I have been in my profession for two decades. I started with a large company, and then moved to a small company, and now I am a medium sized company. I feel like I’m living an adult version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 

Small, Medium, Large, I have experienced them all. This one was too hard, this one too soft; never finding my JUST RIGHT.  At least that is what it always felt like. But as I get older and wiser I realize each company I spent time at was ‘just right’ for me at that moment in my life.

The large company is where I learned the ropes. It is where I discovered I really had a knack for this line of work. It is where my forever work family was established. Where I gained the confidence and endurance needed to stay in such a challenging field. It is also where I was working while going through in-vitro. This is where my stay-at-home mama and baby dreams were crushed. It was at this company that I worked the hardest of my life, and I felt the most valued. Given the choice, I would have stayed at this company forever. 

When my large company moved out of state, I made my way to the small company. This small company had a total of 400 employees, and I befriended almost every single person in my department. Everyone was so happy here. There was so much company swag and hoopla. By all outside appearances, I felt like I joined a cult, and I liked it.  As I settled in though, I saw the cracks. I witnessed so many employee firings, which felt contrary to all the outward happy faces. Though a highly proficient employee, I felt vulnerable. Then there was my boss, (I will just leave it at that). I truly felt stuck in a hard profession with no way out.  It was at this small company that I had to learn to be brave and practice patience while waiting for God to reveal my exit strategy.

It was at my medium sized company that I learned to be grateful. God rescued me from the throes a bad boss and rewarded me with a ‘normal’ boss and the best benefits of my career. Even still, after two decades in this industry, each day is a battle to keep a positive outlook. I have all this wisdom and experience and it goes unsolicited by leadership.  I went from seen to invisible; friends to lonely. Still I continue on this path and in this industry, because it is where God has led me.

Mamas, my professional Goldilocks journey has taught me many things. Mostly that the world was not created for my happiness. I was blessed with a special skill set, placed in a specific profession, and planted where I can make my corner of the world a better place. There is no “just right”.  I won’t experience my “just right” until heaven. But mamas, if you have surrendered to God’s will, trust this: God has placed you at your “just right” for right now.

Mamas, life is hard, but hold on tight in your ‘just right’.