Six Months.

Yesterday, I had a dentist’s appointment.

It’s a strange way to mark time–the time in between your dentists appointments–but as I hopped on the subway to head downtown yesterday, I realized that a lot can change in the time between dentist’s appointments, and it’s usually a pretty regular interval.

When I saw my dentist six months ago, I was still employed. The sale of my company had been announced, and I knew there was a chance a layoff was in my future. I was worried about the future, but I took one day at a time. It was all I could do. When I made that dentist’s appointment for yesterday, I had no idea that I wouldn’t be cutting out of work a little bit early to get there, that I’d be leaving from my apartment. I still felt guilt for the work I was leaving behind yesterday when I went to the dentist, but it was on my own timetable.

Six months before that, I was relatively new at my job. I was four months in, and I was happy with the job I had and the life I’d created for myself.

Seven months before that (oops), I had just turned 27. I was freelancing full-time in between jobs. The job that took most of my time wasn’t the most exciting or fulfilling, but it paid well and gave me time to plot my next move.

Six months before that, I was at a job that I was incredibly frustrated at. The subject matter wasn’t interesting to me, and I didn’t see any room for growth.

In these past two years, there’s been an awful lot of change in my life (especially professionally), but looking back and looking at how much things can change for the better in six months is encouraging. “This, too, shall pass,” is what my mom always says. I’ve also learned how to live my life in as full a way as possible so that if one area of my life is lacking, it doesn’t bring down the rest of my life. (At least, not all the time.)

Six months from now, I hope to be writing about how well the first few months at the awesome job I started at are going. How I beat my goal time for my marathon. A lot can change in six months, and I’m choosing to look at that in a positive way. I’m also hoping to not write about my dentist appointment again in six months.

I allow myself the occasional pity party, and then I pick myself up by my bootstraps (or shoelaces, as the case may be) and do something about it. And I find little things that make me happy.

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Like a run home, running from the tip of Manhattan, past the gorgeous New York Harbor at sunset, looking at the Verrazano Bridge and thinking how excited I am to see it on November 6.

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And a quick but delicious meal of whole wheat pasta with spinach, garlic, tomatoes and chicken sausage.

Oh, and I didn’t have any cavities.

How has your life changed in the past six months and where do you see yourself six months from now?

27 comments on “Six Months.

  1. Dorry

    I love this! Very cool to take a look back and realize how much can change in a short amount of time. 6 months ago, I started my amazing job and lululemon, and 6 months from now, Billy and I plan to be in a very different place than we are right now. Not quite ready to share our plans, but they are exciting. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  2. Kara

    You have such an enviable positive attitude about everything — I think that’s why I mark your posts as unread in my Google Reader multiple times. Maybe the positivity will rub off through re-readings! πŸ™‚

    The big, obvious one for me is that six months ago I was pregnant, and now I have a 5-month old. Six months from now he will almost be a year old, I’ll be closing in on 10 years with my BFF/husband guy (holy crap), and we’ll hopefully have moved out of our current apartment — and likely our current jobs — to bigger and better things.

    Reply
  3. Carol Blanchfield

    And as Nana always said
    If things don’t go well and your not feeling well
    Work it OUT!!!
    Put the music on and DANCE

    Love
    Your Mom who loves you!!

    Reply
  4. ShortSkirts

    hmm 6 months ago, i started training for my first half marathon and loved it. I’m still at the same job, but we finally announced what we are working on, Halo 4!

    Its not been the most earth shattering 6 months, i’ve had more upheaval, job changes, moving across the country, but its been a pretty good 6 months!

    Reply
  5. Cait @ Beyond Bananas

    The biggest change in the past 6 months has been my getting engaged. I’ve also gone through a bunch of medical troubles.
    Changes can be scary.. you are diving into the unknown. In the next 6 months I hope to get my health figured out.. and also have a planned wedding!

    Reply
  6. Kimra

    six months ago, I was in grad school, finishing up the hardcore research phase of my thesis. I was just starting to interview for jobs and there was a good possibility I’d be moving to Oregon. I was doing a boot camp that I hated. I had just booked my plane ticket to Europe, though the trip itself was still mostly in my imagination.

    six months from now? March 2012? I’ll be 30! I’ll have a bike and be training for my first triathlon. I hope I’m kicking ass in my new job/career by then. Hmm, what else? Oh, I will have gotten my REI dividend, so I’ll probably be going on my annual shopping spree! (<– yes, that was one of the more memorable things about March 2011)

    Reply
  7. Corrie Anne

    My biggest changes were getting married. And then moving to the States. And then to Denver! Lol. Ok. So a lot!! I’d be so relieved about the no cavities! I HATE going to the dentist!

    Reply
  8. Ali @ Ali Runs

    It’s funny because at my last dentist appointment I was talking to the dental hygenist and she was saying, “Look at it this way, the next time I see you, you will only have a year or grad school left.” Which means only 3 more dentist appointments until I’m done with grad school. πŸ˜‰ Time flies!

    Reply
  9. Paul

    Wow, I can certainly empathize. In this current economy there are no “sure thing” jobs anymore. Anyways, I just found your blog and am enjoying it!!

    Reply
  10. BossyGirl

    Six months ago I was just beginning on my weightloss journey…I also believe that in 6 months things can change.. In 6 months I hope to be freelancing steadily!
    xoxo
    BossyGirl

    Reply
  11. Aleks

    6 months ago I was living in Dubai, determined I needed a change. I’m now 3 weeks into my new job in Ireland. Big climate change, that’s for sure! In 6 months, I am hoping to still be here but have some friends as lack of friends is the worse about being in a new country! Good thing I’m about to move in with 2 housemates that seem really great. Also, I want to be fast in 6 months (inspired by your last post, thank you!). Good luck with your job search, these things have a sneaky way of working out in the end (I just learned that with my apartment hunt that drove me insane).

    Reply
  12. Amy

    I usually have an interval of years between dentist visits (never had a cavity or tartar–love my sonicaire) and I was shocked by how much things had changed. I got married,moved to the country, Found out that my new husband had a life threatening condition and needed a transplant, finished my graduate degree, found out my husband didn’t need the transplant but would be hindered for the rest of his life and my adopted children deserted me and returned to their bio family with no warning. The dental staff was so warm and kind and genuinely interested in all that had happened it made me want to go more often LOL. I only see good things in the future. Because that is wha t
    I need to do!

    Reply
  13. Kelly

    That’s crazy, I just had a dentist appointment the other day and was thinking the same exact thing. It’s crazy how so much can change in such a short amount of time! 6 months ago I was feeling somewhat “in limbo”, unsure of many variables in my life, but 6 months later everything has settled down.

    Reply
  14. Shawna

    i love thinking about how life can change in so many drastic ways in such a short time. great insights into the beauty of an ever-evolving world and adapting to changes that may arise. hope your next 6 months are wonderful.

    Reply
  15. Nicole

    Excellent post!
    6 months ago I was still working and having no idea that my world would be turned upside down by being laid off. I wasn’t blogging yet (nor did I plan to) and I wasn’t thinking about being healthy.

    I’m much happier now. Well, except the lack of job part.

    Reply

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