My First Post & How I went from Pittsburgh to Reading

My First Post & How I went from Pittsburgh to Reading

The story of how I got to Reading can be told two ways.  Cliff's notes: I was offered & accepted a job in the industry I was looking to transition to.  

However, if you know me the term "Cliff's Notes" really is not in my wheelhouse.  I love communicating clearly and at-length.

Leading up to Reading, PA was a period of timr inn my life that presented several consecutive challenges.  I was feeling like I need to "move on" from a lot of it--truth be told, even if I had accepted a job in Pittsburgh I likely would have had  he reminder of the burden of the last few years.  

Moving to Reading gave me somewhat of a "fresh start", I suppose.  I am hesitant to call it a fresh start because I am the same person I was when I moved from Pittsburgh in terms of values and sense of self, but I am no longer bogged down by some things that are really quite painful.

I always loved the outdoors--kayaking & hiking took up a lot of my time in Pittsburgh.

I suppose I ought to share some of what happened during my 20's--a time where most of my peers are traveling, getting married, heck even having kids--I suffered two job losses, personal health issues, my brother in law dying, and two relationships failing.  I have always been very career driven and those job losses took it right out of me.  It felt like for a period of time that something was happening to me every six months.  That despite the work ethic and determination that I had, I still wasn't getting any traction.  

It wasn't until my brother-in-law got sick that I really started to gain perspective.  I wanted nothing more than to spend as much time as possible with him because somehow I knew I wouldn't have it again.  So I did what anyone else in my situation would do--I quit my job to spend the last several weeks with him.  Crazy, right?  Not so much.  I was growing unhappy with my career path and knew I wanted change, what better time to job hunt and spend days at the hospital?  So I did.  I got a part time job to help supplement cash flow, at a local spin studio, and spent every free minute supporting my family during this incredibly challenging time.

Do you believe in serendipity?  Not in the John Cusak- love movie kind of way.  Or in the gourmet hot chocolate kind of way, but in the true definition.

ser·en·dip·i·tyˌserənˈdipədē/ nounthe occurrence and development  of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

You see, I had hired a career coach during my time off to help me with my job transition--I had spent just shy of 10 years in the public sector in municipal management and/or high level county government.  But I was done.  It wasn't working for me and I was done.  We talked often about which aspects of my job I loved--project management, road work, etc.  We pinpointed companies in Pittsburgh I would apply to.  We revamped my resume.  It wasn't cheap, but boy it was worth it.  I applied for a position at the company I work at now.  After a phone screening, I googled the company on LinkedIn ... low and behold one of my favorite instructors at my little part time job worked there.  

This is the first of a series of very serendipitous events since I moved from Pittsburgh.  It likely goes without saying that this same instructor has been my biggest advocate and an excelled role model and source of support to me. 

After I broke off a very abusive relationship, I moved to Mt. Washington.  I lost my job for the first time two weeks after I moved in.  This is the view from my condo there.

There are several emotions that I experienced on my drive over to Reading.  My parents were out of town so I truly did move here "alone".  The move company was great and I spent the next several months attempting to get settled into Berks County & figure out what the heck I was doing.  As I am entering my third year here, I feel like I have that sense of understanding and satisfaction.  Professionally, I am as happy as I have ever been.  Personally, I suppose I am as well.  

Serendipity is going to be a very big theme for me writing this blog.  I suppose the next item I will write about will be the situation with my rescue bird dog, Lindy, and her/my/our path.  That may take a series of postings.  I'm ending this blog post now with two more pictures:

   

Reading, PA seriously has the worst highway system.  I think this truck agrees.

This is Lindy.  4-5 people will probably read this blog & already know that :)

Till next time!