What a Difference a Year Makes

One year ago yesterday, I woke up and decided to redeem a free birthday class at Uplift, a studio I’d heard a ton about but never tried, despite it being just a short walk from my apartment.

I walked out of class and just had that feeling that day wouldn’t be like every other…and I was right.

I received bad news that day. I met my mom for lunch at the Meatball Shop, and spent the rest of the evening shuttling between different groups of friends seeking solace…and wine. 

I knew things would get better, but it was hard to see then.

 

I saw this post from Bex today, and it was so true. Once I embraced this sort of thinking last summer, things turned around fairly quickly.

One year later, I have to pinch myself for how much my life has changed for the better. 

I learned who in my life was truly wonderful, and made and rekindled all kinds of connections through that harrowing job search. 

And good lord, I don’t take a single thing for granted now. I’ve never worked for a company where I truly, truly believed in the company and its success the way I do now. I interviewed for a similar job at a similar startup last summer, and while I liked the job description and the people I met, something just didn’t click, and if you don’t fully sip the Kool-Aid at a start-up, you’ll have a really hard time there.

Uplift and I worked out a two-month partnership for me to review my experience here, and I got much more than some free endorphin highs out of it. I got new friends and another Cheers spot! (Dear reader who came up to me to say hi: I was feeling sick all day, so apologies for being weird.) I’ve also since purchased many, many more classes and training sessions than I ever got for free.

I’m wondering what my next challenge will be in the near future. I have a bigger challenge I’m eyeing in the fall, but for now, I do need to get back to some running and cardio. I have a bunch of races coming up, and while I’m not gunning for PRs, I would like to not die. I don’t know if I’ll do unlimited classes again as the weather’s starting to get warmer, but it will be pretty hard for me to stay away from Uplift.

Either way, I’m really happy now, and things are only getting better: my Junior League Winter Ball is next weekend and then I’m going to LA the following weekend for my Propel photo shoot! 

What’s awesome in your life right now? How have things changed from where you were a year ago? Oh, and super random question: my favorite probiotic, New Chapter Organic All-Flora are apparently delayed in production, and my stomach is not HAPPY. Do any of y’all have a fave probiotic??

12 comments on “What a Difference a Year Makes

  1. Lindsay

    Good for you for staying positive throughout. I know you may not feel comfortable discussing, but I am so curious to know what happened with your previous job. Your posts about your previous job search after being laid off was so inspiring and relatable that I’m sure you takeaways from this most recent time would be just as insightful!

    Reply
  2. Abi@AbsofSteel

    That’s so great that you have a job you love so much. Right now I’m super grateful to be able to go to school and not have to worry about money because of financial aid and loans. Although I’d love to be working too, I’m grateful that I have a little wiggle room right now.

    Reply
  3. Beckett @ Birchwood Pie

    I really like reading about the changes that you’re going though and seeing the new direction of the blog. Nothing beats a job “transition” when it comes to soul scarring events. Many years ago I was summoned for a meeting with HR on my mom’s birthday and left with the company’s best wishes in lieu of a severance package. It was an Awful Exit to an Awful Job followed by the Year of Crappy Jobs until Job Charming came along. What’s awesome now besides several years of work happiness? I’m 6 months away from finishing grad school (at this time last year it was unbearable to think that I still had 18 months to go), one year into a wonderful relationship, and looking forward to running again as soon as the snow melts. Life is good.

    Reply
  4. Yvonne

    It’s amazing the kinds of things it takes to happen for us to start taking our lives more seriously.
    I’m glad to see even more people making progress towards living more meaningful lives and keeping it in perspective through documenting it on blogs and at the same time sharing their stories with many people alike.
    I’m very glad to see the improvement in your life on so many levels and I want to thank you for sharing it with us, inspiring and motivating people around the world.
    Hope you’re having a great day!

    Reply
  5. Kristine

    I love this post and I’m SO happy for you! I feel like I was in almost the exact same boat as you were… and 100% agree that if you don’t fully chug the kool-aid at the start up you’re at… it just won’t work out. These days I’m happily downing gallons of it. I think this year is going to be the best yet for you!

    PS – Runner’s World Fest Hat-Trick…. are you going this year?!
    PPS – Still serious about Napa… coooome!

    Reply
  6. Valerie

    You get most interesting insights when you look for the positive things that have happened in the past year. Somehow, after lots of false starts, I breathed life into an online business that was going nowhere. There is progress if you look for it.

    Reply

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