
Always Changing
RESET #1
My always-holding-hands parents were divorcing after 42 years. I lost a dear friend to cancer. I was single and turning 40. My younger sister got married. I was promoted to VP at a corporate job doing PR, but I didn’t want to be corporate or do PR anymore. I changed a few things:
- Quit my job.
- Followed my dreams — took acting and writing classes.
- Met a younger boyfriend.
- Wore jeans and walked everywhere.
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Gave myself enough time to stand on line at the first Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. (Thanks Danny Meyer for creating it!)
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Breathed fresh air, stopped rushing.
- Did yoga.
- Tried bold nail polish colors.
- Stayed up late.
- Slept late.
- Wrote a novel called “My Summer of Being 28 Again” and put it in a drawer.
- Walked around the city and Central Park crying over my breakup.
- Made time to see a shrink during the day.
- Traveled, went out every night, bought clothes and racked up credit card debt.
I finally began to live with no regrets. But I still needed a job to support myself and pay rent, so when a job came calling in the form of a trade organization that combined my past experiences of entertainment and travel, I took it.
RESET #2 (currently in progress)
After knee surgery, dating a series of Mr. Wrongs, holding another 24/7 high stress PR job without feeling creative, turning 50 (OMG how did that happen?), and my mother asking me — her still single daughter — to be a bridesmaid at her second wedding — it was time to make a change. So I’ve began to change a few things, again:
- Quit my job.
- I’ve regained freedom on social media.
- Am now flattered when friends’ kids Insta me, text me, etc.
- Break my rule of no day-drinking.
- Surprise myself for being annoyed when new next door neighbor parties loudly all night.
- Have time for dating apps though I still prefer to let fate happen.
- Have time to go to doctors for check-ups, but to find out body is falling apart, so stop going.
- Become active — mother and stepfather are more active than me physically, socially, professionally.
- Replace drunk texting with drunk internet shopping in the middle of the night. Credit card debt is still in my life.
- Write a book “Kissing Mr. Wrong” — much better than the first book — attempt to find a literary agent.
- Look for writing jobs!
More to come…