Once upon a time I arrived to work early, squished into the elevator with 9 grumpy people, smiled to myself and thought, “I have the best job in this company”.

I clung to that otherwise ordinary day, that fairy-tale feeling of it, even when the reality was no longer true.

Do you love your job? If not, would you give up all that you’ve built in order to re-access and move down a different path to happiness?

I wouldn’t. I'm too chicken.

However, sometimes, we don’t get the choice. Sometimes something much grander than us gives us a kick in the blonde boot. My kick came in the form of a layoff.

Today, for the first time in 16 years, I am officially unemployed. That seems bad.

Until you look at it from a renewed perspective:
Today my displacement from a giant, life-sucking corporate entity ends and my severance begins. And I’m really happy about this fact!

I’ve already posted the story of the big break-up. You’ll have to return to that time to feel my frustration, humiliation, and defeat.

But now I realize these feelings were only temporary. Some things changed since I was that girl in the elevator.

My job had taken a really bad turn into PowerPoint land. I was stressed and under-appreciated. And everyone around me noticed.

My life had altered due to a soul-bearing illness and thus my priorities had changed. And it was time to do something about it.

My last few years had been blessed by employment offering an amazing health insurance plan when I needed it most, a vested savings plan for a fairly solid future, and lay-off package that would carry me to the first day of my new life as a law student. And it was time to take advantage of all this good fortune.

All these things were gifts, though they didn’t seem so at the time. All the elements I need to switch to a path of fulfillment have placed themselves within my reach. I don’t think life could have crafted a more clear-cut plan to my future.

And selfishly I hope it continues because it takes moxie to leave what’s comfortable and open yourself to discover what truly makes you happy.

My dad used to say “Work is work. You’re not supposed to enjoy it”.

But I have a better plan. One that involves rediscovering the feeling of elation about my job. One that offers fulfillment. One that concludes with a happily ever after.