I am simply overwhelmed by all of the support I have received after posting Navigating the Doldrums last weekend. As I try to start this post, I find I am still stunned by the outpouring of messages and phone calls I received. It is simply amazing and I am hard pressed to find the right words. This is definitely a different kind of writer’s block than the chronic writers block I have been struggling with the past few years, which I wrote about in What Are You Waiting For?!! If you are someone who reached out individually, know that I will be circling back to you in the next few days to follow up, if I haven’t already.

Most importantly, thank you!

Basically, last weekend turned out to be rather windy here on the southern coast of Lake Michigan and while the winds were blowing outside, they were beginning to pick up in my personal life, too. A week later, I’m realizing my sails have started to flutter and the windsock is filling up, showing possible directions out of the Intertropical Convergence Zone I’ve been in this summer and I want to make sure I share an update this week.

Frankly, I really did not expect to receive such an outpouring of concern and support after I published my last post. I just didn’t. I know I have super cool people in my world, but I had not realized just how many special people were part of that equation! Wow! I also didn’t expect that my story would help others feel like they weren’t the only ones going through tough times right now. A number of people shared their own personal struggles with me on Facebook and in personal messages, which was so powerful. Not only did my sharing ultimately help me feel less alone, but it helped others, too. How cool is that?

Last weekend, not only did I publish a blog post for the second weekend in a row, but for the first time in a long time, I had extra special sister friends who blew into town and I got to hang out with them all weekend! All 3 of these girlfriends have been close friends of mine for over 20 years and while Chicago bonded all 4 of us, we have not all overlapped living here at the same time, ever. That is crazy! And we had not all been together in Chicago since June 2015, so it had been a long time coming.

******I do want to make a quick note here: my sister, Barb, is a part of this special krewe and we missed her last weekend!!!!!!******

Life has thrown out some major challenges this year for all of us and we were on a mission to support one another. We shared hours of wonderful conversation; yummy food; time with Grace’s wonderful mom, Vinni, and her aunt, Frana; and lots of incredible hugs, which were exactly what we all needed!

Sunday night, I was able to get down to the Lake at my favorite spot, Oakwood Beach and Carol came along with Bleu and I. The view was spectacular!!!

Monday was a solo reflection day where I absorbed and processed the past few months, going through paperwork and cleaning, with a new found perspective. When I entered the official work week on Tuesday, I felt different. I felt more centered and supported than I had in a long time. I think this perspective helped me navigate this week’s challenges with more of an open mind and when I was invited out of the blue on Tuesday to interview for a social studies teaching position at a far South Side Chicago Public high school on Wednesday, I didn’t overthink it or freak out. I was prepared and ready. Considering the school year is very much in motion, the new administration didn’t make me wait long and offered me the position within an hour after the interview, which I gratefully accepted. The challenge is that the Chicago Public Schools onboarding process is not effortless at this time of the year (although, I don’t know if it is ever effortless!) and so I still don’t know when I will officially start. That is very unnerving. I would have started Thursday if I could have!!! 🙂

No forward motion with my car and last week’s promises by the warranty company did not materialize. However, I did consult with a former colleague from my Peace Corps Chicago days, Kelvin, who now practices law here and he was able to offer insight and support in dealing with the situation, which is very important.

There are still plenty of unknowns and big issues creating worry, stress, and anxiety in my world, but the winds seem to be picking up. For now, that is enough.

Wishing everyone favorable winds this week, navigating whatever challenges and adventures may come your way!