Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude. ~ ZIg ZIglar
After being out of work for over a year, the last thing I wanted was to go back to a typical 9:00 to 5:00. I had really hoped to parlay my volunteer efforts into several small revenue streams that, coupled with a part-time job, would sustain me. No such luck! So, after seven years of working from home, not only am I back in an office, but I’m commuting a whopping five hours a day, between Delaware and Washington, D.C.
When people become aware of my commute, I typically hear two things: “Are you crazy?,” and “You must make a LOT of money!” Neither is true. (Okay, I could be a little cray cray.) While it can be grueling at times, I don’t really mind the commute, or going into the office. Why? Because I work in D.C. by choice—and that’s a pretty powerful motivator.
When I lost my previous job, the first thing I did was take time to figure out what I wanted to do next, and what skills and experience I’d need. So, when I realized I was going to have to go back to work, I specifically targeted jobs that would provide those things. Chief on my list was a position that would help get me closer to landing an overseas job (or one that requires frequent international travel). Who knew the perfect position would open up at the Export-Import Bank of the United States—a government agency that I’d never even heard of? And better still, who knew I’d actually get the job?!
In all honesty, I wasn’t even sure I could pull it off. The commute is very costly (almost $600 a month), and I’m making roughly two-thirds the salary I used to make. But, as they say, where there’s a will, there’s a way…
I looked for every possible way to make it work. Initially, I stayed with my cousin in D.C., during the week, but being away from home all week was difficult. When I started the job, I was also taking classes, and had to travel to Dover every Monday, which meant I drove in to D.C. in the morning, drove back to Delaware for a 6:00pm class, went home after class, then got up at 4:00am Tuesday to head back to D.C. (As I’m typing, I realize how crazy this all sounds, but I had to do what I had to do.) All the back and forth is what prompted me to give the train a try. How much worse could it be? Turns out the train wasn’t too bad. And, I found a bus that made it faster and easier for me to get to Dover on class days. (This was huge, because the quickest way to get to Dover from D.C. entails crossing the Annapolis Bay Bridge—which I refuse to drive over. I found out about the bus, because I was trying to avoid paying $25 each way to have a driving service chauffer me across.)
Which brings me to the moral of the story: when you want something bad enough, no one and nothing can stop you. Things may seem impossible, but if you keep looking, you’ll find ways to make them happen! AND, it won’t feel like so much of a struggle. In fact, you might find yourself enjoying the journey. (I do!)
I love Mondays!
Monday Morning Margarita 