Life in Perspective

I don't know if it's a good thing or not, but I've had lots of opportunities to examine life lately. I guess we are going through one of those tough transformations when everything you were used to and counted on has disappeared. It's time to find a new way. Keep what is good, let go of the bad. In some ways it's a painful process, in others ways it can be very uplifting.

My walking buddy said she read a quote in a church magazine or article once that said sometimes you have to step into the darkness before you can find the light. I kind of feel like we are free falling from a bridge, but I guess it's the same thing. I'm just hoping for a soft landing.

Hubby's change in careers hasn't gone as smoothly as we thought, but hopefully we've got all of our ducks in a row and things will work out now. Maybe we had to experience the bad and frustrating part of the industry so that we can appreciate the good? Who knows, but we're starting it all again. He leaves on Friday and will start orientation with a new company on Monday. I'm thinking happy, positive thoughts, but I don't want to say much until the fat lady sings.

I was contemplating a career change myself. I have the skills and the experience to "upgrade" to an executive assistant and I thought that maybe all of this happened so that I would let go of the comfortable and try something new.... but then we got the news that put that on indefinate hold. My co-worker has cancer again.

We've gone from thinking the worst, to having some good news, to waiting for more news. No matter what, it's going to be a tough road ahead. One that I need to be here for. I need to be here for her and I need to be here for the firm. I can only hope that God has a plan for us and he will take care of hubby so that I can be where I need to be. Suddenly our financial situation doesn't seem quite as important anymore. Sure, it would be nice to pay the bills and keep a roof over our heads, but right now I'm just grateful that we are healthy and alive.

I guess it's all of these emotions that came to the surface while I was watching the Today show this morning. It's Katie Couric's last day on the show. I will miss her. I think part of the reason I enjoy the show so much is because I can relate to her. I cried all morning long as I watched all the tearful goodbye's and the memorable moments. I think I cried for them and I cried for what we are going through at work. I haven't gotten much work done lately. I've listened to what each of the bosses has needed to say. I've relayed information and updates. I've tried to be a source of strength for my co-worker. And as I watched the members of the Today show celebrate the relationships they have with each other, I thought about how grateful I am to work with such wonderful people. It is not often that we have the opportunity to create a second family in the workplace. Katie has been blessed with that in her job, and I have been blessed with it in mine.

We don't know what the future will hold. I guess that's true of everyone, every day, but we've been given an opportunity to glimpse the possibility of the future and it has forced all of us to take stock of where we are, what we believe, who we love and what we are grateful for.

I guess we had to take a couple of steps into the darkness to see the light that we experience every single day of our lives.