Positive News

Well this has been a big week for me. Just 4-5 weeks ago I was feeling pretty bad. I had applied for quite a few jobs and heard nothing from most of them but I did secure a few interviews...only to hear a lot of sorry  but we have gone with someone else. And about 6 weeks ago my car was stolen as many followers of this blog know. Needless to say, I wasn't too happy nor feeling to good about moving to Detroit. Most of the reason I was looking for a new job was because my position at the Wheelhouse is seasonal. We close for the winter and I am on my own trying to find another position to stay living here.

Fast forward to yesterday....in one day I got a new car and two job offers....two great job offers. Both very different but good replacements to the Wheelhouse. First about the car. Through the help of some great friends I was able to secure an excellent car. It is a 2002 Ford Escort. Two Door, manual, A/C, cruise control. And it is 10 years younger and has 120,000 less miles than the car I previously owned. Now this is an excellent car but I would give anything to not have had my original car stolen. I loved little red (most of the time) and she and I traveled everywhere. I am very grateful to have found a new car though...and immediately walked down to O'Reilly's Auto Parts and bought The Club. My dad and I are also going to install a kill switch and some other theft deterrent measures. I hope to have this car for a long time. I even drove it to work today just because I could :)

Now to the jobs. I interviewed with two great well respected organizations...REI and the YMCA. I was offered a position at both organizations on the same day...which happened to also be the day I got my car. REI is part time doing customer service but I also will receive health insurance. I was impressed with the managers I interviewed with at the store and felt like it could be a fit. The position also comes with room for movement in the store and possibly the organization.

The YMCA position was a full time Annual Campaign Assistant Position. As many of you know, I was previously doing fundraising with the LVs and had a somewhat love/hate relationship with it. I have the skills and ability to be a good if not great fundraiser but I don't always love it. I wasn't sure I would even get an interview for this position but I did. I interviewed with two fellows who would be my supervisors. I really liked them both and I am very much drawn to the ideals and values of the Y.

I hoped I would get offered one of these jobs and I was ready to take whichever one was offered. I wasn't expecting to get offered both...Over the last 24 hours, I have done a lot of soul searching and really thinking about what I want at this time, what I can offer these organizations and what I am truly valuing right now. With all that in mind, I decided the REI position was a better fit. It wasn't an easy decision and will not make me rich (probably poor because I will want to spend all my money at the store). I felt with the flexibility of the position being that it is part time, I will have more time to spend with family, volunteering in the community and continuing to get connected. Now one could argue working downtown at the Y would provide all of these things which is partially true...but ultimately I decided that position at the Y wasn't the best fit for me. Maybe in the future but now.

I know not everyone will understand this and won't get my reasoning...and that's okay. I have always valued living simply and following my dreams and values...even if that means working part time while I continue to discern my future steps. I am excited about the job and hope for the best. I will start there in the next few weeks and be sure to keep you posted.