Finding Happy

This is what I'm working on now. Finding happy.

When I was younger and more naive, I thought I had it all figured out. After college, I would find my dream job (probably working as a police officer, trying to get into the detective bureau at whichever department I ended up working), getting married and having kids. That was going to be my happy, and it was all going to work out as planned. I guess I didn't figure I'd really have to work at it a whole lot... happy would just happen.

Except it didn't.

I did, in fact, go to the police academy after I graduated college. But I quickly realized being a police officer was not for me. Not even close. It was a pretty stressful time. I had no idea where I was going to go from there. While working full time and going to the academy full time, my then boyfriend proposed and we decided to start planning our wedding once I was done with the police academy.

Then.... I found out about several secrets my fiance was keeping. Secrets... lies... that were major deal breakers. This was two weeks before we were to move in together. We had already signed the lease. I broke off the engagement and called my dad crying so hard that he could barely understand me while I was trying to ask him to help me get out of the lease.

This was definitely not the happy I planned on. Looking back these were minor bumps in the road, but obviously at the time, were devastating. I decided I wasn't going to date anyone for at least a year. I needed to work on myself. I spent much time with friends and family... especially with my nieces. I loved every minute of it. I also needed to figure out what I was going to do with my life.

My manager at the time suggested I look at a career in supply management. So I did. I interviewed for a purchasing position that happened to be open at my company, got the promotion, and loved every minute of it.

A couple of months later, I met M. It was complicated at first. There's an age difference between us and that was somewhat of a concern, but we quickly found out that we are like two peas in a pod and compliment each other beautifully. I just knew we were meant to be together.

A year later M and I got engaged, then married and I was still loving my job. I was finally finding my happy.

While I was busy being happy with M and planning our wedding... without going into too much detail... I started hating my job. I still enjoy working in the supply management field, it's just that I'm not getting anywhere in my current department. It really started putting me in a BAD mood and I would instantly be pissed when I walked into work. I had to give myself pep talks on a regular basis.

I'm still not happy with my job and I'm searching. But I also realize that I need to make the best of it for now. I can't ignore it and just keep on with the way it has been going, but I also can't let myself be so upset about it. I need to continue learning so I can be more prepared if an opportunity comes my way.

If there's anything I've learned, it's that life happens. People change, you change... you make choices that you thought would make you happy, but as it turns out, was not what you expected or wanted. It's very naive to think you can make the right decisions and everything will turn out perfectly, the way you plan. Even when you are smart and careful with your decisions, it doesn't always work out. You have to learn to take things as they come and enjoy the experiences as they happen. While happy should be the end result, it's also a journey. And it always takes work. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy.

Having a bad attitude never gets you anywhere. So I'm working on finding happy every day, even when I don't feel like it.