Crossroads - she said...

SHE SAID:  In your life a little crossroads will fall.  Or is it rain, I can never get the English sayings straight :)

Taking the summer off was a great idea.  Going back to work was not so bad, going back to complete and utter mayhem was.  Over the summer, our Agency was hit really hard with budget cuts, job losses and many changes.  Those of us who survived, are left to pick up the pieces.  The road will be long, the work "re-distributed" and as they say life goes on...  In my case, I spent the first two weeks coming home mentally exhausted, quite frustrated and in some cases a bit angry at the red tape and blatant stupidity.  I am no longer happy doing my "day job" but I know realistically that my passion for whisky will also not pay my bills.  I'm no Jim Murray, John Hansell or Martine Nouet.  I spend most of my days lately, looking for a way out of the corner I seem to have backed myself into.  I'm really good at what I do: project management.  I have a long list of accolades from my clients and my impeccable record is well noted in our department.  However, it no longer makes me happy.  It's a heavy burden. I need a new career.  I AM AT A CROSSROADS.

My daughter graduated with her Bachelor of Nursing degree, left home and moved to a neighboring province, met a very nice young man, fell in love and is now miserable on two fronts.  She has come to realize that being a nurse in today's health care system is grueling, thankless and demanding work.  As a result she doesn't want to be a nurse, at least not in a hospital.  And the very nice young man, well he's enrolled in the Canadian Coast Guard Program.  For those of you wondering what that means:  He's on a boat at sea at least 6-8 months/year.  He left for sea trials last week and she has been nothing but miserable.  If she stays with this person; this is her life yet she doesn't think she's strong enough to live that lifestyle. If she ends the relationship, she feels like she is walking away from the person she is meant to be with.  SHE IS AT A CROSSROADS.

A friend of mine had a hobby to which he was very passionate about.  Unfortunately too passionate and it started to affect the people he loved around him.  His loving wife, who has been by his side for many years asked that he give up this passion for a time to reconnect with her and the family.  This passion meant so much to him, but he truly loves his wife and children.  HE WAS AT A CROSSROADS.

Crossroads are meant to happen, you cannot avoid them.  They serve a purpose.  You must stand at these crossroads, sometimes for a long period of time until you come to the conclusion that is necessary to move on.  For people looking from the outside in, Crossroads can seem like such a horrible time in one's life.  It may seem like the person is having a complete melt down or perhaps that they have lost their minds and have no idea what they are doing.   

In the end, few of us stand still.  Something gives, changes, pushes us or releases us from the Crossroads and as the saying goes, life goes on...

So here's to Crossroads, everything they stand for, everything they teach us and the good that comes out of them - because something GOOD always comes out of them.

To my friend:  Stay the course, be very patient and enjoy your time away.  There is a void that has already been noted. I will miss you dearly, but we will all still be here when you come back.  

To my daughter:  Follow your heart and find the strength you need to move through this very brief pit stop.  Trust that you are exactly where you are for a reason.  

To me:  Sigh, I have to take my own advice.  Trust that the next bend is just ahead and keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Keep giving 110% and in the end, no matter what, the hard work will pay off.

So get out your umbrellas, the Crossroads are about to fall...  hang tight, stay as dry as you can and know that eventually...  something changes.

On the slightly curvy and winding whisky trail of life...

Whisky Lassie