Quelle surprise! That was definitely unexpected.

So this quote felt kind of fitting considering I seem to be taking a new life path every single month. It made me feel more confident that I can find success around any corner I turn, not just what I had originally planned (because my plans never work out as planned anyway :P)

“Within you and nearly every human being lie hidden forces and latent power.  It is for you to bring out this latent power and become your real self and then you will compel success on any path you take interest in.”

    -Bishnu Charan Ghosh

So here’s the scoop. Working for Sick Kids has come and gone, and with it …..so had Thailand. This doesn’t mean that I won’t eventually follow through with that plan, but it was always something in mind for the experience, definitely not for the money (since it doesn’t offer much of that).

Yet, as life seems to always intrude into my dreams, money is an issue. Three times now I have been close and something comes in the way of allowing me to get there. So, I have to throw up my hands and accept that maybe this isn't what is meant to be right now. I therefore have abandoned that track for now and am looking yet again for employment more in my field. 

A crazy turn of events, however, has lead me down a path that I never anticipated I would go: a path that ends with a talent agency. Now before you get all judgemental on me, no it’s not some ridiculous waste of money modelling contract, this is a talent contract that fell into my lap because of doing some background acting on a local TV show. I was originally approached by a friend with connections to do some background acting for a little income while I look for work. I had never considered something like this before, and since I had a lot of time on my hands and not a lot of money, I decided to give it a shot. I quickly realized that my crazy out-going over-acting self can actually make some money by just being me. Who knew? Ultimately this is not a career decision and a complete 180 on my life plans; it is merely a door that opens a lot of other doors. Just by the very minimal experience I have had so far, I have made connections for possible work with two different magazines. With only a couple of months being in the industry, I can see myself having a significant accumulation of social capital….and, a little cash to pad my pocket with while I try to get to where I’m going.

So, if you see me in a commercial, on a TV show, or in the background of a music video, don’t worry...I have not abandoned my love of writing and my desire to pursue a publishing career, I am merely taking a different path to get there than I originally considered. I’m not really sure why this is, but there have been a lot of not so coincidental happenings in my life as of late. Despite the fact that in almost every stepping-stone-unrelated-to-my-field job I found myself working in which I always wondered “what on earth am I doing here? How is this job helping my career?,” they have all lead me right into the next opportunity that has opened yet another door. It doesn’t always make sense at the time, but it eventually works itself out. It’s times like these when I feel like there is a plan in motion and that often things do happen for a reason. I haven’t gotten to my goal yet, but I’ve learned a new and important life lesson: never let opportunities that pass your way pass you by; they might lead you to that break you’ve been waiting for.

Tripping on the Stepping Stones

 So I have been working for a marketing company for the past couple of months; it’s been very rewarding, but I’ve run back into my old hurdle of “I have two degrees and I’m not using them.” Obviously nothing falls in your lap (except this specific marketing job that did), so I have kept in mind that all of these jobs are just stepping stones, not careers, but I have recently started to stumble on my stepping stones. Ultimately I am trying to save up money to get to Thailand, but there are always certain things getting in the way. With my retail job I was just squeaking by and not able to save money, this switch to the marketing company doubled my salary and has allowed me to save money, but it seems like it is quickly coming to an end. For reasons I really need not say, it hasn’t been the best fit for me, and so now it looks like I once again have to move on just short of my goals.  I don’t have the money yet to get to Thailand, so now I have to come up with something else. It always feels like I just start on the road that will get me to where I want to go, but then it twists and turns and takes me off course. Ultimately I guess the trip is worth taking and the trick is to not get discouraged, but that is obviously easier said than done. I have to admit I’ve been a little miss doom and gloom lately. I have a big problem with worry and negativity and can get lost in the tunnel vision of what isn’t working out. My new challenge is to take the lemons life throws at me and make lemonade. No! Margaritas! I guess that’s technically lime. Anyway, I am back to the sad grad trying to find the next stepping stone. Who knew that life after school could be so disorienting?

