How Will I Know When I’m Happy?
Most of our days look like this lately. Walks, gardening, baking. And truthfully, despite the hair-pulling moments of life with 2 littles, this is the most at peace I’ve ever felt in my life. So I resigned from my School Counseling job a few weeks ago. But it’s maybe the most bittersweet decision I’ve ever had to make.
I really thought school counseling was my calling. I became a school counselor for several reasons. First, to help students (especially my niece) navigate a really difficult time and hopefully turn some lives around so less people would meet the same ending as my sister. And the other reason was, I think on some level, for my own healing.
I was fortunate to find both. I have had the immense pleasure of working with some really, really amazing students and families. Some of them have changed my life far more than I changed theirs, and I have learned so much from them.
And my co-workers. I couldn’t possibly ask for more. The entire high school staff is amazing, but the counseling department is one of a kind. The five of us went through a LOT together in my six years there. Good and bad. Loss of pets, students, and loved ones, marriages, babies, some very difficult moments, and some absolutely hilarious ones too. Some tears, lots of laughs. It certainly helps, when shit hits the fan (at home or at work), to be surrounded by a bunch of counselors to walk you through it.
But ever since Jaime died I made a promise to follow my heart, put family first, and do what makes me happy, no matter how hard that path may seem. So, that’s what I’m doing. Some days it feels hard, but mostly it feels like home.
And eternally grateful for Jason and my YL business, both of which have made this possible. 🙏🏻
One of my very, very favorite students sat in my office several years ago and asked me, regarding the future, “how will I know if I’m happy?” We decided on the obvious answer: You’ll just know. Follow your heart, do what you love, and you can’t be wrong. So that’s the plan.
