I spent the last week following Mandy Harvey as she did outreach in the schools before her performance on Saturday night. We have a visiting artist series and community outreach is part of bringing the artist in. I wanted to tag along to see what it's all about. Let me tell you I felt like I had the best job ever, it was truly inspiring watching her with the kids.
If you don't know who she is here is her AGT Audition.
She has been singing sine she was 4 but lost her hearing at 18. One of the things she said to the kids that really resonated with me was the worst thing she could imagine happening to her did, yet she now considers it the best thing to have happened to her, because she loves more, values her friends and family more and overall loves her life more now than she did before. That's pretty powerful coming from someone that lost one of her most vital senses.
I used to believe my marriage ending would be the worst thing to happen. It happened, and I became a stronger independent woman, one that I could respect. My friendships became deeper. I cut out the toxic people in my life, and appreciated authentic people so much more.
Then my business ended this last September. I didn't want it to end, in part for the reasons above. I truly loved (and still) do the people of the hospital. Through my divorce they were one of my biggest sources of support. I will never forget their kindness, and for that reason I never wanted to leave. However, I wasn't actually profitable. I paid my employees, most of my bills and lived extremely frugal on my meager salary. The trade off was my flexibility and to show up each day doing exactly what I loved with my favorite people. After initiative 1433 passed (raising minimum wage in 2018 to 11.50 and providing sick pay, with minimum wage going to $13 by 2020) Rick and I had many serious conversations. I had always paid my long term employees above minimum wage and would no longer be able to do so, or staying open in the evenings only to sell a coffee or two. We looked over many scenarios and none made sense to keep going, but I am stubborn! I probably would've kept going until I crawled into a financial hole so deep I couldn't get out. That last day, I found a buyer to purchase all my equipment. Everyone wanted me to hold onto it, but that was more of a depressing thought. I wanted my beautiful machine to live on, and I wanted to pay off my debt. So that's exactly what I did, sold enough to cover the existing debt on my business, and go forward.
I had always wanted to work at the airport, so that's what I did. I had a blast, unfortunately it didn't pay enough to cover my gas to get to work. I did it for 5 months, loved almost every shift and the people I met (plus lifting heavy luggage was an excellent work out). I also started working at my favorite cafe, and loved it. Then a job totally not on my radar came up and I took it. I am learning so much. One of the things I loved the most about the hospital was how inspired by the staff I always felt. This new job I am being inspired as well. We are a non-profit and the generosity of the community in the name of the arts make my heart so full. We have an amazing executive director that I love working for. Then I get to do things like go around and listen to Mandy talk to hundreds of kids, knowing they were inspired by this amazing lady, well it makes me emotional in a good way. The other bonus not to be taken for granted is now I get paid to do this, and that is really nice!
Life is constantly changing and directing us in directions, we might not think we want to go, but if you can trust it and look for the good rather than dwell on the bad, things will work in your favor.
Peace and love my friends.
