27 and a half years (you’re young if your age still has a fraction in it) old, single, and living with my sister, brother-in-law, and almost 3 year old niece. Isn’t that what every kid dreams of? Three months prior to this story, I loved living alone, and I loved my job. Working as an assistant processor for a mortgage company, I used to say “I won’t leave this job until they make me!”. Well, they did. I was laid off February 28, 2019. Two weeks of severance pay and benefits through the end of the month in which I was laid off…..February 28…….Yeah. Luckily for them, it wasn’t a leap year. #savedfourdollars! Sorry I don’t know how to hashtag so let me know if I did it wrong. Actually don’t. I really don’t care. Cut to me binge watching The West Wing, eating all the french fries, and incoherently, if not unwisely, contemplating the meaning of life. The West Wing, however brilliant, had no answers for me, nor did the french fries (code word for bourbon). I was left simply feeling empty and in want of something more from my life. This wallowing went on for two days. I attempted to figure out unemployment, health insurance, etc, while sending my pathetic one page resume to anyone and everyone. Five years at a local grocery store, childcare, administrative work in the medical field and assistant processing at a mortgage corporation. Who wouldn’t want me?? Side note: my niece wants to be a bus driver and/or a garbage truck driver. Of course there is nothing wrong with her pursuing either of these careers but I’m fairly certain she will change her mind before her next birthday. Anyway, my point is that those of you who knew you were going to be astronauts when you grew up are very lucky. I mean if you actually are an astronaut. Well, who cares? This is the internet. You can just say you are. So, unemployed (yes it is still very hard to even type that word when describing myself), single (a positive at this point), and essentially homeless (renting a room from my sister was a temporary situation while I was searching for my own house to buy), I realized the world is my oyster! I have nothing tying me down aside from a hefty truck payment and my Netflix bill. With every big life change, I consider moving at least halfway across the country. Hell, I moved to Ireland once. That lasted about two weeks. In the end, I am a New Englander. Red Sox, foliage, “wicked cool”....We really don’t use that word as much as Adam Sandler makes it seem like we do. SweahdaGahhd. Clearly I’ve had too many shots of espresso. If you’re still following this, I had just realized I have plenty of options. I could be a singer! Or a ballerina! Okay now I am probably too old for both, but an unemployed, single, homeless girl can dream right? At this point, I have both my mother and my sister yelling at me in my head “You can make dresses!!”. Ohhhh right. Something I am actually passionate about and can do well. Is that what you’re supposed to look for in a career? Or in your life in general I guess? Super probably. So, day three, I half jokingly said to my sister “maybe I’ll just make dresses for a living…”. You know, just testing the waters. She is my landlady afterall. And she said “Yeah! Go for it!”. Yup. that’s what she said. No that is actually what she said. Why does everyone around me have more faith in my abilities than I do? That ends NOW. Or maybe in a few months. I don’t know if I can change my mindset just like that. So, here I am, 12 hrs/day, in my basement sweatshop, LOVING not only my “job” but more importantly, my life. I am spending my time the way that I want to, surrounded by people I love. What more could I ask for in my journey? Who’s to say what a 27 (and a half) year old woman’s life is supposed to look like? If you try to tell me, I’ll REFUSE to listen.