Sitting on a stepping stone waiting to jump to the next

I know it’s been a ridiculously long time. You don’t have to tell me. What’s the point of even having a blog if I’m not regularly updating it, right? Yeah I know. Well the main reason I haven’t been on top of this is because I have been incredibly busy. For real this time, it’s not just because nothing is going on in my life. I left the retail job, which I can now say is Le Chateau, because I don’t work there anymore. The people were great, but it was obviously only going to be a temporary thing for me. With the amount of schooling I have behind me, I obviously have some bigger dreams and aspirations. Enter Thailand.

Ah yes, Thailand. Well, that has been postponed. Originally I was accepted to go for April 22^nd, which is coming up so quickly, but I have had to postpone it now until after June. This is because I have a surgery scheduled on June 11^th to finally get my gallbladder out. Yes….a lot has been going on. So, Thailand will eventually happen, and everything in my last post still holds true, it will just not happen until the summer.

Finally, the main reason I have been so incredibly busy is that I’ve started a new job. I am working now as a rep for TNI, a company that raises money for non-for-profit charitable organizations. I’m currently working on the Sick Kids campaign raising money for Sick Kids Children’s Hospital (if that wasn’t obvious enough already). The people are amazing and the job has been fantastic so far. I’m already making double what I was making at my other job, I have already been promoted with endless opportunities to continue to advance in the company if I should choose to, and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience spending my days actually helping people instead of trying to get them to buy things that they don’t need. My long term goals are still kind of all on the fence….I’m just taking things one day at a time and enjoying the ride as I go. Unfortunately this is a short post because I have to get ready for work now. I’ll offer a more lengthy and detailed update later. 

To Thailand To Thailand

So apparently I suck at this blogging thing, since I never set time aside for it…..but here is yet another post.

The holidays were great, but insanely busy, hence the belated posting. Now that things have settled down I can finally tell you what is in store for the New Year, or at least some of my goals.

Before the New Year I was working retail and contemplating quitting my consulting job in the city due to the fact that I got hardly any hours and my boss was ridiculous. Well I did finally quit that job, freeing up more time that I could devote to my other job (equalling more money earned and saved)……or so I thought. Yes I’m not wasting time and money travelling into the city (a 2 hour commute each way on the train), but now that the holiday shopping fever has subsided, I am now down to very few hours. I should have seen this coming, but for some reason I didn’t. It must have been blind optimism. So, I am now looking for a second job to increase my income, but it can’t be anything in retail since everyone is slow now and no one is hiring. This should be tricky, but I’m going to get out there today with resumes.

Now….why all of this fuss over temporary jobs not relating to my field of study at all? I call them stepping stones. I have decided, after much thought and research, to go to Thailand for a year to teach English. The desired starting date is April 22^nd 2013; however, if I don’t have enough money to cover my expenses come April, I will have to postpone until I do. This is not a huge setback, as I still see it as reaching my goal eventually, just perhaps a bit later than planned.

At first I felt very stuck: OSAP started taking money out of my account early due to a paperwork screw up, my bank laughed at me when I enquired if I possibly qualified for a loan….I felt very stuck because everything was holding me back, everyone was demanding money from me….money I didn’t have….UNLESS I could get to Thailand and make money. I then realized that this was a prison of my own making through self pity. If you are tired of your circumstances and are hoping and praying that they will soon change…..YOU need to be the one to change your circumstances.

No…don’t worry; I’m not going to get all annoyingly philosophical here. It’s just a change of mindset that I have come to adopt and it has been working well for me. Anyway, so now that I’m going to work hard to get exactly where I want to go, it’s not a question of if, but when. I promise that when I do eventually get to Thailand, I will blog about my experiences every week, if not daily. It’s going to be a great experience and I want to share it with everyone. 

So that’s what is going on with me right now. I am trying to find any way possible to make a little extra money to finance my current dream; I’m already thinking of what I want/need to take with me and what I will have to leave behind, and I’m looking forward to an amazing year of enjoying the food, culture, cities, and of feeling like I’m exactly where I am supposed to be doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing – and finally putting these degrees to use. It is an exciting time for me. Perhaps there will always be some blind optimism colouring my view, but I like the view right now and no one can hamper it. 

This is what's waiting for me....who wouldn't be excited?