"Only After We Lose Everything are We Free to do Anything."

Seasons greetings from the Nation's Capitol! Today, we are currently being pelted with a massive snow storm that is predicted to leave two to three feet on the ground by the time it passes! That's alright with me, I like the snow, and the beauty and happiness that it creates.

After a year of reflection, and after a few inspirational conversations (thanks, Ben), I was inspired to take action and to write this blog. I did want to start off by saying that I do understand that the economy is very bad right now, and I do understand how very real its effects are and how many people are currently suffering because of it. But at the same time, over the past year, I have been blessed to experience many different events that have opened my eyes to what immense opportunities for growth, personally, physically, and emotionally, as well as opportunities for healing, health, and happiness, that have flourished in my life as a result of the bad economy. I thought that I would use this blog as an opportunity to share some of these lessons and experiences with you, so that you might be inspired or motivated to use them in your own life, or to realize the immense opportunities for growth and abundance all around you.

The old saying is very true, "only after we've lost everything are we free to do anything." Growing up, like many other children and teenagers, I was always pressured (and forced) to do what my parents wanted me to do. It was at their insistence that I nearly died in high school from taking all AP classes, while playing two varsity sports during my senior year. Or why I was wildly unhappy (and almost dropped out) during my first year of college as a biology major on the pre-med track (my parents insistence). I spent many and most years of my life doing whatever it was that my parents told me to do, especially when it came to academics and careers. I'm a recovering people-pleaser and self-perfectionist, but that's a story for a different day.

It was only this past year, with the economy having tanked, that this destructive and dysfunctional pattern changed and it happened when I finally really failed at something my parents planned for me to do. Last summer, I applied for all of the jobs that my parents wanted and expected me to apply for, you know, the one's that make a lot of money and that second year law students have traditionally received. But a crazy thing happened...I failed miserably. I learned not to take it personally. I realized that I wasn't hired because I am a bad student, a bad interviewer, or a bad person, but because companies and firms just were not hiring like they used to. But from this experience, the most amazing thing happened, after not receiving any of the jobs that I applied for, I felt as though the pressure and expectations from my parents were off (although my parents were disappointed). For the first time in my life, it felt like total freedom. I finally took some time and asked myself what it was that I really wanted to do in life, and not what other's expected of me. The answer did not shock me. I ended up spending the summer working for a non-profit in DC and had some of the most amazing experiences of my life (as well as having met some of the most amazing people). While I did not get paid for my time, I spent my days attending workshops, rallies, protests, press conferences, hearings on the hill, and as an advocate for a cause that I've always been extremely passionate about.

The lesson that I learned was that being free of the expectations of my family and others, because of the bad economy, allowed me to truly ask myself what it was that I wanted to do for the rest of my life? Did I want to continue to be wildly unhappy on the path that I was on? Did I want to continue to pursue the careers that my parents wanted me to, swallowing all of my feelings and identity along the way? No, not at all. Only through having no career options, was I finally able to be true to myself and pick the path that spoke to my heart. The career that reminded me, day in and day out, of why I went to law school in the first place. I thank God that the economy finally gave me the opportunity to ask myself what it was that I wanted for my life, giving me happiness and a greater sense of self-identity.

Everything happens for a reason, and I'm really thankful that I failed at all of the summer employment opportunities suggested by my parents. The experience didn't leave me fearful. I don't worry that I won't have a job in the future, I only worry about being true to, listening, and following my heart. Once we are truly living from our heart, careers and successes will always follow with ease.

It takes courage to be who you really are.