Welcome to a World of Your Chosing

My dearest friend, Jenny Sue (a.k.a. "Greta Sue"), is about to leave her job of several years to work for PETA. I can't tell you how many e-mails, conversations, phonecalls I've had with Jen over what we like to call "Our Calling" or better yet "Our Purpose." Like so many people out there in the world, we weren't exactly satisfied with our jobs, but didn't know what to do next. It turns out, what I did next was move to New York. Jen, on a lark, applied for a job at PETA and was BEGGED to take it. She dallied a little about it, because non-profit money isn't as GRAND as corporate money, and also she was thinking about nursing as another idea for a career. But when something is right, often the world will part its waters for you to show you that the path is clear. PETA came back with another offer and a whole OTHER JOB, and Jen took it.

I can't tell you how many times Jen has said to me that wants more MEANING in her work. Also, working with or for animals was one of her many ideas she bounced around. So this is kind of a DREAM COME TRUE in many ways. She said recently that this feels like her first GROWN UP job--a job that she CHOSE. This is nothing short of a MIRACLE in these times. But here's the thing with change that not a SINGLE PERSON seems to get--no matter how many times you have experienced change--it's GREAT in the idea stage, but HARD in the launching stage. People don't ever anticipate the GRIEF that can come over you. I HATED my last job. It brought me one of the more important friendships I've had in years, but the job itself filled me with daily waves of boredom and rage and yet, when I left, I BAWLED MY EYES OUT. It was the END OF AN ERA.

For Jen's part, the job she is leaving is FILLED with people that she whole heartedly enjoys. It has MANY benefits that are wonderful and fulfilling to her life. Our friend (and her co-worker) Don P.(who has done an INCREDIBLE TRIBUTE to Jen on his blog), sent me the invite for her going away party, with this stickie note drawing I did of her awhile back and brought to her work. Jen forwarded the message to me with a note: "I'm SAAAAAAAAAAD."

I'm sure that today, her last day, will be a day of tears and sadness, filled with last minute meaningful messages and heart to hearts. But here's something that Jen already knows: She signed up for this change for a reason. I would like to be the ambassador of change for Jenny Sue, to give her a message from THE OTHER SIDE OF CHANGE. Don't look too hard at the door that is closing, because on the other side is a NEW WORLD. I say, Welcome! WELCOME TO A LIFE OF YOUR CHOSING. I AM PROUD OF YOU and SO IS EVERYBODY ELSE.