I guess we can all agree on one thing in this world. And that is that 2020 has been one heck of a roller coaster ride. But I'm not here to rehash any of the political, moral, ethical, medical or anything else that has been going on. I'm just going to focus on my own little part of the universe and what been happening there.
The Good
For the first time since I have worked in the tourist industry here, I volunteered to take the layoff for two months in January and February. Why was that good? Because I had been sick on and off in November and December, but continued to work every day. Because it was our busiest season, I ended up working 5 days a week from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. Yes, that is 14 hours per day. By the end of December I was was physically, mentally and emotionally drained. So getting two months off was fantastic. I rested. I baked. I cooked. I cleaned. I organized. I shopped. I visited friends. Basically, I did what ever I wanted when I wanted. It was really good. And I needed that time to clear my head to get ready to get back to work in March.
The Bad
On March the 3rd, I returned to work. During my time off I had developed sciatica and it made itself known in my back, down my hip and thigh and all the way into my calf muscle. The pain was so unbearable on some days that I just layed around the house. So when they called me back to work, I gave them full disclosure that I wasn't sure I was going to be able to work since my job had changed with all the new Covid social distancing. I used to be able to have down time in between shows. The new procedures meant I would be off my feet for maybe 15 minutes between shows and some days would be 4 show days where I would stand on my feet for 8-10 hours a day.
The Unknown
I was afraid. Afraid of what I was doing to my body. Afraid of how I would go to bed each night crying with pain. Even prescription pain relievers will not ease a pain that is caused by constant abuse to your body by put your weight daily on parts of our body that hurt in the best of times. I knew I needed to start seriously considering a new job. One that would not require a lot of standing. One that would still making me happy with what I did and not leve me feeling like I had wasted the past four years in the tourist industy. But I knew I had to do something so I ventured out on a limb and started looking for job options.
The Unexpected
After my third day back at work, I knew I had to find something and fast. I had applied for one job that looked interesting but I wasn't sure if it would be a good fit. I followed up on my application that night and the HR lady sent me right back a reply asking me to interview the next morning. I got the job. I left the old job and I started training for the new. It is amazing. I am still working in the tourist industry. Still booking reservations. Only now I do it for a bunch of different activities and shows and for a bunch of different cities and states.
The Results
Bottom line is that I couldn't be any happier with the twists and turns my life has made these past 6 months. I was at my wits end at times. I worried needlessly. I would have moments of happiness and moments of self-doubt and fear. I stepped out on that limb and took a leap of faith, thanks to the encouragement of friends who believed in me more than I believed in myself. I have had an amazing year.
