The Blessings of a Shut Door

I know we all know that saying, have said it ourselves and or have heard it spoken to us. " When one door shuts, another is open to us." But what if we are so preoccupied with looking for that open door ... that we miss the open window? Opportunities and Blessings do not always come up to us and slap us in the face to take notice... we sometimes have to help them along. Sometimes bad things happen to us to shake us out of the mundane and forces us to face the reality of things. The everyday, the comfort of security and the lull of the known can often times be the shackles that have been holding us from our intended future.

Well intentions and best laid out plans are just that till actions are taken. The past couple years would not have happened had it not been for the swift kick in the rear that I got. It seems every 5 years my life takes an unintentional turn of events and my life is turned 360 degrees. My life changes, my outlook changes, opportunities rise and all thank to closed doors and open windows.

First the company that I held my first job post college was purchased by another company 5 years after I started working for them.  This was a great company and I enjoyed working for them immensly but it was hard physical labor. I knew I was meant for more...
Finding myself back in the job market allowed me to seek out other opportunites and was recruited into the financial world. Here again I was given so much and I was able to challenge myself and groomed myself as a manager and as an adult. However as part of learning... I made mistakes along the way.. I was financially irresponsible ( ironic that I was working in the finance world and teaching others how to budget) when I myself could not get a handle on my own life.)
 My life seem to have spiraled out of control.. that I was desperate. I found myself after 6 long years, single again. Leaving my fiancee was the hardest thing I ever had to do.. but I realized, I had turned into something and someone that I no longer recognized. The years following that was my struggle of finding who I was as a single entity and trying to desperately figure out my finances.

The termination from work came as a surprise.. but in hindsight I guess it shouldn't have been. I made an error in judgement that I should have known better to do.

I was finally free to go back to school to obtain my MBA like I've been talking about since I finished my undergrad... I realize though that I also could not afford to not be at work. So I started accepting contract work, giving me the freedom to study and the flexibility of not having to throw my whole heart and soul into my work. It was hard balancing full load of coursework and full time work but I buckled down and I promised myself I would do it. No going out, save money and figure out a game plan to pay off my debt.

2011 .. I have accomplished much and more.  I graduated with honors for my MBA, first in my family. I was given the opportunity to go to China! Check off quite a few things on my bucket list. I touched and climbed the Great Wall of China, I walked and touched and experience the greatness that is the Forbidden City. I expereince the romance of the famous West Lake of Hangzhou and got to see the metropolis of the east which is Shanghai. :) I traveled to Florida to experience Hogwarts world ( I know I know I'm a serious HP fan) and I got to go to NYC!.  To top it off I was able to pay off 2 of 4 credit card debts. the 3rd one is on its way to be done. I paid off my timeshare mortgage. And I only have 1 more credit card to go.

I am now back with my ex-fiancee and we are learning about each other again. We are like a well oiled machine that was left to dry and rusted a little .. and now cleaned, oiled and detailed we are back on track. I really can't ask for more of 2011. I couldnt ask for more from the doors that shut me out and kicked me out. But I thank my lucky stars for the many windows that have opened themselves to me.. and I thank myself for knowing when to leap through them.