Don't Be Afraid to Start Over

 It's crazy to imagine that last year I thought I had my career pretty much planned out. Communication degree? Check. Corporate Job lined up? Check. Vision of being a VP or Marketing Exec in 5 to 10 years? Check. 

Then 2020 happened. I started a new management job in Marketing and thought, "This is it! Great company and great opportunity to move up in a few years!" Both of those thoughts were and are true, but after about 6 months in this new position I started having some serious anxiety. Whether it was due to the extra stress caused by the pandemic, or various other factors; I started dreading going to work every day. I had to convince myself to get out of bed to get ready and get in the car. After a few more months I hit the breaking point. I was talking to the hubs about my day and completely broke down. Tears, anxiety, fears - they all came pouring out at once. Am I doing the right thing? Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life? Am I too old to start my education over to pursue something new?

It was then that I realized that I really didn't love any part of what I was doing in my career. I was unsatisfied, unfilfulled and on the wrong path. After a long heart-to-heart I decided that I needed to return to school to begin pursuing what I've wanted to do my whole life (but didn't have the guts to do). I want to work with animals, in any capacity really, but at 30 years old, I've re-started my education to become a vet. I'm in the process of leaving my corporate 9-5 and returning to the world of hospitality in order to have a more flexible schedule that works with school. 

This decision has led to lots of new worries and uncertainties, but damn if I'm not happier in my professional life than I've been in years. If it wasn't for my husband telling me that I'm not too old and it's never too late, I don't know what I'd be doing instead. If I learned anything from the past year, it's the knowledge that it's never too late to start over if you're truly passionate about something. It's all going to be worth it in the end.