Friday, October 21, 2011

Thoughts on a year ago...


Sometimes it's crazy to me when I sit and compare my life today to my life last year on this day. It's just crazy how fast things can change - and I didn't even half the life changes some of you have had in the past year... getting married, having a baby, graduating college... etc... the list goes on and on! It's such a simple concept, but things really can change in the blink of an eye.

Last year at this time I was in my first semester of graduate school, but only taking two classes. I was still working full time at Justice (a large children's retailer) and literally counting down the days for when I could turn in my notice (which was soon!). My strategy of just pretending I was still at Club Libby Lu had completely worn off and was no longer working. I couldn't pretend anymore, and I was miserable.

Managing this location, which is a three million dollar store, with a staff of 20-50 (depending on the time of year) and starting school again after six years was ROUGH. There are no other words to describe it. I do not recommend it.

It was around this time that I knew I would turn in my notice around Thanksgiving weekend. I wanted to tell my boss in person, and although I wasn't leaving until January, I wanted to give her plenty of time to find a replacement. Or, possibly help hire my replacement.

So, I was juggling this crazy high volume store, getting ready for Christmas, hiring like a crazy person (which is a job ALONE), taking my first round of midterms in six years - and oh yeah, in a relationship that I knew wasn't going to work. It wasn't working.

Yikes.

Fast forward one year...
  • I am taking SIX graduate courses (one is already done, so only five now).
  • I have two part times jobs instead of one crazy full time job. (The beauty of these two part time jobs? I control the schedule. Completely.)
  • The relationship that wasn't working last year is long gone.
  • And I hate the mall.
As I was sitting with two of my favorite clients on Wednesday night in their weekly "Friendship Class" it was between bingo and crafts, that this all hit me. It was only a year ago. Just one measly year ago, and now... I'm doing something that is much more meaningful and I'm helping others, while also bettering myself. Wow... wow, in such a good way.

That feels amazing.

I like to keep my old planners so I can refer back to them if I need to. It's kind of weird, but they're sort of like journals, and you know from yesterday's post that I like to journal! When I went to look up last year on this date, I couldn't find my planner (I totally just typed journal instead of planner, lol). I know I didn't throw it away, so I don't remember exactly what I was doing, but I have the basic idea.

Now that I have the Erin Condren planner with lots of space to write, I'm trying to take even more anecdotal type notes. This way I can remember all of the good things in life that I want to remember. That's important.

Point is, things change so fast. It's so easy to get down about how things are right now, but within a week, month, 6 months or a year, your life could be completely and utterly different.

What were you doing fall of last year? Has your life changed very much?

7 comments:

Marisa A. said...

I know exactly what you mean! Sometimes I think to myself, how did I end up here (in a good way!) because if you'd told me a year ago that I'd be dating my old bestie from college I'd would've laughed in your face. I wrote a similar post back in June. So glad you're happy now!

http://desmoinesblogger.blogspot.com/2011/06/year-ago.html

Anonymous said...

I keep all my planners too! That's how I remember things. There were a couple years there where I did it all on my Blackberry...but when that thing died, so did all of my little notes. So I'm back to the planner.

My life is 100% different than it was last year, and I'm happier because of it. I'm glad you are too. Yay for happiness!!

Caroline said...

I think about this a lot! Especially this year because my life has literally done a 180. Last year, I was in college, celebrating my 5 year anniversary with a guy, living in Boston. Now I'm working full time in Connecticut, dating a different guy, and interacting with all new people since the move. It's crazy! I don't know how it all happened.

I'm very much like you in that I like to keep detailed planners. I haven't taken the plunge and gotten myself a Erin Condren planner yet, but I'm thinking about it.

Nikki said...

Seriously just emailed you probably the longest "comment" ever lol.

P said...

Fall of last year I was obsessing over my work crush. Now I'm still struggling to get over my break-up with the aforementioned work crush.

Workwise nothing has changed. :-)

Jenn @ Bliss to Bean said...

Hi Amber! I wanted to let you know that I gave you an award--check it out on my blog. Happy Monday!

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

Amber, I am SO happy for you! You've came full circle and your life seems to be full of so much happiness now!!!