I'm moving to Illinois.
"Who moves TO the Mid West instead of away from it!" I contemplated while traversing through corn fields and really straight freeways. I'm moving from Connecticut to Illinois this month.
This will be the first time that I have ever moved without my family and specifically for a career that is directly related to just me and not my husband whose career I have supporting and following for over 25 years; it's a very strange feeling. I'm leaving behind my two grown daughters, a 15 month grandson, a 10 year old mutt, a whiny grey cat, a vast collection of CDs and DVDs, and a house. The move and the feeling of abandoning my family (my husband is in Afghanistan and will return home to Illinois in February) is overwhelming and leaves me with a huge lump in my throat. Yet paradoxically I am excited for this change that gives me an opportunity to do something for my career that could be both pivotal and significant.
Many people are fearful of change and often avoid anything this drastic. For me this is a chance to do something that is both a challenge and an opportunity to skills and expertise in a different and new setting. Also, to brush myself off of a tough couple of years that have seriously drained my self-esteem and confidence. While I'm well educated, smart, and well-versed in management as well as communication, change, strategy the opportunities in Connecticut were limited; it's a tough place to get accepted professionally. I wasn't able to get a full-time permanent job. I'm hoping Illinois will be different and, already, I get the sense it is.
So here's to a new path and some interesting challenges living in the heart of America!
