Happy, healthy, livING life!

Life....

You know that feeling you get when you look back on the past year (or 5) and think what the hell have I done?  What have I been doing and why haven't I done more?? Taken advantage of certain opportunities, worked a little harder, explored life outside of the norm?!  Well I feel so incredibly fortunate to be able to say with total certainty that I have lived the past year and a half with absolutely no regrets!  I have taken full advantage of every single opportunity that's come my way and have lived each day with an open heart and mind.  As my adventure starts slowly coming to an end, I'm trying to remember the person I was when I started and the person I want to continue to be as I jump back into the "real world".   One's things for sure...I love traveling and I wasn't doing nearly enough!  I've vowed that whether or not I find someone to share my travels with, I will continue to explore the world.  I've been to so many places - from the Panama Canal to Bangkok - but all that's done is show me just how big this world is and how many places I have yet to see.  Needless to say I'm addicted and now that I've learned I can (and actually enjoy) travel alone there's nothing stopping me!  I've also realized that although I love my friends and family more than life itself, I don't need to be surrounded by people to be happy.  I've learned who I am (outside of Lindsay, Executive Recruiter who lives in the North Loop and is best friends with Jenna, Lissy, and Shelly) and, although that life brings me a certain type of happiness that familiarity often brings, I feel like I’m finally prepared and able to function on my own - and anyone who's known me for more than an hour can agree this is a HUGE breakthrough.  

So as reality starts to set in and I begin to write this next chapter of my life, I'm attempting to replace that ever-present fear of 'being alone' with a feeling of excitement.  Over the past year I've realized I make friends every time I turn a corner, so the 'not knowing anyone' dilemma has become sort of a moot point.   With that said, I've been thinking about Chicago a lot lately...Minneapolis but bigger.  Same Midwest vibe, close enough to see my girlfriends any time I want, and big enough to not feel stuck.  But (ugh there's always a but) the hardest part about this decision just so happens to be the most critical....my job.  If I'm not happy at work I'm not happy with life...another aspect of myself I've become all too familiar with this past year.  I LOVE recruiting, it's what I'm meant to do, but there are a lot of variables to consider (I won't bore you with the logistics) about staying in Minneapolis with the client/candidate base I have spent so long building versus moving to Chicago and starting all over.  My clients and candidates have come to mean more to me than just business...in a lot of cases they have become close friends which makes work seem more like play.   So, do I stay in the bubble that's become more claustrophobic than comfortable (but work with people I love) or do I venture out and start from scratch?   I keep hoping this moment of clarity will come to me and I’ll be able to see (or feel) what I’m meant to do…but until that point comes I’m happy to be soaking up the Caribbean rays, meeting new people, and continuing to learn who I am and what I want :)

Luff

 As always sending all my love,
       xoxo,

           mE