Big Changes and Big News

There are a couple of things that I am just not very good at.  I’m not very good at baking and I’m terrible at math (I’ll admit, I still sometimes use my fingers to add).  And don’t even get me started on my technology skills, those are pretty bad too.  Rounding out this list, I’m also not very good at being patient.  When I want something, I want it now and I don’t want to wait even five minutes for it.  However, ranking highest on my list and the thing that I am the absolute worst at is not being happy.  I’ll swim across oceans, wrestle alligators (even though I’d probably lose) and I’d even jump out of a perfectly good airplane (I hate heights) if I think it will make my life a happier one or bring happiness to those I care about.  To me, happiness is tops and it’s mine to achieve and something to be fought for, each and every day. 

That being said, when I evaluate the past year and a half or so of my life, I've come realize that I have not felt as happy as I know I could be.  I feel so very fortunate for all of the good in my life but I've felt that I haven't felt fulfillment.  After much evaluation, I found that the root of this could all be traced back to the work that I was doing in life and the fact that to me, it had no meaning and thus, I had no passion for it.  While I've had the pleasure of working for such fine establishments and working alongside terrific people, I had never felt content (for those of you who don’t know, I had been doing HR in some capacity since graduating college).  To make a long story short, as time went on, this unsettling feeling continued to intensify and further diminish my sense of happiness and through all this, I recognized a miserable side of me that I hadn’t ever known.  I was grouchy and my frustrations were running high and these feelings only grew stronger over time.  Since happiness is my God given right to pursue, I had made the decision that I was not going to continue down this path a second longer and that some serious shake-ups needed to happen in my life. 

After much thought and countless hours of research, I have created my new plan and it started to become a reality today when I braved the thigh-high snowy elements to make it to work and quit my job.  Wow, that seems so odd and surreal to say.  Just because it's fresh, new and exciting I'm going to say it again.  Today I quit my job! (That was fun to repeat) I will be working out my two weeks and then on Monday, January 10^th, I start the next chapter of my new life as a student in the 16-week Culinary Certificate program at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts.  I decided on this because I feel that I am a good cook and while I am proud of the work I do in my kitchen, that's not enough for me.  Up to this point, I have been self-taught, acquiring my training through books and by asking family and friends teach me how to make their best dishes.  While this has been great and has got me to where I am today, I feel that the quickest way for me to go from good to great is to seek formalized training, gain some credentials and find a new career path that will bring some meaning and fulfillment to my life.

Make no mistake, change is scary and risks aren’t easy and to say that my palms weren't sweaty and my heart wasn't racing today would be lying, but as I mentioned, happiness is the most important thing to me and I feel that this decision is the right one for me at this point in time.  After all, I only get one shot at this life of mine and with all that is me I intend to live it in the happiest of ways that I possibly can.  

So what does all of this mean for my blog?  Not a whole heck of a lot, actually.  I’m still going to keep at it as I always have, posting my creative recipes from my Small Boston Kitchen, talking about restaurants and any food-related events I attend.  I also intend to sprinkle in helpful tips that I learn at school and anecdotes (I'm sure there will be many).  

Also, I cannot thank those enough that have stood beside me and supported me through all of this.  Without them, I’m not sure this sort of endeavor would be possible.  I promise to make it up to them in the best way I know how to; by making the best meals I can make and offering it with a smile (and a few sarcastic jokes, of course.) Thank you all, I cannot wait to share this next chapter of my life with you.  I'm excited, optimistic and most importantly, I'm happy.

PS, (Warning: Shameless plug!) Since I mentioned that I quit my job, I’m looking for some part time opportunities.  I’m very open to the type of work, so long as it involves my dear favorite passion; food.  I’m currently looking into writing/marketing/PR/social media opportunities to start but am all ears to any other suggestions.  I’d be happy to provide more information on my qualifications and background and any help and/or advice is so very much appreciated. Thank you and have a wonderful holiday!