Mover and Shaker

I've moved a lot in the past 5+ years.  Once I got that first taste of being able to truly chase the dream, I've never stopped.  For me, knowing that I'm never stuck, that I can up and change my situation at any time is the most freeing thing I could ever know.

And that lifestyle has also been a trade off.  I've had a lot of people tell me that I'll be single forever until I settle down in one place.  Sure, I can see your point, men might not want to invest in someone who is ready to leave at any given time.  But I also know that the right man understands my need to keep dreaming and is open to the adventure that brings with it.

I've said it before, and I'll say it forevermore - being single forever is not the worst thing that could ever happen to me.  That being said - I don't think I'm going to be single for the rest of my life.  I think had I not followed my dreams, risked it all to become who I am today - I would never find success in a relationship because I would not have grown and discovered this me as I am today.

However - I know a lot of women who live a similar lifestyle that I do because of their jobs, their passion for travel, whatever the reason - you're in your mid 20's to mid 30's and single because of dream chasing and there's a stigma behind it.  It's the women who get asked why we are single and 30.  People tell us that we travel/move too much and need to settle down, stay in one place, be more active in our dating lives.  

Finding a partner is a wonderful thing.  Love and marriage and forever are absolutely something I want.  But compromising myself, my dreams, my growth - to find this person is not something I want.  And I don't think my teammate is not going to find me because I prioritize becoming a better person.  

At the end of the day - my need to continue to grow and experience life is greater than my need to stick around and find the one.  It's certainly not a life for everyone, but for me, it's the only life I ever want to live.  My biggest regret in life would not be failing to find a partner.  My greatest regret would be sacrificing who I am for a partner.

The Next Adventure

After six months of yet again committing myself to the life of a lady of leisure, I have officially accepted my next adventure.  And while I am now venturing out into this world of business yet again - I have decided that I'm going to continue to grow my skillset as a lady of leisure.  How does that work you say?  It works because I've chosen a position that I believe fits my personal and professional goals and allows me to be passionate about my work but able to check off my bucket list at the same time.

So here we are - I'm moving to Dallas, Texas.  That makes state number four in 5 years for those of you counting.  And I know what you're thinking and yes - a city that values football, big hair and rhinestones IS going to be my kind of city indeed.  I'm excited to eat all the BBQ, spend time fulfilling my college football dreams, and bring a little California swag to the great state of Texas. 

In keeping with my commitment to work/life balance and refusing to settle in a career - it took me six whole months of diligently reaching out to my contacts, applying to jobs, and interviewing.  I was turned down for a few opportunities I thought would be a great fit and I declined positions I knew would keep me from feeling happy; and happy is the end all goal for me.

This next role is entirely different from anything I've done - and that's a huge risk but something I'm excited to challenge myself with.  I'll be somewhat of a jack of all trades in experiential marketing for an agency in downtown Dallas.   Someone who can manage various accounts and utilize my out of the box creativity.  Don't worry - I will definitely still have heavy involvement in sports but I'll be diversifying my portfolio and working on products/campaigns, entertainment, and music as well.  For those of you who know me well - you know the possibility of utilizing my creative weird out there ideas in a professional setting is my ideal role. 

As always - I'd like to leave you with a moral of the story (because I'm so wise).  While figuring things out for six months has not been easy - the end result is something I'm looking forward to experiencing.  Because I took the time to be really sure and really committed to looking for the best fit - I'm able to create an adventure I believe in.  And that's the greatest advice I could ever give you.  Never settle.  Your life, your career, your attitude - everything - it's your choice.  You have to design a life you're proud of and excited to take part in.  For me - that means taking risks and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone.  New experiences and feeling good at work everyday is important to me. 

Whatever makes you happy, makes you get up and go in the morning - do that.  And if you're not there yet - keep looking.  Don't ever give up.  I've moved 4 states in 5 years chasing the dream.  And there's no guarantee this next stop will fulfill that dream.  But in taking a calculated risk - I'm ensuring that I won't settle, and even if this isn't my last stop - I'll make it one hell of a good time.

#SparkleOn #HappyNewYear