Decisions can be difficult .. but you still have to make them

My job of 13 years with the federal gov't ended yesterday... I did it by choice and at the height of what I was enjoying most.  I decided at this stage in life, it was more important to me to be with the ones I love, rather than having a career. 

Do I miss my job?... Very much so... I love to work and I love being financially independent.  It's different for me and I've had to deal with emotions that I didn't anticipate I'd be dealing with.  I wouldn't trade my 13 years of experience for anything -- the federal government was very good to me:  I learned so much about leadership, improving myself, teamwork, and responsibility.  I loved the people all over the U.S. that I worked with .. and I miss talking with them on a regular basis. 

I moved to OH 2 years ago for a promotion, taking my youngest child with me.  I took both of us away from it all.. family, friends, familiarity -- to have a better life.  I left my oldest child behind in GA, with her father, because she didn't want to leave her friends (which is understandable at the age of 13).  I thought at that time, the decision to move to OH was one of the toughest I had ever made....My youngest adapted well in OH, blossoming to the young "tween" she is today, and it was a good experience for both of us to live life in a new place, depending only on each other.  Did I miss my oldest?  Heck yeah, something awful.

Little did I know I'd meet the man of my dreams AFTER my move (he lived in my hometown), and it would bring me to moving to SC 2 years later where he found a company he really wanted to work for.  So, we made the decision to take up residence in Greenville.  This move places me MUCH closer to my oldest daughter, and my youngest much closer to her father in GA.  And, I'm finally a family now.

Is it easy for me?.. it hasn't been, but I have the ones I love, both family and friends, supporting this decision and that's all I need to move forward.  Decisions aren't easy.. sometimes you have to make them for others' happiness, and put yours on the back shelf.  Decisions create change.. but I'm a big fan of change and taking risks.  I think that is what has made me who I am today..and I'm proud of who I am (trust me, it's taken me years to come to that conclusion..)...

So, follow your dreams and don't be afraid to make decisions, even if something extremely difficult or something you know will cause a huge change in your life.  After all, every decision has a silver lining.. :)