Month: September 2014

This week was running smoothly. Stressful, with school and work, but smoothly.

Thursday is when it all changed.

I work from home most days, which is a blessing and a curse. I had just finished a long day of sitting at the computer, QA-ing and answering emails from clients. Thirty minutes before the work day was over, I was dialed into a conference call. That’s how I received the news that the investors that were funding the company I work for had decided that they were no longer going to fund our project. I was laid off.

I’ve been in shock for the past few days. The first things that ran through my head were, “Well, I’m glad I’m not pregnant.”, “At least we have a little food storage.”, “How are we going to pay our mortgage?”, and some angry thoughts about the situation that our investors had put me and my coworkers into.

The apostles and prophets of the LDS faith have forewarned us about situations such as this. They have told us to get out of debt, to build up food storage, and increase our savings. We haven’t done the best in any of those aspects, but we have a little. I never thought this would happen to us. So, I’m really feeling the guilt right now, but honestly, I’m not scared anymore. Over the past few days, I’ve received a lot of perspective on what I truly want to do. If I have to get a job just so we can put money in the bank, then that is what we’ll have to do. But what I’ve come to realize is that I’m an entrepreneur.

I want to photograph. I want to design. I want to mentor. I want to learn.

& the amazing thing is that Clint believes that to. He believes in my ability and believes that the skills that I have are profitable and marketable. That truly makes the difference.

In the end, I’m just grateful to have an amazing husband by my side, endless love and support from my family and friends, and the gospel. The gospel reminds me that not all is lost. That there is something to be grateful for every single day. That this is a trial, just like every other, and I just have to put my faith in the Lord, do my due diligence and put the talents He has blessed me with to work.

Life is good. You just have to find it.

Today, I woke up late & got ready as quickly as possible & still missed my trax train. I threw my hair in a bun, put on some mascara & brow liner, & that’s about it. (I promise this comes into the story later.) I drove up to campus, frazzled & frustrated, & barely made it to class on time.

After my first class, I walked across campus in this 85 degree heat. By the time I made it to the Institute building, I was sweaty, flushed and slightly winded. I went into class & dropped my backpack in a seat & went into the bathroom. I looked in the mirror, frustrated with the sweat glistening on my forehead. I was letting it bring me even more down than I already was.

As I was wiping the sweat off my forehead and fixing my hair, a woman around my age walks into the restroom, looked at me & smiled. She paused for a second and said,

“That is a really beautiful color on you. It really compliments your eyes.”

Feeling my face blush, I said thank you, finished pulling my hair in a pony, and went to class.

I held my chin a little higher as I walked to class. I thought about what that girl said. I thought about how effortless it was for her to say those kind words to me. She has no idea that she made my day, or at least, I don’t think she does.

The world needs more people like this woman. Kind, genuine people. The world needs more people with her spirit & light. The world needs more people with His light.

I’m challenging myself to do just that.