Everything happens for a reason. If it’s meant to be, it will be. It will happen when you least expect it. The moment you stop looking, you’ll find it. When it’s right, you’ll just know it.
Don’t you just HATE how whenever something really bad happens, you are repeatedly fed these seemingly meaningless cliché statements, as your friends and family scramble helplessly to comfort you?
I mentioned in a recent post the remarkable parallels between dating and job interviewing. Well, in the past year, I experienced more than a few bumps in both departments, so yes, I have heard the above cliché phrases hundreds of times.
After a job interview where I really wanted the job, but I knew in my gut I hadn’t gotten it: “You’ll have to wait and see. If it’s meant to be, it will be.”
After a couple of bad dates: “The moment you stop looking, you’ll find it. When it’s right, you’ll just know it.”
Insert eye roll.
(Thanks for the help, Ryan)
The thing is…I’m actually starting to believe all of this advice.
Awhile back, when I was trying to decide whether or not to move permanently back to Omaha, I met someone at my gym. We connected on a variety of work-related topics, and he mentioned, as a successful businessman, that he would be happy to pass my resume around. He was kind enough to put me in touch with a few people, but as my life switched back and forth from Omaha to NY, it was difficult for me to follow up with those contacts.
I ran into him at the gym when I officially moved back to Omaha, and we reconnected briefly. A couple of months later, as I was quickly learning that the job search wouldn’t be quite as easy as I thought, I received a phone call from him. He would be taking over a position in a specialty foods company based in Omaha, and they were looking for a marketing director. Incidentally he had read my blog and was inclined to think a position like this would interest me.
Once I found out the name of the company, a company I was VERY familiar with, I was more than interested. Within a couple of weeks we had set up an interview, and as I prepped for the interview the night before, I started to get that feeling…the feeling that this could actually be the right job for me. I couldn’t even get to bed at a decent hour because I was too engrossed in researching industry news and competitors.
The next day, I woke up groggy and extremely nervous. I didn’t know what to expect from the interview or how close I was to getting the actual job. The moment I walked in the door, I could tell that this was a place I would enjoy working. As cheesy as it sounds, you could literally feel the passion for their product everywhere. The interview flew by, and I found myself asking question after question about the business and their strategic goals. If I could have physically sat down and started working that day, I probably would have!
But, when I walked out the door, all I felt was a bundle of nerves again. Had I said all the right things? Was it unequivocally clear that I was uniquely qualified for this position? That’s when I went straight home to write the “thank you email” of my life. I wanted to leave no stone unturned in showing why this was the job for me.
I’ll have to share it someday…
Luckily, before I left the interview, he informed me that he would be making his decision after one last interview the next day.
As you can imagine, I didn’t sleep very well that night. I woke up and ran 10 miles, trying to “run out” all of the nerves in my body. It sounds dramatic but all I could think was “Wow, my life might really change today!”
Just as I finished up my long run, I received “the call.” I nervously small-talked with him until he said the words I was waiting to hear. “We’d like to make you an offer to work with us…” That is when I started slurring my words and seemed to lose the ability to speak and put together proper sentences. I’m a big talker, so this rarely, if ever, happens to me.
How is that for professional?
I didn’t even bother “playing it cool.” We were SO beyond that – he knew I wanted the job!
After I hung up the phone, I promptly called one of my best friends, told her the good news and just started crying. I had been holding in a lot of anxiety and frustration for the past few months, and now, I could finally breathe!
I cannot even tell you the mixture of emotions I felt last week leading up to this point: I was juggling between being a freelance writer (still need to finish this article – it’s a big one!), creating recipes, workouts and content for this blog and wondering whether my career would end up in education (I was in the final rounds of the interview process for this job), healthcare (a job at a well-respected company) OR speciality foods. But, I knew where my heart was, and I am so glad that I got exactly what I wanted. How often does that happen?
So, everything happens for a reason. It will happen when you least expect it. If it’s meant to be, it will be. And yep, when it’s right, you’ll just know it.
- I have wanted to move back to Omaha for years now, and in my heart I truly feel that my last relationship, as painful as it was, played a large role in leading me to the decision that I belonged in Omaha.
- I spend a lot of time at the gym these days, and sometimes I feel guilty about it. But, ultimately, it’s where I met my future employer.
- And, as for the blog, well, you don’t know how many doubts I’ve had about “my baby” over the years. Between the significant amount of time it takes me and the disappointment I feel when something that I’ve worked hard on doesn’t resonate with my audience, I’ve sincerely wondered if it’s all worth it. Maybe I’m greedy, but I am always hoping for more. More readers. More comments. More brands to work with. However, it was this blog that caused my future employer to think of me as he sought to fill the Director of Marketing position at his company. So, now I know that it was all worth it.
In the great words of my big brother, “The blog paid off big time.”
I am so incredibly grateful for the time I’ve had away from work to truly appreciate just how much of my self-worth and purpose is tied to my job. And now, I have found a job that I know will fulfill me every day and even, dare I say it, not feel like work all of the time.
I don’t know what taking this job means for my blog – getting up-to-speed will be my number one priority as I start my new job. The company is rapidly expanding, and I want to be sure I’m comfortable in my role immediately. I’ll also need to talk to my future employer about how and if our company can be mentioned on the blog. It will all come in time.
So anyway, millions of things on the to-do list. Apartment hunting (I just signed a lease – my parents are going to miss me!), furniture buying, an 800 word article to write, a trip to NYC to see my new niece Lila Rose!!…the list is literally endless. Then the job begins, and I’m off to Seattle and Sacramento right away for some business trips!
