I told my friend Emily last night at a concert in Raleigh (we saw Judah & the Lion and Ben Rector…it was amazing!) that I would write a blog post today. So here I am. I haven’t even thought about this blog since I moved here- I guess that’s a good thing, right? I’ve been too busy just living my life to sit down and write about it! Well, let me fill you in.
This past month and a half has been a whirlwind. I was in the honeymoon phase of moving to a new place at first. I loved it. Everything about Greensboro was wonderful. I was meeting new people, lived in a new home, had new friends, started a new job, shopped at new stores, and the list goes on. But then it hit me, everything was new. Nothing was familiar. And although I have an amazing community down here with some really great friends, I had this sinking feeling inside because no one really knew me. I felt alone, exhausted from my new job (which is 100% commission btw) and I was wondering why the heck I had moved to Greensboro, North Carolina.
Then something changed. The Fellows had a retreat one weekend to Pittsburgh, PA. Now, you wouldn’t think that this city would have had such an impact on me, but it did. We loaded up Jorge (our beat up church bus that we drive everywhere) and started on the 8.5 hour ride to PA. I was not too happy about this trip, again I was in the thick of my new sales job, tired as heck and no one could relate to me- but it changed me. For the first time since moving down south, I slowed down. Now, this is a bit ironic because in moving down south, you’d think I would have slowed down. Nope. Just the opposite was true. And I was exhausted. But this retreat to PA was so revitalizing to my soul. We had no tight agenda we were following and the Fellows just got to hang out together. Serious bonding, that’s for sure. I can remember laughing like an idiot on so many occasions on that trip. Just living in the present and enjoying the day, and not thinking too far into the future or what was on my agenda. I had no agenda. Simply to live and enjoy the trip! There were 20 of us sleeping under one roof with every pull out couch being used and a plethora of air mattresses strewn around the house. It was great.
This trip wasn’t all fun and games, some really hard things happened while we were there, and it was a wake up call for me. I was reminded that I really can’t accomplish a lot of things when I’m constantly running around like a chicken with my head cut off. And certain things happen that make you stop and really think about why you’re running around like a chicken with your head cut off. No need. I need to stop and be still. And only in taking time off could I realize that!
Since getting back from this trip, I have made THREE sales in my new job. This has been huge for me. I was so discouraged at first because it was so hard. Sales is rough. Cold calling? Rough. But I have proven to myself that I can do it. It’s a huge feeling of accomplishment, that’s for sure! And the coolest thing about it all- I have a new mindset when it comes to my job. I’m realizing that my faith and my job aren’t mutually exclusive. I have the power all day, every day with everyone I meet, to leave them better than I found them. If they buy advertising from me, great. If not, whatever. I know that I’m in this job for a reason, and maybe that reason is just to meet people, encourage them and change the course of their day. It’s refreshing to have this mindset because I’m no longer obsessed with just “making another sale.” I’m focused on meeting new people and seeing if I can help them. And that’s what I ultimately want to do with my career- I just want to help people!
So some funny stories from work…because sometimes things that happen to me I don’t actually believe are real:
Accidentally played footsie with a gentleman I was in a business meeting with…whoops my bad
Got a free facial from a woman I sold advertising to…check her out http://www.emergeskintherapy.com/
Made a sale and while walking to my car I realized that my fly had been down the entire time. HA. My life!
Met a woman to sell advertising to, ordered a cup of tea at her tea shop, realized I didn’t have my wallet to even pay for the tea….sorry I’m so professional….
So then went home to get my wallet and ran into Kaitlin, my roommate, who was walking to her car to go back to work as I was getting home. We chatted for a little bit & saw the mailman go by- and I started talking to James, the mailman, because at my house, we’re really bad at getting the mail everyday. So I apologized and he proceeded to hand Kaitlin the mail. Well, what was in that pile of mail? An acceptance letter to Emory Medical School for Miss Kaitlin Shinn! The timing couldn’t have been more perfect! Especially since Kaitlin and I rarely see each other during the day when we’re working. So with James standing in the background, Kaitlin threw the letter in the mail and we proceeded to jump up and down screaming in the front yard. It was a good day, indeed!
So there’s my life as of now. Stay tuned for more crazy adventures of Elsa Ketchum!
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