Thanks my dear friend rosie

I've thought of taking classes, but with working 40+ hours, I just want to play after work, haha. I'll be 59 years old at the end of April, I want to enjoy my time off. Most certificate programs take a couple years to complete, and then the employer would still want you to have hands on experience. I can get the hands on experience this summer and shorten things up a bit so I can start playing in the winter

More work... Yes, I was looking around today and thinking I already do more work than my title demands and barely get everything done in the 8 or 9 hour shift. I am willing to accept the assistant manager position, but I don't think I will take management if they want me to.

I'll be talking tomorrow morning or Friday morning with the owner and her daughter. The daughter told me today that things are going to change with management very soon. So perhaps my next manager will be more productive and all the weight won't fall on my shoulders like it is now. As it stands now, my daytime co-worker and I handle pretty much everything except the paperwork. Having a productive manager, like the first one that was there, will make a lot of difference.

Time will tell, but for now I'm going to take the challenge presented to me. I owe it to myself to at least give it my best shot. I've counted how many times I've been offered leadership positions over the last few years, around 6 times. I only accepted once and it turned into a nightmare, lol. But it wasn't due to lack of ability on my part. It had more to do with the tyrant boss I had who thought I could work continuously without a day off for seven months. That was the 24/7 Innkeeper position I took on Mackinac Island. I crashed after 3 months, and quit two months later. I've refused all offers after that. So I can't exactly use that as a successful assistant manager position on my resume, haha.

Obviously these leaders in my life see something in me that I've refuse to see. I guess it's time to start listening and paying attention. And allow myself shine in the light that they see me in.

I figure the only way to know if this is right for me is to give it a try. My fear is that I will crash and burn. Or be successful and have to work hard to keep it, haha.

If I do crash and burn, then so be it. But I would rather be in a place where I have the love and support of those around me, who have worked with me for over a year and know me, than to be in a strange place with a bunch of strangers and end up crashing and burning there. Doing this while living in a home that I feel safe in, working with those I feel safe with, and having the support of others like my mingle friends and my chiropractor and massage therapist, will definitely help me freak out less if I do get overwhelmed.

Knowing how important having a safety net and the support of others is something also for me to consider, when I do venture out again with seasonal work and travel. It would be wise to set up a support system in that location before I get there.

Another thing to consider...

My application was accepted at the resort I applied at, and given to the hiring manager. The resort is one of many resorts owned by Vail Resorts. A major hospitality industry where advancement and moving around to other properties would be quite possible and is encouraged, least the advancement part. Benefits are amazing for full time year round, and for seasonal after a certain time.

The position is a retail associate in Teton National Park, most likely a gift shop. Room and board is $100 a week, I get a private room with shared living space, free horseback riding, free kayaking, free river rafting, and free passes to Yellowstone and Teton National Parks. Discounts galore at the stores and restaurants in the resort. The pay sucks, lol. It's only $9.50 an hour. But if I work good, which I will, then I will have an organization that I can continue to work at for the rest of my working career. They have locations all over the United States, as well as in Canada and Australia!

This is why I hate applying to places, I usually get hired and have to decide which one to take.

Although I haven't been hired yet, but I'm sure it's gonna happen. Decisions, decisions!

I would still stay and then you have this to put on your resume. It hopefully will help you get a better position faster than climbing the ladder with them as it takes time for them to realize you are a gem and better suited to leadership. Just my opinion. You do what feels right for you.

True! And I can go horseback riding here, there's a stable two miles away and a hiking trail less than a mile away. And beaches....

I just need a vacation!!! A respite, to relax and get back to nature. A month off from working. I think I have cabin fever and the winter blues, haha.

Definitely need to meditate on this.

River have you ever thought about cross crediting your psychology degree with a degree in social work . You may only need to do a sociology paper and a few others , depending on how long ago you earned your degree and what your study covered . Have always thought you would be very well suited to such a role . The pay would be higher and eventually you would be able to look at working part time and having a great lifestyle balance . Of course it depends on your finances , commitments and plan for your coming years leading into retirement . If you were to study part time it would be difficult to do university study working full time so working lesser hours in your current role would likely need to be considered . Just another path to think about lol x

Yes, I have thought about that, along with human resources, and something in healthcare, lol. I definitely want to feel like I'm making a difference in the world, whether that be environmentally or in the lives of people. That is one aspect of my job that I love. I have a way of brightening up the customers day, and have been thanked many times for giving them a reason to smile. In that respect I feel my calling is more for the general population rather than those who are seeking professional help.

I've also thought of taking the steps to become a spiritual coach/life coach. I recently started spiritual studies, but as you mentioned, working full time makes it difficult. I work 40+ hours at a formal job, then come home to my housekeeping role per my living agreement. Add personal time and appointments to that and there's very little time left to breathe, or include romance to my life.

