, but I try regardless. During this time is when I receive most of the answers that I am searching for. (To questions that bother me so!). That listening is what led me to the decision to begin with Northwestern and later to leave that position. Some people might look at my time at Northwestern as a failed attempt. I did at first as well. However, during my quiet time I realized that this was a step that needed to be taken. Northwestern sponsored me to sit and pass the securities and insurance exams. This step also turned the light on to show me a career that would take something precious away from me, stress free time with R. It does not matter how worn out she can make me, there is nothing better than singing silly songs and dancing, playing pretend, and reading stories. Those moments are worth more than gold.

There is no place that I would rather be than where I am right now. I know that some out there may think that I have settled. This cannot be further from the truth. When I started working after college, I said many times, "the only thing better would be to do what I am doing in Wilmington." Well little did I know that prayer would be answered. It took 5 years, but it was fulfilled. I have always been a believer in doing what you love. After all, if you don't love it, then why do it? You only have so many years. What a shame it would be to look back on a working career and have to think, "I can't believe I allowed myself to be miserable for that long".

I can truly say that my life is "Better than Good"! (This is an excellent audio book by Zig Ziglar. If you have not listened to it you should.)