Posts on the ol’ SHLB may become sporadic for a while, but I’m not narcissistic enough to assume that this lack of consistency will affect anyone’s Monday/Wednesday/Friday. If so, email me – we can be pen pals ;-).
Until next time, take it from me, everything really DOES happen for a reason ya’ll. (And THANK YOU for reading – this blog has kept me going through the rough days!)
I’ll leave you with the timeless words of Dr. Seuss…
Congratulations !!
Thanks so much – and thanks for reading 🙂
Mazel Tov!
Why, thank you Rory, thank you very much. Hopefully that will not mean less time with my favorite family in the whole world!
What an awesome post and something to be mindful of when life doesn’t feel like it is going our way. Congratulations on things merging in your life in such an amazing way 🙂
Kate @ Baking in Yoga Pants recently posted…Little Ways to Spend Less & Save More
Thank you so much for the kind words! I’m excited 🙂
This was so great to read! I personally look forward to these posts every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, so keep it up! 😉 I am currently studying abroad without a gym or equipment, and will be home in a week- I have a folder on my desktop of so many Sometimes Healthy workouts to try! Can’t wait! Congratulations!
Thank you, Kate! I’m glad that you enjoy the posts – I sure enjoy writing them and it makes my day to read these things 🙂 I can’t believe you’re reading this blog abroad – sometimes it boggles my mind to look at Google Analytics and see where people are in the world reading my little blog.
I hope you love the workouts – plenty more coming for sure 😉
Congrats. It’s very nice to hear something nice and refreshing considering what you’ve gone through in the past couple of months. Stupid Cliches, I guess we can’t call them stupid anymore. Enjoy, and thrive and do your best! Just don’t leave us blog followers hanging FOREVER and disappear completely 🙂
Thank you, Briana – and I agree, they’re really not stupid. They are true, and at the end of the day, it never hurts to keep that positive attitude, hold onto these little cliches and realize things will always turn around eventually.
I promise – I won’t disappear 🙂 Thanks for reading!
Yay!!! Exciting times 🙂 SO happy for you!
Thanks Em..oh and thanks for being the friend that I called and cried tears of happiness too. haha might as well call it out. Lucky to have you as my friend!
So incredibly proud of you and excited to hear about your next adventure! You’re going to rock it!
Thanks so much, Tracy!
Congratulations!! You totally deserve it! 🙂
Lisa recently posted…Weekend Snapshots
Thanks Lisa, and thanks for always reading 🙂
Congratulations! You absolutely deserve this and they are lucky to have you!
Thanks Anjelica, and thanks for being a loyal SHLB reader 😉
This post made me so happy!! I’m so excited you’ve found a job that is the perfect fit for you! The corny sayings are true. And we totally need to catch up sometime! Are you coming to Whole Foods?
Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie recently posted…Stylin’ in my Reebok Skyscapes
Thank you so much, Erin. It sure feels good – I guess the best things in life are worth waiting for! Unfortunately, I cannot make it this weekend, but I will definitely come to the next! I’m also hoping to work with you guys in my new job. More details on that later!!
OMG CONGRATSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not going to lie.. my eyes were tearing up a bit when you said you called your friend and started crying! I am SO HAPPY for you!!!! And I’m so happy you keep us readers in the loop with your blog is always great to hear good news 🙂 🙂 🙂
Lauren @ LoveChocolateLife recently posted…MIMM: Weekend Highlights !
I’m one of those friends that believes those stupid cliches but I’m really happy for you!! You will do such a great job!
You’re also one of those friends that made ME believe in it all. Thank you…for everything 🙂
so much love. this is the first time i’ve visited your blog, and what a great post to welcome me to it. i 100% echo your sentiment here– i am the ultimate cheeseball and feel like my life is just one giant cliche (which in itself is a super cliche). but i only feel this way because it’s how i’ve grown to see things based on what i’ve experienced, and i think it takes a lot of courage to look at life with so much hope. no shame in being cliche!
Thanks Eva, and thanks for stopping by. I’m glad you enjoyed the post and agree with me. I think it is so nice to just let go and let the inner cheeseball out :-).
Jamie recently posted…Why You Should Believe in Clichés
best of luck to you by the way!
Thank you – and hopefully I’ll be able to keep writing 🙂
Awesome post! I’ve never commented, but I follow your blog and I think you’re great!
Thank you so much, and thanks for reading all this time!! These comments make my day 🙂
Congrats on the job!!!
I recently came across your blog and enjoy reading your posts…This one hits home because I was laid off a few months ago and am currently job searching. Hoping better things come along soon.
Jaime recently posted…What I have learned…
Thanks so much for stopping by and reading!
I am so glad you were able to find this post after getting laid off. Trust me – it will get better soon. I’m sure there is a reason that wasn’t the right job for you, and now you’re one step closer to finding what’s right for you.
Best of luck and hang in there – it will get better 🙂
Thank you so much for reenforcing that everything does happen for a reason. A wonder I’ve been contemplating about for the past couple of months after ending something that meant the world to me, but had to be done in order for hopeful lessons to be learned. Anyway, before I babble on… thank you <3
Kirsten @ Fit + Fab recently posted…Full Upper Body Workout!
Hello!
Love your blog and your writing style – I’ve only just discovered it now and it really resonates with me. Just a real person writing about real fitness and sometimes slipping off the bandwagon…!
Congrats on your job – hope you’ll be around to keep posting soon 🙂