For anyone who had dreams and then "life happened," don't give up.

For anyone who had dreams and then "life happened," don't give up. For me, it was the long road and not the quickstep. I lived through layoffs, the 2008 housing bubble, raising children, and sick parents along with a money-grubbing ex-spouse. But be encouraged. Life makes a circle. I am now armed with higher education, lower debt, and a nest egg ready for the buyers' housing market (coming soon). Words to the younger me would be, "Life makes a circle. Pick the right life partner. Be patient—practice networking. Choose your friends wisely, and forgive those who are unkind." If any of my words helped you, please comment below.

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12 Comments

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  1. Lanai Isbell

    I have to agree with you! In the thick of it, it seems like it will never get better. But persistence pays off, as it seems to have done for you! Congratulations!

  2. Anonymous

    Thank you, I refused to quit. I had lots of reasons to retreat but never did.

  3. Nancy Cincotta

    I needed to read this today. TFS!

  4. Anonymous

    You are welcome. It's like the stars are suddenly aligning in every direction. I am grateful.

  5. Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume Writer

    Here's the thing: we think life is going to be all sunshine and puppies...but life is 50/50. How you handle the not-so-great 50% of your life is dependent on what you think about it. If you think something has gone horribly wrong, then you'll fight against it and hate one someone or something (possibly yourself).

    If, on the other hand, you decide everything is happening exactly as it is supposed to, you can expect the crappy 50% and learn/grow from it.

  6. Anonymous

    Thanks for the encouragement!

  7. Anonymous

    Thank you for sharing! I completely agree that patience is important and there are ups and downs in life.

    It's important not to get carried away by either of them b/c there is a lot of things that happen that may not have a good, clear "why" but it's important to realize that it's ok to only focus on what you can control -- which is your own behavior and how to react to all of it.

  8. Amy and Nancy Harrington

    We absolutely love this post. As women who gave us high-profile careers to follow our passions, we too can attest to the fact that you can pursue your dreams at any age. Good luck when you start house hunting!

  9. Vandana Khanna

    oh absolutely! There is nothing called "perfectly laid out plans". There are more roadblocks than anyone can count on, but keep at it and dreams do come true.

  10. Christine

    I appreciate your wisdom! I am currently in the working full-time, raising small children and tending to sick parents (in-laws) place now. Thank you!

  11. Anonymous

    Bow your head. Ask for wisdom. Many of us have journeys that are not quick. But it will happen. Stay alert and watchful for those life changing moments.

  12. Georgene Huang

    So impressed by you! Thank you for sharing this, Christine. I know this makes others feel less alone with their juggles (me, for starters).

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