I've spend some time thinking about a blog post regarding my 30th birthday, which I celebrated a little over a week ago. Since I've spent most of my late 20s questioning my decisions, mistakes, successes, and failures, I wanted to truly find the positive in the last 30 years.
After a weekend with my two best friends from high school, I was reminded of how far I've actually come from my adolescence. I dreamt of success in the BIG city. Of course, my idea of success back then was big buildings with glass doors, business suits with stripes, and climbing my way up the ladder of life. Over the past three years, no matter how hard I tried I couldn't shake the word failure out of every conversation I had regarding my professional life and wondered if I would ever truly succeed.
My definition of success had to change. Truth is I'm exactly where I want to be. I've have a great job with exciting and new tasks that keep me busy. My colleagues are young professionals full of energy and love for all things Chicago. I rent the tiniest of studios in a lovely neighborhood in a city with the richest of histories. My roommate and cat, April, keeps me smiling on the long days. Most importantly, I have fallen in love with the kindest, sweetest person I have ever met. Pat reminds me (almost daily) of how far I have come and I'm excited to see where this Chicago adventure will lead us.
This city has welcomed me with opened arms (besides those parking tickets) and is truly a place I call home. It hasn't been an easy 30 years, but it has led me to this moment and I am grateful to whatever Power has made this journey possible
