Unenjoyment

Well, it's been a few weeks since I've had the motivation to put my thoughts down to words. Actually, I've wanted to but refrained for fear of the nasty bits I was afraid would spew forth. It's been one hell of a year and I'm both excited and terrified of what the new one will bring.

The past month has been a whirlwind of emotional and spiritual upheaval. It began with the announcement that the large company I work for would be cutting 2500 employees globally. As I am at the bottom of my seniority pool, this did not give me a warm fuzzy.

After numerous assurances by my management that they were doing everything they could to ensure that I would be retained, I received my separation package the week before Christmas. Merry Christmas to me, right? I vowed to be a big girl about it, after all, this is a global economic crisis and I'm in pretty good shape otherwise, so what did I have to be upset about?

I took to holding my very own pity party which lasted a week or so, give or take, and then began to really think about what I want to be when I grow up. After all, I am only 39 years old, in fairly good health, not awful on the eyes, personable, and genuinely an interesting person. I really have little to hold me here in Michigan. My son is graduating HS in the spring (God Willing!) and I'm romantically unattached. My sister hasn't spoken to me for years and I have no contact with my niece and nephews. No parents to visit, and most of my friends are so busy we only seem to be able to get together a few times a year. I love to travel and to give back to the earth and the community...

I think I may have decided to chuck it all and go exploring! I have always wanted to travel the world and do mission work. I think I will begin by taking some time off, and maybe do the backpack/Europe thing. After that, I'm hoping to be able to fill my time with mission trips and occasional return trips home to check on the kids.

I'm sure, eventually, I will become a grandma and have a reason to stick around. At that time, hopefully the economy will have settled and I'll be able to find meaningful work somewhere in a warmer clime perhaps!

For now, I am doing the research, looking in to selling my house, or at least renting it out...maybe I'll just let the bank take it back and not worry about that extra bit of string to tie me to Michigan! I'm going to sell and give away as many of my possessions as I can and I'll store what's left...I've got an excellent collection of Saint Nik's I'd like to hold on to if I can!

Well, if you have any ties to anyone in Europe that would be welcoming to housing a stranger for a night or two or 10, let me know!

Peace and Happy New Year!
Michele