Coincidence or Meant to Be and My News!!
Are you someone who believes in coincidence or that some things are meant to be?
Less than two months ago, I openly admitted (in my journal) that I was unhappy with teaching the number of college classes I was teaching. I had been feeling this way for some time but I was afraid to truly acknowledge it. I realized once I acknowledged it that I would be forced to make a change in my life. Teaching at the University of Kentucky has been an amazing opportunity and was the perfect job to have as I began to build my private practice. However, it was beginning to take up more time than I wanted it to. Making this admission to myself opened up doors that I believe are not just coincidence. Admitting I needed to stop teaching was scary. Although my practice is growing, it is not to the level where I can go without some form of a steady income. ( Income is not steady when you are waiting on insurance reimbursements.) Ideally I wanted a part-time job where I could work on the days I do not see private clients. Part-time jobs in the social work/counseling field are not easy to find. Nonetheless, I began to apply for a variety of positions. Very few of the positions excited me but I needed something. I received a phone call from a recruiter at a local hospital and agreed to a phone interview. The position as she explained it was what has become a typical social work job of case management. Although not my strongest area, the hours needed were 16 per week. Two days a week at my practice and two days at another job was exactly what I was looking for. I was beginning to think I hadn’t passed the phone interview when I finally received an email requesting an job interview. What surprised and excited me was the email was from the palliative care case manager. This position was specific to palliative care which is an area of medicine dealing with chronic illness and individuals needing pain management but not necessarily end of life care. In many cases, palliative care can be a precursor to hospice care. Have you ever been to an interview and just felt that everything was right? I meet with three individuals and all were shocked that I didn’t realize this position was palliative care. (It had not been advertised as such) With 12 years of hospice grief counseling experience, I understand medical social work. Most importantly, this team was looking for someone to provide counseling to patients and families in regards to difficult decisions such as decisions regarding ending treatment or entering hospice care. As I sat there, I truly couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Truth be told, there has been a part of me missing this type of work. “I don’t think this is just a coincidence.” one of the interviewers stated during the interview. I’ve never had an interview where I felt I had it as I left. I left the interview on Friday afternoon and by Monday afternoon I had a phone call offering me the job. Truly I feel like I am where I am supposed to be in my career at this moment. As I looked back at a few of the circumstances regarding the job, I felt there were many signs that this was not coincidence, but meant to be.- My initial phone call was on the two year anniversary of the day I left my job as grief counselor at Hospice of the Bluegrass. It somehow feels I am coming full circle.
- My interview was on the afternoon of our wedding anniversary. Dates have always been significant to me.
- One of the interviewers came in the room and immediately knew me because she had attended the ethics training I presented in February. This was just a reminder of how important it was for me to say yes to that opportunity last summer.
- When I began negotiating on my salary (something I typically haven’t done), I received a response with the statement “We apologize if we insulted you with the first offer.” Uh, really?
Do you believe that some things are coincidence or are somethings are just meant to be?
I’m joining with Emily for Grateful Heart Monday because I am truly grateful for the current place I am at in life.
Congratulations! I am so glad everything is working out so well for you: you deserve it!
Thanks Christine! It feels good!
Congratulations on the new job. Transitional periods can be very difficult and seemingly never ending. My husband and I are in one right now and we aren’t 100% sure when we’ll be on the other side. I suppose one day you will just wake up and be there. I do believe somethings happen for a reason, but I also believe that the more we put ourselves out there, the more opportunities we will receive.
Transition periods in life can be scary and there have been many times over the past two years that I considered returning to a full time job that would have been “just a job.” It’s important to dream and then to take steps toward that dream. For me, I’ve been given clues (from the universe) that I was heading the right direction. I also believe that an opportunity isn’t an opportunity if we aren’t ready for it. If I had still been hanging onto my classes, I wouldn’t have looked elsewhere. Hang in there!
You go, girl. I think this is awesome and you deserve to get what you want out of your career! Happy for your new opportunity!
Thank You! I wanted to share this as I want others to know it takes time to reach where you want to go – of course, I have others plans but I need to enjoy where I am now.
That is awesome! Congrats!! I’m so excited for you.
Thanks Jessa!
Congrats my friend!!! I am so excited for you!
Thanks Shannon! I’m ready for this new chapter.
Wow. It certainly seems like the perfect job for you! Congrats!
I believe that God has a plan for all of us. I believe it’s His hands working when something seems to just fall into place. Sometimes His plan is not obvious or easy…but I always trust it. 🙂
I so agree with you that God does have a plan that we often can’t see. This is what I had hoped for two years ago and last year I can remember questioning if I should continue on the way I was going. It took two years but things happen in HIS time, not our own.
Congrats! What a great story. I definitely think that things are meant to be. Best of luck with your new opportunity 🙂
Thank You Mar. I feel very fortunate for the blessings I’ve been given.
Congratulations Sheryl! I’m so thrilled for you!
Thank You Daisy!
Oh my gosh congratulations!!! As I read the story I couldn’t help but think “what a perfect job opportunity for her!” And all those dates and such just show that it was meant to be! I’m not a believer in coincidence anyway 🙂 I couldn’t be more excited to see where this new job takes you!
Thanks Sarah. I’ve described this feeling as the pieces of a puzzle finally fitting together. I agree with you that there are no coincidences in life. I am so thankful for where I am at right now.
I too think of all the pieces of life fitting together like a puzzle! Can’t wait to see where this adventure takes you!
Congrats on the new job! If that isn’t meant to be, then it is one crazy coincidence 🙂
I totally agree Holly!! This is just a weird coincidence if it’s not where I should be!
Congratulations, Sheryl! That’s wonderful news. It was truly meant to be. What a great opportunity. 🙂 Hugs!
Thanks Mia!!
I do believe in some things as meant to be. But I do think it was a huge coincidence that one of them actually attended your training! At any rate congrats on the new opportunity! Found you on the linkup and wanted to stop and say hi!
Thanks for stopping by Andrea! Social Workers in our state have to receive face to face ethics trainings and there aren’t that many of us who present. She could have attended another training but it’s great that she attended mine.
Congratulations! I’m a big believer that when we are brave enough to admit something isn’t working, or that we are ready for a change, things will align to make it happen 🙂
Thank You Gemma, I totally agree with you that we have to brave enough to acknowledge something isn’t working. I was afraid to but once I did, the universe opened up for me. You have to let go of things to receive others.
Congratulations, Sheryl!!!! How perfect!! So excited for you.
Thanks Emily!! It feels right.
That’s wonderful news!! I’m so glad to hear that you found a part time job so perfect for you, at just the right time! Thanks for linking up with us at the Best of the Blogosphere this week. We’d love to have you back again!
Thanks Amber! I try to participate in the link up as often as possible.
Congratulations! I smiled reading about your good news and the events leading up to it.
I do believe in coincidences. Even if they’re not “real”, it makes life more enjoyable to believe in them.
Thanks! I do believe we have to enjoy the coincidences in life!
Bravo and congratulations, I feel that when you are open to receive the universe makes all things possible. When you wrote in your journal. the universe responded. Bravo!!!
xoxoxo
I so agree with you that once I wrote the truth down in my journal, it allowed the universe to open doors for me. Thanks for stopping by!
Congratulations! I think things are meant to be, but sometimes take a little acknowledgement and push on our part. This sounds wonderful, whatever it was!
Thanks Emily! I do think things happen for a reason but we have to be smart enough to see the signs.