I can comfortably say that after a long, justified, earned career break, leaning into being lost is the theme I will carry into next year...which marks 45 years of living, a baffling milestone! Especially when mom is still paying half my mortgage and doing everything to protect me from the "dangers" of taking a cruise to Mexico for Thanksgiving.
Having officially made it to mid-life, I'm paralyzed with fear and oddly content with having so much freedom, all while being hit in the face daily by a mysterious term that seemed to appear overnight: perimenopause. I feel like an octopus most days, juggling a mini mister and a portable fan in a desperate attempt to maintain a comfortable body temperature. Honestly though, my generation was never educated on how to handle this topic until 2026.
I'm still partially unemployed and squeezing every last ounce of government assistance from the hard rock that is government assistance. I'm so incredibly eager to wake up early again (morning person), put on some fashionable pants (and shoes), use some hot tools, and maybe utilize public transportation to an office (air conditioning), where I can banter with colleagues (in person) over a tea or coffee (or Slack). My resume reads like a Hollywood tell-all: Vicki Lawrence, Pixar, Jay Leno, Netflix, Disney Publishing, Radio Disney, yet I'm currently being ghosted by every entertainment entity in existence.
During a recent visit to my hometown, I ran into a cherished grade school teacher. I sheepishly told her I was still finding my way after being laid off a while ago and she said so assuredly, "Remember, you've already accomplished enough, we've always been in awe of you."
:)
