Family!

My brother, sister in law and niece arrived in Chicago last night. We spent most of today together and it was really fun! We ate at Lou Malnati's, walked along the Magnificent Mile and relaxed. Being closer to them, especially my niece who quite clearly is the most precious child who ever lived, is the main reason I moved to Chicago.

I also entitle this entry Family because I did have some feedback from my family regarding my initial post and my foray into the World Wide Web. My little brother, an extremely talented photographer and graphic artist, thought is was cool as he is a fellow blogger. My older brother, who's here visiting, thought it was funny (although he knew better than to say anything else!) My mother had no comment and my father stated that I must be careful what I post as potential employers could be visiting websites to see if there is any negative content out on the Internet surrounding a interviewee/potential new employee. I totally agree and his mindful warning is good to remember, although thanks for raining on my parade, Dad! I will refrain from posting my actual response as a potential employer might think I have a short fuse. Kidding!

But I should clarify, I know how lucky I am to be able to take this professional break and sabbatical from my career. Believe me, I have had friends, spouses of friends and my own family in an involuntary unemployed situation and I can't imagine the stress...my bestie and her husband are still concerned that before this recession is over, he may lose his job. So I get that my situation is unique from someone who is laid off....

In fact, I may take this time while I am not working to lobby our government to allow Americans to have lifestyles/work habits more like the European model where we go "on holiday" for a couple of weeks at certain times during the year or actually get to bond with our children before having to go back to work or have our government pay for health services...oh, wait -- is that too far?

Anyway, so let me give you some good stuff, the stuff I have had time to do (only so you can envy me). I have joined a really cool networking group for professional women. It's called the Step Up Women's Network (www.suwn.org). As far as I know, there are groups all over, but the main ones are currently located in Chicago, NYC, and LA. The coolest thing about this organization is that professional women are dedicated to mentoring teen girls in order to strengthen our communities going forward. This is something that is near and dear to my heart as these girls are the women who will run the world if we give them the mentorship and attention they need to succeed.

The first event I attended was just comprised of professional women (they have joint events with teen girls as well). The featured speaker was a woman who wrote the book Me Before We, who is also a life coach and motivational speaker. She explained that women work so hard competing with the person who we intend to be in the future, that we forget to praise ourselves for the accomplishments we have achieved thus far and that we achieve everyday! I also identified with her because after working her tail off to obtain an awesome education, fantastic career and what all outsiders would consider financial success, she quit her six-figure salary job to pursue her dream of writing books and becoming a life coach and motivational speaker specially for women. Wow! I almost felt like I was meant to hear her speak that night -- it was fate! Not that I intend to become a motivational speaker (maybe a stand up comic), but it made me feel so much better that another person had taken the risk I did! I felt a little less crazy (at least until I decided to write this blog....) But actually, what I understood her to say is that it's okay to take a breather and re-tool your tool box, re-evaluate the direction of your career, take a risk, fly the coup, go off the deep end....ok, I'm getting out of control now. But I hope you get the picture.

I know I am lucky to have the financial stability to really consider my next job role, to have moved to the greatest City in America (my opinion and that of the entire Chicago 2016 Candidate City group), reconnect with old friends who live here and have embraced me with open arms, volunteer, exercise, sleep late, do all the things so many of us wish we could do if we could basically take a "do-over" or simply have another hour in our already jam-packed day. But I will not deny that I am scared, I am scared I will never find a job and after all my hard work to get to the point where I could take a breather, employers will essentially consider me a fossil and move on to the next best thing. So some of my blogs may make me sound frustrated or peeved or like I might need to be committed, but I have put myself through a huge change, which comes with a ton of fun and wonderfulness but also a lot of other emotions.

Finally, you may be wondering why I am blogging on a Friday night when I am young, hip and live in the 3rd largest City in America....well, in the words of the guys sitting outside the Gas-n-Sip coaching Lloyd Dobler on relationship issues..."Choice, man, complete and utter choice...."

Keep on keeping on, Nora