Gratitude — Gratitude

I can’t believe it’s been 4 weeks since I last wrote a post! I knew I’d be busy with family and friends, enjoying everything I’d missed this last year about life back home, but it’s been eye opening to realize that I’ve hardly had a free moment for myself now that I’m pretty much on my own with The Gents. And when I do have a moment, I do yoga...and I may have gotten my nails done a couple times! As I have said before, everyone’s definition of self-care changes with life events. :) Next up is finding more time for writing, and then drawing. I really hope it will come, but I’m not putting too much pressure on myself. I’m just enjoying our time here, appreciating each day, and reflecting.

During this time a number of my beliefs have been reinforced:

– America, even with its current short-comings, is still the greatest country in the world

– Adjustments are hard, but life changes are ever harder – exponentially so for toddlers

– Stay at home Mamas, with NO help, have such a tough job

I’ve mentioned this before in reference to my time living in London and since we’ve been in Riyadh, but the United States really IS awesome. Anyone who lives here and doesn’t recognize how precious our freedoms are, despite the many frustrations of our government, needs to spend an extended period of time outside of this country.

This may sound overly simplified and superficial, but – with its fresh air, parks, grocery stores, farmers markets, malls, ease of driving, restaurants, being able to go to church, not having to worry about being confronted by religious police for not being “properly” covered, etc. – living in the U.S. is SO much easier! I hope you all appreciate what you have and are thankful everyday being here.

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I didn’t really think about how each of these four phases of this trip – Chicago, Michigan (at my brother’s), Ann Arbor pre-delivery, and Ann Arbor post-delivery – might affect The Gents. Each of these phases is like a short-term move, and moves take time to time to settle-in and adjust to. It’s been tough on C&R.

As I’ve written before, they sense change is coming, but the last few weeks has been a lot to deal with. They’ve been in so many different environments, they’re constantly over-stimulated, their day-to-day routine is so different and now J is back in Riyadh. It’s been idyllic though, constantly around family and playing outside whenever they want. In these few weeks they’ve grown so much, especially in their communication, and I’m really proud of them.

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That being said, they’re pushing their boundaries since we’ve arrived Stateside. This is the most challenging time I’ve ever experienced with them, especially now that J is back in Riyadh. I truly feel like a stay at home mother now that we’re completely on our own during the day. I appreciate help so much more now! My patience is being tested constantly though. I just hope I can be the best Mama for them…and that they don’t put me into an early labor! Stay tuned… xo

In my career I’ve been fortunate enough to work with a number of global brands that have given me the opportunity to learn about advertising and marketing in other parts of the world and exposure to places I might never visit. In May 2013, I worked on a new business pitch for Chanel that took me to Paris. It was crazy and stressful, but I always look back on it fondly. I made connections with senior leadership in our company that I never would have otherwise and was able to be part of the pitch presentation team. What a career confidence building experience! Unfortunately we didn’t win the business, but had we won I would have moved to Paris to work on the global team. Amazing, right?

Funny thing is at that point in my life I had no desire to live abroad again. I had already lived in London and came back to really fall in love with Chicago. I was able to get home to Michigan to see family frequently, I had a great group of friends/support system, a nice disposable income to do what I pleased, and I enjoyed the work I was doing. The only thing missing in my life was someone to share it with.

Admittedly, I was kind of relieved when we didn’t win. I wouldn’t have to grapple with a decision and feel like I was sacrificing myself for the company or feel guilty that I was giving up a once in a lifetime opportunity. In my mind, I wouldn’t have the time or the opportunity to meet anyone if I was bouncing around the globe and working ridiculous hours on a new piece of business. I wanted to stay put in Chicago and see who might come my way.

Soon after the loss my boss came to me with a potential opportunity to move to Buenos Aries. I didn’t tell him no, as I knew it was a long shot since my Spanish isn’t good enough to be leading a client team in-country. And when he came to me again a week later with an another opportunity to move to Dubai I just flat out told him, as much as I appreciated I being considered, to please stop mentioning my name for these positions. He was surprised, knowing my love of working on global accounts. He thought this would make up for us not winning Chanel. Only once before this conversation had I ever opened up to a superior, but I felt I owed it to him to be honest about what I wanted in my career and personal life. He completely understood. To this day he is still one of my favorite bosses.

And then few days later that June I ran the life changing Ragnar Relay where I met J. Weeks after we started dating in July he got his offer with the State Department and then moved to Virginia in September. Surely his career would require that he work at a US Embassy somewhere else in the world and I knew I would make that journey with him. Naturally, the universe was pulling me out the US, again. Knowing he was just starting this new career, I let him take the lead on where. My only stipulation was, and still is, that there be a Starcom or Publicis office at any potential post location so I can continue working. We'll see what options we have for our next post. :)

I do believe we all have a path, but we can alter the path with our action or inaction. I also believe with faith, open-mindedness, getting outside of our comfort-zone, and positivity that greater opportunities will present themselves on our path. So many events happened in my life before I met J that prepared me for where I currently am and for that path I'm grateful.

And so begins my gratitude journal...