New Job, New Home, New Year!
When the ball dropped in Times Square last year, my life was going up in flames. It was a slow burn, but one I couldn’t figure out how to stop. I threw everything I could think of at it and it just kept on burning. From the foundation to the rafters, floor by floor, many parts of my life turned to ash. All I could do was watch it burn.
In April, a friend I will love and be grateful for forever, Miss Alexandria, was kind and generous enough to let me crash in her 2nd bedroom for almost no rent plus help with cleaning the apartment. She works full time and goes to school full time and was excited for the help. A kindness I hope to repay in some way to her in our lifetime. It was supposed to only be for a couple of months, but little did I know, even with this huge help, my life still had a few floors to burn away before I could start rebuilding.
In July I finally (after MONTHS of applying to everywhere I could think of), started a new job. A job I did not want. At all. A job that I knew I needed, would help me get back on track, but felt like a giant pile of stinky failure. I was so embarrassed, ashamed, annoyed, but also resigned to this new chapter I had to write. So much drama, sigh.
Turns out I actually like it. My bosses like me. I like them. I got promoted to interim assistant dept manager for apparel very quickly. Then several weeks later I became the interim adm for shoes and accessories. During those 5.5 months, I learned a whole heck of a lot and here we are in December and I’m the ADM for Modern Classic at full line Nordstrom in Fashion Square, Scottsdale, AZ! Not an interim, the permanent ADM. I’ve worked 3 days so far, and while it’s a whole new ball game, I’m learning to play quickly. So many metaphors in this short blog post and none of them really go together. Oh well.
In the last almost 6 months, while working with Nordstrom Rack and full line, I’ve regained truckloads of confidence in every aspect of my life. I’ve either remembered or learned new skills that will help me with my business in the future. I’m rebuilding my financial foundation, although it will take a few years, I’m officially in the rebuilding stage. This job I didn’t want has turned into such a blessing on many fronts. I know Nordstrom isn’t my forever home for work, but I love it for now. Eventually I want my weekends back. Eventually my business will be enough to sustain me. Till then, this is great!
Alexandria and I are moving out of this apartment over the next 9 days. Her to her own apartment and me to live with a different friend. One I just met a few months ago. The rent is more, which will help light a fire under my ass at work, but I think it will be fun. It’s a house, not an apartment. Thank God. I’m over apartments. Its cozy and cute with wonderful outdoor space. I’m rather excited. Miss Gina and I will have an adventure.
My plan is still to move back to WA sometime in late 2026. August-October sometime. Depends on several variables. I’ve decided to take part in something I know I need. More on that later, but it pushed back my timeline a while. That and frankly, I don’t have enough $ to move up there right now. Waiting till I can get a firm grasp on my finances is more wise.
2025 started on fire. Burning away all that wasn’t good for me. Allowing me to see how off course I was getting. Allowing me the clarity to course correct. 2025 was my year of the Phoenix. I burned to ash and am slowly rebuilding from that ash.
When I watch the replay of the ball dropping at midnight tonight, I’ll already have a new job, I’ll be semi-packed for the new house, and I’ll be looking around my new foundation that’s being poured, this time correctly, with rebar, wisdom, and a much higher capacity for life and her challenges.
New job. New home. New foundation. New year. LET’S GO!
Sunrise. Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. 31 Dec 2025
