SO...I'm making a career move. Not like an I'm quitting my job kind of career move, nothing that drastic. I've decided to scale back on my hours at my nine to five to allow me to pursue something that I've been dreaming of for quite a few years. I recently (successfully) completed the coursework necessary to become a real estate agent!
I've wanted to get into real estate since we purchased our first house in 2001. I was infatuated with the process of finding a house that a family could make into a home. Not just finding a place to live, but helping people "achieve the dream." Corny, I know.
But there is something magical that happens when a family is matched to the perfect home. The first sign you see is the softening of the eyes, then you often catch a glimpse of a heart that is smiling. You can see memories reflect across a face from a soul's distant childhood. You see hope in a future that is yet to be.
So, for the last eight months, I've been working full time, going to classes part time, and studying every second of the night that wasn't spent with my son. It was hectic. I was making meal plans and using the crock pot to make sure my family was cared for when I was away. I was worrying that I wasn't dedicating enough time to my school work to be successful in my future career. I was worrying that I just invested $1,000.00 of our family's hard earned money into something I wouldn't be able to complete.
But in the end, it was all worth it. I succeeded! Those who know me well would say they weren't surprised. But I must admit there were times I was questioning my ability to keep all the balls in the air (so to speak.) And then it came time to inform my employer of my preeminent career change. That's when I froze. It took me 5 weeks to work up the courage to talk to them. And I had every excuse in the world not to do it.
And then it broke, the wheels came off the cart and I'd had my fill. I failed at my job. I don't fail. I'm not a failure. So when things at work were so bad that it made me feel like a failure I knew what had to be done. So yesterday I spoke to my employer about making the change to part-time. They, of course, don't want to see me go. They would do anything to keep me here. But I can earn the same amount working part time hours with real estate as what it takes me forty hours a week to earn now. And I want to spent my time at home with my family, not running laundry and making meal plans and getting groceries. Those are things that I will soon be able to do while my daughter is at school and my son is at school and daycare. So every minute they are at home I can be available to them. What a blessing.
So now I feel as if a load has been lifted. Something that has been brewing in my mind for many years is coming to fruition. No one likes "work", but so many times in the past 7 1/2 years I've felt like I'm spending my life taking care of the family that I work for instead of working so I can enjoy the time spent with my own family. And that isn't the way things are supposed to be. So now I will be free to use my time to put my family first, and that is the most wonderful feeling I've had in years.
