Does Everyone Know What They're Doing But Me?

The Path of Life.  Yes, I'm in a cheesy mood.
On another note, how cute is my dog?!?

I don’t know about you, but my career path has gone exactly as planned.  

A straight shot down the Road to Success.  No deviations or surprises.  Just perfection.

(Oh gosh that’s funny.  Excuse me a moment as I laugh my little butt off.  Whew.  Ok back to my point).

Hardly.

As a young girl, I had some admirable goals: princess, fashion designer, Ambassador to France, and my personal favorite:  Crayola Crayon Namer. (That’s a thing, right?)

Instead, I've danced a little do-si-do and a loop-de-loo: 

• Subway Sandwich Artist (where I quit after 2 hours)
• Coffee Cart Barista (where I became addicted to Frappuccinos)
• Senate Intern (where I conducted delightful tours of the Capitol)
• Campus Switchboard Operator (where I refused to give a reporter the number of our football team’s kicker after he botched a PAT that resulted in a loss to Nebraska)
• Sales at MTV (where I planned fun parties, and partied a lot)
• Marketing at Proactiv (where I traveled the world)
• VP at a start-up skin care company (where I lost my job after a year)

In other words, an extremely strategic and brilliantly crafted career path [insert more laughter here].  

Not that my tasting menu approach was a bad thing, because many experiences quickly taught me what I didn’t want to do (I’m talking to you, Subway).  

I’ve spent most of my life chasing my definition of success: the right title, loads of money, glory and fame.

And after years of achieving and never being satisfied, it made me wonder:

What the heck am I doing with my life?

After years of wandering, I’ve finally figured it out.  I’ve realized, it isn’t about me.

I believe we’re all here on this earth for a reason.  We’re all born with a unique purpose that God instilled in each of us, and intends for us to use for good. 

Friends who have seen me during some very dark days, have recently told me that there’s something different about me.  The truth is, now that I’ve connected with what I’m meant to do, I can’t help but radiate joy.  

There is beautiful relief in knowing that my life has meaning.  As does my next door neighbor, the screaming baby on my flight, the Whole Foods cashier. 

And you.    

Have you found it? I’d love to hear from you. Please share in the comments. 

If you’re alive, there’s a purpose for your life. - Rick Warren

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from. - Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:16

How It All Began

The inspiration for it all :)

At the beginning of this year, I was pretty upset.  Why?  My life had not gone according to plan.  I never imagined that at 36, I would be divorced and jobless.  Add to that a cross country move to a new city where I hardly knew a soul.  It was a dark and lonely time.  And that's putting it mildly.

And then...something incredible happened.  Through a series of crazy events, in 4 short months, my life was transformed.  I found a great church, started my own consulting company, made wonderful friends, joined two amazing volunteer organizations, was asked to co-lead a women's group, and enrolled in Nutrition School.

Oh.  And I found my life's purpose.

By no means am I saying that I have anything all figured out, or that my life is now easy.  But.  When I decided to focus my life on God and his plan for me, everything started falling into place.

One of the most important changes I made was to practice gratitude daily.  To actively seek beauty and loveliness every single day, even when I didn't feel like it.  Especially when I didn't feel like it.  This simple activity shifted my brain from feeling sorry for myself and depressed about everything I didn't have, to being grateful and overwhelmed at everything I did have.

"Seeking Lovely" was inspired by Philippians 4:8, which is easily one of my favorite verses ever.  "Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise, think about these things."

I promise to find one lovely thing every day to share with you.  My hope is that you're inspired to do the same, and pass it on.  

Source: http://www.biblelockscreen.com/new-testament/philippians-48-iphone/