Page 91 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2021

For many of us, not so much. As pressures mount for women to be the best of themselves at all times, choosing the right career path can be a scary commitment, especially when we often times feel like we have no room for error. The good news is that there is plenty of room for error. Mistakes are learning tools that sometimes end up with the best possible outcomes. The even better news is that there is so much more room for success and triumph.
Many of us chose to begin our careers at a younger age, holding off on personal goals such as marriage or having children, while focusing on professional accomplishments and milestones first. However, we sometimes realize that
life happens, and it happens fast. While you may enter the workforce headstrong and determined to make a name for yourself, what do you do when life throws a curve ball, and you realize your original goals and dreams have changed? Perhaps, you fall in love? Maybe you decide to start a family, or you find yourself being the caretaker for a loved one? What if you realize you simply hate your chosen direction? Suddenly, what you thought was the perfect path has now become bumpy and unnavigable, simply because your
priorities have changed. You find yourself not knowing which way to turn. Great news, ladies: turn in any direction you want.
If the past 18 months have taught us anything, it’s that we are stronger than we realize. We can adapt. We can change. We can tackle laundry and Zoom and homework and spreadsheets, all while maintaining some sense of sanity, even if we are hanging on by the thinnest of strings. The women who came before us shaped a world where today we are afforded with options. Options to run a corporation. Options to raise a family. Options to do both.
Acknowledging that it’s time for a change isn’t and will never be weakness. It’s power. They say with great power comes great responsibility. I say with great power comes great opportunity. Opportunity to be what you want to be, how and when you want to be it. Deciding to forge a new career path is by all accounts scary, but not as scary as staying put. Whether it’s the boardroom or the carline, the choice
is entirely yours. So, grab your shoulder pads, your latte ,or whatever gets you motived, and just work, girl.
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