Lesson # 5 - Patience is key

When searching for jobs the most important thing I have learned is to be patient.  It is such a difficult task and is so hard to be patient and wait.  You put out all of these applications and time after time you don't hear back or you hear that there are others more qualified that have made it to interview status.  The most important thing is to not be discouraged and to keep going.  Never give up hope that the right position will come along.  This week I have an interview for a position that would be an ideal starting position for me and I am trusting that if this is the right position for me that I get it, and if not there is something else out there for me.  So when they say patience is a virtue, it's true, and its something that I know I will be working on throughout my life.

Lesson # 4 - Saving voice mails was genius

          Today I had to go through my saved voice mails to find a specific message with a number on it.  When I called into my voice mail it reminded me I had 18 saved voice messages, and I sighed thinking how long it would take to get through them all in order to find the right one.  However, after listening to the first two I realized what a wonderful gift I was receiving listening to them. 

          My first message was from my freshman roommate our freshman year new years eve.  She called me at midnight to wish me a Happy New Years and told me that she wished I was with her because then we could have fun together and also because she knows I wouldn't have let her drink this much. I giggled and teared up remembering getting this message and it made me miss my roommate even more.  The next was from my one of my best friends from home just reminding me what her voice sounded like and wishing me good luck on finals my freshman year.  This made me tear up even more because this friend and I have been drifting apart the past year and it made me miss our close sisterly friendship. 

         The messages kept coming, from friends from home and college.  All of them held a memory and made me miss each of them even more.  So the next time you get a message from a friend think twice before deleting it.  A month, a year, or even years later when you play it back it may just be what you need to brighten your day.  I know that listening to my friends voices on those messages today was the best part of my day. 

Lesson # 3 - Sunshine makes life brighter

        Today I woke up to sun shining through my window and it automatically started the day off right. It was one of those perfectly balanced days in terms of weather.  It was sunny and clear skies with a breeze that still let us know that fall was upon us.  For me it was an ideal type of day.  I got up and got ready for the day and decided that the deck was calling me.  I took my computer outside and went about the lovely task of job hunting that seems to be my daily routine. After searching for a bit I just sat there soaking in the sun and listened to the leaves blowing in the wind. 

       So today's lesson was to take the time to enjoy the sunshine.  A beautiful day is truly a gift from God and is relaxation no matter what you are going through in life.  I need to remember to take advantage of the last few gorgeous days as summer fades and fall winds take over.  This is my favorite time of the year and I hope to enjoy the change of weather each day.  I think that is one of the reasons I am going to NY this weekend.  I want to see family, but I also want to see the first leaves changing.  My home town in NY is so beautiful during the fall and this is the perfect time to head up to enjoy it.  So go outside and enjoy a beautiful day, even if its just for 10 minutes.  Pretend you are 5 again and try to discover shapes in the clouds and listen to the trees as they blow in the wind.  These are moments to cherish.

Lesson # 2 - Long term friendships are priceless

       Today was just one of the many days since graduation that I have been reminded how priceless true friendships really are.  One of my best friends from home lost her grandmother and today I spend the day setting up the reception for after the funeral.  As I was helping a few others set up I was asked the basic question, "How are you connected to the family?"  The answer was easy, I'm one of brittany's best friends and one of her bridesmaids in her wedding next year.  It was then when I was asked how long I had known brittany that I was reminded of how amazing friendships are.  I had known brit for 10 years and it seems like a long time and a short time at the same time. I can't even remember not having her in my life and yet it seems like just yesterday we met. 

       Today my true lesson was how blessed I am to have such amazing friendships and how important it is to keep these close to your heart and never take them for granted.  I was blessed with great friends through high school and am lucky enough to have a lot of these friends in my life.  These friends are the ones that went through the major changes in your life with you, helped you through good and bad, remember your dorky years, and still love you anyways.  They are the friends that will stand by you when you need support.  They are also the ones that will be in your life years from now making new memories to cherish.  I made more of these lifelong friends in college.  All of these friends helped me become who I am today and will be part of my future.  Never take your friends for granted, they are a blessing in life that can be gone in the blink of an eye.

      Thank you to all those who have changed my life for the better and I cannot wait for the memories to come. I love you all!

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out"

Lesson #1 - Make sure you follow your heart

So the first lesson may sound cliche but it has definitely proven to be one of the hardest lessons I re-learned after college.  This type of following your heart is specifically targeted to job hunting during this time in my life.  When searching for a job after college not only can you get discouraged, but you can loose track of what path you should be taking.  I have been so worried about finding a position that I have been looking at jobs that are not even close to the path I want to take. I had to take the time to find what was in my heart and be confident enough to pursue it.  So no matter what happens after college, you have to stay true to yourself and go after your dreams.  The path is definitely not always easy, but I faith that it will truly be worth it.