Doing seasonal work would free up time for me, I wouldn't have the added responsibilities of being a housekeeper. Or everyday life responsibilities for that matter, aside from keeping my living space clean. Food is prepared for you in the employee cafeteria, so no grocery shopping or cooking, or dishes, lol. Recreation is just right there on the property, so no need to travel or take time off to go seek recreation. I would however need to take time to seek the next assignment, unless of course I was with an organization that had year round seasonal work. It's actually a good working arrangement for students. Had I not been dealing with so many emotional issues when I was doing it before, it would have suited me well. My taking a break over the last year and a half to stay put has helped me find that inner peace, and now I'm feeling the call to move on or forward.

I feel my purpose in being here has been served and it's time to go. But thinking back, another reason I came here was to improve my chances of being more marketable for higher paying jobs. So perhaps my purpose in being here hasn't completely been served, given the opportunity that has been presented to me.

Yes, more things to consider, lol. Retirement and a fulfilling well balance lifestyle are at the top of my list, or at least needs to be a permanent spot on my list, haha. I've not thought much of retirement until recently, and sadly have not taken steps in the past to ensure a decent retirement. I have nine years to correct that, or at least take steps to help improve the my situation when I do retire.

Thanks again Blondey. I always appreciate your input, it gives me much food for thought with things I don't normally consider.

I wish you luck whatever you choose to do. I really have no suggestions. It is really up to you!

Thanks cutie

Moto deactivated! Guess he changed his mind about being a reference

Achievement minus the stress. That would be da bomb.

Haha, yes it would be, Lane.

Whatever you decide to do River, stay or move around, make it something that will make you happy.

Thank you Poetry

And yes, that is the key factor... doing what will bring me the most happiness. Or in my case, align me with the highest good of myself, as well as the highest good of all. I already have happiness within, so it's not about seeking happiness outside of myself. It's not about making more money, though that would be nice, lol. It's about serving my higher purpose in life and merging/aligning that with my soul purpose. Where two become one. Oooo, I just got chills all over, haha!

What is my purpose in life, my soul purpose? That question has followed me around for most of my adult life. And since I seemingly love to complicate the hell out of things, I would come up with all sorts of things and yet, none of them seemed to fit.

It finally came to me, and it's actually quite simple! Well, it really came to me long ago, but I decided to complicate it by thinking it should be so much more, so I continued searching until I came back full circle. My life purpose is to be happy, joyous, and free. My soul purpose is to shine that light on others.

And now, I'm ready! It's time to embrace my purpose by choosing the the higher path. The one that will align me with the highest good of myself, so I am able to best serve others.

I want to thank all of you for your input, for giving me things to consider, and for you support. It means a lot to me.

I feel blessed and grateful that I have options, choices in life. Some don't. I'm faced with two opportunities and the argument for both present many challenges and various pros and cons. It came to me yesterday that I need to stop arguing with myself as to which would be the right choice. To instead ask myself which would serve the highest good of myself, as well as others.

So I took a step back from my thoughts, kind of like getting outside of myself, to be an observer. I observed myself in my role running the store, the feelings that flowed through me. I observed the manager in his role, imagined myself being in that role. I didn't get the feeling of happy, joyous, and free. It was more of a void, an annoyance, and a role that no longer serves me. I simple don't want to be there anymore, lol.

I meet with the manager and daughter this morning. They called yesterday to set up the meeting and I begrudgingly agreed. Later in the day, I received an email from the resort in Wyoming to set up an interview. My eyes filled with tears of joy and I felt a wave of warmth flow through me. In observing both sides of the coin, I've come to my decision.

I am turning down the assistant manager position, again, lol. There was good reason why I turned it down twice before, and that hasn't changed.

Today at 4pm, I have an interview with the hiring manager at the resort in Wyoming. WooHoo... I'm going to Wyoming. Provided I get hired that is! If not, there will be another place for me... but something tells me it's a given!

Thanks again, all of you, for being apart of this decision making process with me.

Wishing you all the luck in the world with your interview later today

Always good to follow your own feelings and intuition!
Wishing you a good job interview with the desired outcome!

Good luck river .
Personally I think you are doing the right thing , that’s the choice I would have gone for too and what I would have suggested to you as I felt like your heart wasn’t really into the managerial position not like it seems to be in doing the other kind of stuff .
And sometimes you gotta do what your heart and gut feeling is saying , even though more money for the other option is a good thing of course , but sometimes it’s not always about the money, cus you gotta think about your happiness too and which you would feel better suited to . Xxx

Thank you Delightful

Thanks Crystal