29

Good morning and happy Thursday! Pour yourself a delicious cup of coffee and join me around the table. Mind as well pop a bottle of champagne too, because today I turn 29! 28 took me by the hand and signed me up for a marathon. It gave me a few blisters, challenged me in more ways than one, and pushed me to take giant leaps of faith. I wanted to share a few memories that I will hold onto forever as I enter this new race of 29.

“Go all the way with it. Do not back off. For once, go all the goddamn way with what matters.”

-Ernest Hemingway

At 28 I quit my job. Navigating my life as a young adult, this job helped shaped my present. It granted me numerous opportunities in which I magnified into great successes and life lessons. In the seven years spent working as a civil engineer, I gained invaluable knowledge and priceless skills that I will proudly carry into my future.

Looking around the office, I see my podmates, my boss, and hear the rock n’ roll tunes from Dave’s desk. His numerous colored pencils and many packets of gum are lined in neat fashion as he redlines my second set of plans. Peaking from her office, my boss asks “how is everything going?” In turn, we all look at each other and start laughing. It is not going well. She laughs with us and returns to her office. The faint smell of pizza hits our noses marking the sign of a long night. Completing the final set of redlines, I hit plot. A momentary sigh of relief escapes me as I look to my boss for her final approval. The clock reads 10 pm and her face reads “job well done.”

This night was extra special to me because even though we had to stay later and grind hard, I had my team behind me. We were all in it together. This night taught me that life’s greatest challenges are made easier with a good support system. That life doesn’t give breaks because your tired and deadlines don’t change. You have to take the hard moments by the horns and carry them through. The reward outweighs the temporary pain.

Advancing into my career, I started to manage my own clients and team. Juggling the weight of balancing workload, client expectation, office politics, professional circulars, and a variety of other corporate jargon, I allowed my work life to grow greedy. Consuming my thoughts outside of work, I found little refuge as stress moved in with me for the unseeable future.

This all sounds very doom and gloom and for a period of time it was. Rain clouds poured over me as my personal life goals continued to slip through my fingers. Tragedy hit and finally an intervention came knocking on my door. Two months later, I quit my job.

Quitting is usually associated with negativity, weakness, and lack of accountability. I did not want to be viewed as a quitter nor view myself who couldn’t take the challenge by the horns anymore. This challenge was far greater than staying late for a deadline. Taking a leap of faith, I jumped into the deep end with no true plan. My family and friends tossed me floatation devices, but ultimately I had to tread water and learn to swim again.

Quitting can be brave under the right circumstances. It can lead you to new paths, encourage you to set aside your pride, and push yourself to leave your comfort zone. I will forever be grateful for my job and for my education. I want to thank my parents for their late nights and stressful days in hopes of paving a great path for me and my sister. I plan to return the favor to my kids one day.

“Love is never wasted for its value does not rest upon reciprocity.”

-C.S. Lewis

I lost two very precious loves at 28. I lost two very precious futures. I don’t want to dwell on the heartbreak of it all, but I want to share a small thought.

In the darkest of days, the one thing that kept me going was love. Love from my family and friends, strangers, and myself. They say that love is the closest thing to magic. Love brought me closer to my husband, it taught me to lessen my judgement on others as you never know what goes on behind closed doors, it showed me the kindness of strangers, and the faith to trust God’s plan. Love is undoubtedly the most beautiful thing in this world.

At 29, I challenge myself to love more. Be present. Be grateful. And to have some fun!!

Cheers to 29!

Love,

The Daily Paige