Let it Fall
High winds ripped a massive limb from a tree that looms over my driveway today. Its precarious placement over my car jolted me into action. I had to move my car, lest I be blocked in if it came crashing down. Truth be told, that was the only thing that caused me any worry about the situation.
“If it’s gotta go, let it go,” I thought.
A loosened limb is the least of my worries. Honey, I’ve weathered worse today. And even that didn’t faze me. THAT is finding out that I wasn’t selected for a job I applied for — and that, as of Tuesday, June 23, I will officially be laid off from the job I’ve held for the last six years.
Woah, right? Nah. Don’t cry for me, Argentina.
Upon finding out the news, my shoulders relaxed, and I felt a sense of peace wash over me. I knew it was time for a change — and if it didn’t come now, it would come sooner or later. Forces beyond my control have been wreaking havoc on my line of work for some time. I know I’m going to be ok — and I’m optimistic about my future.
It’s said that our stomachs are our second brains — and when I learned I’d not been selected, my stomach didn’t lurch. It didn’t seize up. I felt calm. I felt…relieved.
This serenity is a sign to me that it was time. “If it’s gotta go, let it go.”
So, I’m going with nothing but gratitude for the last six years and all that I’ve learned. I’m going with skills I’ll apply to new ventures. One area I’m eager to launch into is executive presence and presentation coaching. Twenty-three years on TV as an anchor and reporter has taught me a thing or two (wink).
Instead of fear, I’m excited. I get to build a future, and I get to help build up people who may doubt themselves and their ability to communicate. I get to dream again.
So, go ahead, tree limb, do your worst. The sooner you come down, the sooner I can move you out of the way, and the sooner I can move my car back and get on with it.
And if you’ve ever wanted to work on how you show up — in a room, on a stage, on camera — I’m here for that conversation. Let’s talk.
unplanned change is difficult. It reminds me of when I had to take a tree down that was dead and upon it being on the ground, I discovered a large woodpecker nest that I hadn't seen. I felt bad that I just took his home. I wondered how long they use them and found out.. they will move on in a year or so anyways. So, I pushed up it's timeline maybe a little, but that woodpecker was onto a new tree.