The biggest surprise when I lost my job had nothing to do with my career.
It was discovering I love winter.
(Ok, realizing I wanted to go into business for for myself was a big surprise too. But I disliked winter so much, the solopreneurship surprise comes in second.)
In 2018 I was the head of HR for a health tech company that got acquired; in 2019, without a clear and fulfilling role, I negotiated my exit.
Once that decision was made, the big question was “What’s next?” I remember the exact moment we decided to move to Colorado.
We are Midwesterners at heart, and I’d lived in Minnesota since 1995. I loved the state and still do.
But we wanted mountains. And we were done with Minnesota winters. The winter of 2018-19 broke us.
So we picked up and moved, without jobs, and bought a house based on pictures online.
I quickly learned I don’t actually dislike winter. I mean, I largely do dislike upper Midwest winter with the intensity of a thousand suns. But I capital-L Love Colorado winters. And I don’t even ski.
Today we finally—FINALLY—got the first real snow of the year, and we made sure to get out and play in it, because it will be gone in a few days. And although it’s by far not enough, we are so grateful for the moisture.
So while I’ll certainly be ready to pack away the sweaters in a month or so, right now I’m enjoying this gift of winter.
It’s a reminder to me that gifts can come from the most surprising places. Like losing a job.
Happy weekend, everyone! May you have a chance to take time to play in whatever way fills your cup!
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