I wanted to share with everyone a song that I've been obsessed with since I discovered it watching the show "Nashville". At the bottom of the blog you can find the lyrics to this song which I find to be beautiful. Strong message in simple words. 

Now a days it is so easy to forget the important things in life, the things that make it count. It's so easy to get lost in the hectic routines of life and work, get carried away by ambtition and the desire of "being or becoming someone". All of the sudden we started measuring success by the number of people who know our name, fame, how much money we've saved, university degrees, working title, etc. Yet, we still act surprised when we hear that someone who "has it all" is depressed, turns to addictions, or even takes their own life away. It's so easy to think that if we had it "all" we'd be happy and I think it's true, except that we need to take a moment to redefine "all". These past six months of unemployment have given me a lot to think about.

During the first couple of months I was quite positive in my job search. It's a matter of updating my resume, meeting people, I'll find something soon I told myself. When I finally got an interview with a great company and the dream role I was excited to go in for an interview. As I sat in their offices, talking with the people who could be my future colleagues my stomach started to turn and my heart felt heavy. My gut was telling me it wasn't the right fit. As I walked out of my interviews I felt my eyes tearing up and desperation kicking in. The fact is I've always been ambitious person so giving up a good opportunity was hard. At six years old I started gymnastics, at eight I told my mom I'd represent my country and I did. I was in fourth grade when I told my parents I'd be going to university in the US and keep in mind that's not the norm/expected path in Paraguay. So I did, I went to Notre Dame. When I started looking for a job, I chose a program that'd take me all over the world, because that's what I had set my mind to during college. When one grows up seeking to always become better it's easy to get carried away by success but, in the past few months, I"ve realized the only reason I achieved all those things is because in those moments I was surrounded by family and friends who gave me the support and love I needed to get through it. Without them those moments mean nothing. What is the point of winning a medal if I have no one to celebrate with. What is the point of competition if I have no one to "give my all" for. 

Today I thank the Lord for giving me these six months of "freedom" to take a moment, sit and think. To reconnect with what really matters to me. I don't have a job, I don't have an MBA, I don't have a luxury car and I haven't been on crazy end of the world adventures. But, I have tight family that loves me and always reaches out to find me despite the distance. I have a husband who smiles when he gets home and sees that I'm there to share the afternoon with him. I have friends that make me laugh and give me a hug when I need one. Maybe I'll find a job tomorrow or maybe it won't happen until next year, but I'm no longer worried or desperate because I know I have everything that I need and everything that is worth living for: friends, family, and love. Everything else will happen in time and when it's meant to be and life itself is my adventure. These days, in a world, that is constantly trying to tell us to push for more and more, my ambition is to maintain and make these things grow and that is enough to make me happy. Everything else is the cherry on top of the cake.