Monday evening I returned home and I began seeking jobs in Colorado. I started looking for a place to live in a little town I loved being in while I was visiting. I found a job with a company I’ve liked for a long time. I reached out to a friend and former co-worker who’s wife works for the company in their California headquarters. She asked me to forward her my resume and the position I applied for.
Tuesday May 19, 2020 I went in to work in the same warehouse I’d been working at when the retail store I had worked at for over 3 years was closed due to covid. I was given an opportunity to do a different task for the fishing division of the company and I was just thankful to be able to work. I walked upstairs and asked my supervisor what I needed to do to give my two weeks notice. She said to send an email with my last date of work and she asked what I was doing. I told her I was making a decision to move to Colorado. I received so much support. This was also the first time I vocalized my plan.
I found a place to rent short term and shortly after received a job offer with the company I’d applied with. The date they wanted me to start was less than 48 hours after my last day of work. I advised them I would be willing to make it happen but that I also had an 18 hour drive so they asked if they could accommodate me with a later start date. Everything was really falling into place.
I finally shared my plan with my friends I had lived with for over 3 years and they wanted to know what the rush was. I told them I liked being in Colorado it’s closer to my family in Utah and I wanted a challenge. I looked at my wheel from the permission granted course I’ve been taking and saw where I had written that I’ve had the same routine for so long it’s stunted my growth.
May 30th I put the last of my belongings in my car and drove to work my last 8 hour shift with Tackle Warehouse. After leaving work I began the drive to my aunt and uncle’s house in southern Utah. My uncle made me breakfast like he always has and then I took a Sunday nap before getting back on the road 4 more hours to my parents house.
I was able to spend a few days with my parents and little brother Ben before I headed to Colorado.
I arrived in Colorado June 3 after a scenic 7 hour drive from Utah. I met the woman I’d be sharing a living space with for a few weeks only to realize her son had been living in the room I’d paid rent on and his cat and litter box were in that room and the whole place smelled terrible. This was going to be my first challenge to grin and bare it. I kept reminding myself it was temporary. The woman was nice enough and she told me about a company I might like working for until my job started in a few weeks. That company put me to work right away stocking grocery store shelves. I enjoyed the feeling of helping others again and being given more work. Because I had stocked a retail store as well as stocking inventory in a warehouse my training was really rapid. It’s a job I can continue to do around my full time job and I am thankful I am able to select my availability. Don’t worry I removed all the expired yogurt.
That was a job for two people each one taking a pallet that I chose to do myself because no one was willing to help. Never be afraid of hard work I’m the only one paying my bills.
I began my virtual job training with my new customer service full time position and within the first couple of days I wasn’t sure how I was going to do being in front of a computer 7.5 hours a day 5 days a week. I got through the first week and at the end of it moved into a great place with a really sweet mom and her toddler son. A new friend I met who loves running even came to help me move a bed a friend had given me since I left mine in California.
I had applied for a job while I was in Utah at my parents house that I thought I could do in addition to my full time job or have as a back up. I told myself I was willing to do whatever it takes for my own personal growth and to enjoy this decision I’d made to come to Colorado. I have met amazing people and been given so many opportunities in a very short period of time. I received a job offer to be a rural postal carrier. I accepted the offer because it provides more long term benefits and I won’t need to be in front of a computer all day. I was able to communicate to the company that had hired me on that I enjoy their company but not sitting in front of a computer. I think the lesson I learned through that is not that I was a failure because I wanted to quit after only a week, but that I was willing to grant myself permission to walk away from what wasn’t serving me. I was grateful I was an at will employee through a temporary agency which allowed me more freedom and flexibility when the postal service asked if I needed to give notice. They had already decided on a route to give me. It isn’t full time but it offers flexibility and I was told I can help in other areas if I’d like more hours.
I went grocery shopping at the same line of stores where I have my optional job and I said to myself I want to stock at this store because it’s close to my house. A day later I saw a shift open at that store and I was able to claim it. I am really grateful that I have been given all I need.
With all of this life change I have been able to continue to make time to go running both to learn the neighborhood I moved to and also to enjoy time on trails.
I am thankful I made the decision to find a new routine and seek opportunities for growth.
No comments:
Post a Comment