If you had the chance to do it all over again, would you choose the same career? If not, what would you do instead?
I find myself at one of those times in life when I am faced with either the opportunity or the necessity to re-invent myself. Which of those positions I am in is contingent on whether I am in glass-half-empty or half-full mode at any given moment.
Losing a job is certainly life-altering. Since I just lost mine, I have had a lot of people tell me about their own experiences with this great curveball of life. What I am learning is that whether you see it coming, are laid-off, “not renewed” or just plain fired, it does not feel good. It is really an assault on every aspect of your life. Your finances take a hit, as do your sense of security and your ego. Oh, much of the time, the ego stings the most.
With all of that said, I am learning that if I can choose to see it as a blessing or an opportunity, I am not only going to survive, I will thrive. The trick is keeping myself in that enlightened state. So, here I am, returning to my safest form of release- my keyboard.
I have been fired before. Burger King and I parted ways at the end of a rather stressful shift at the drive thru window. It was hardly my dream job, but it paid for cute tops and nights out with my high school girlfriends, so I wanted to keep the gig. Alas, the drive thru is not a job for the faint of heart. If you crack under pressure, especially on short-turn around shifts, the drive-thru at any fast food restaurant, and its built-in requirement of a customer-friendly disposition, are not for you. Let’s just say I was not customer friendly, and leave it at that for now.
I was 16 when I lost my drive thru crown. I am 46 now. Sure, a small percentage of my current pay check went to buying cute tops, but that is not the really hard part here. The hard part is that it is kind of scary to be middle-aged, and let go from a job in a career you have had for 24 years. Sure, I can look for another job in my field, but what if I want to change gears? Isn’t this the perfect time? There is one key thing standing between me and this “when one door closes, another opens” mentality: fear.
So, as fear attempts to slither its way into this situation, faith is whispering in my ear that this is all going to work out. As much as I want to tell myself that I can not help being fearful or emotional, I have to remember that I do get to choose how I respond here. I can lean into my faith or be overcome by fear. Faith is actually easier, once you get past the whole “trusting the universe will see you through” thing.
Just as I was about to let fear take me down, something pretty amazing happened. While reading many posts on my facebook newsfeed about the passing of the great Maya Angelou, I came across a quote of hers, “we may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.” I can be overcome or overcome. It is a choice we all get to make every minute of every day.
Love Your Life 
Leslie, we don’t know each other very well, but I’ve spoken on the phone with you several times as a writer for the Tri-County Times. Plus, we have a mutual friend in Kerrie Mustola 🙂 I have to tell you how much I’ve admired you from afar – not only as a very professional meteorologist, but even more so for your kindness, humanity, optimism and more. You will rise above this new challenge, and your life will even be richer than it was before. God’s blessings to you!
Sally, thank you so much for this. I love that you know Kerrie. She is such a good lady.
Leslie, I love to read your blogs! I think you could write a book.
Leslie I too had an opportunity to reinvent myself years ago. At the time when a friend said god never closes a door without opening a window I thought your nuts right my world has been ripped out from under me! But once I got going , I felt like a new high school grad with the whole world in front of me and nothing but choice my choice. That was new for me. As I progressed on my. 3 year endeavor becoming a rn. I gained more confidence and power, yes power! When things worked it boostedy confidence and let me know that my hard work and determination would get me anywhere I chose to go! Just keep taking those steps look forward there’s nothing behind you that you can change girl! I’m rooting for you
Love this…
You are sounding so strong. No, it is not easy losing a job, been there done that, but you have alot of support so hang in there and give yourself time to regroup. God will be with you to find your new direction. Bless you Leslie.
This was a great read Leslie. I too am middle aged,( is 52 considered middle aged?) with my children grown and leaving the nest, I had to decide what to do with my time. I had to change jobs due to injuries and settle into a life unknown. It is scary not knowing the outcome. But life throws you curves and you can either swing at them and take a chance or decide to duck and not take that chance at all. I swung and now I have my own business working from home and have the freedom to enjoy as much life as I can for being middle aged! I have a feeling that with your abilities and personality you will definitely thrive!
Leslie, I’ve been there done that. After leaving Hurley after 23 years and retiring( I was not happy lots of crap happening)I took a position at Girl Scouts. That only lasted 6 months and at my review was told my performances sucked and they could no longer offer me employment. Some of the “stakeholders” thought that I was ‘hoyti-toyti” she actually said that and put it on paper!! (Whatever). Anyway. I was very lucky to be able to stay home with my girls for six years. I’ve worked at meijer for a year now. It’s something to do and minimal stress. I chop fruit for customer convenience so if someone pisses me off I chop faster and in tiny pieces with my really big knife!! I constantly had to tell myself that everything happens for a reason and that “” be still and know that I am God. Was my saving grace. Also that karma is a bitch. I don’t know if you’ll remember, but you bought my girls bunny rabbits at Disney when we were there for CMN. We get them out at Easter.. I pointed you out one day and told Allison that you had got her the bunny. She said “wow, I got something from someone famous!” So there you have it, you’re famous. Keep smiling!!
I have never experienced this type of “rejection” but I am a much older woman and I don’t think it happened so much and so quickly in my day and age. But your attitude is going to give many women and men to a lot of courage to keep going and to never give up. we are all rooting for you, and we hope for the very best for you.
you will move on to bigger & better things – God has a plan for you and He will make sure u r in the right place at the right time for the next great thing in your life!!! HUGS & Prayers!!!
Praying that you will continue to have hope and faith and that the door that is open is easy to find.
Leslie no matter how much you have been treated badly, first of all I want to tell you that the weather will never be the same on 12. For about 7 years I worked there for ABM and cleaned at night. I loved working there and met so many great people. I truly loved many of them. I have seen many come and go some that needed to and some that it was a huge loss for the whole of Channel 12. Your personality was without reproach and your shining example was truly felt through the screen every day. You seemed to fill in when someone else needed some space and that is called compassion. There were many times that I felt that it was hard for you to do a story because you could not or wasn’t supposed to show your emotions. I don’t know if Angie would remember the “old lady” that made baby blankets for her boys or not. I was still there when the first guy arrived, but had been let go when No. 2 came along and I still made him a blanket and took it for her. I wasn’t allowed to just walk in then so Matt in sales met me at the door and I was able to deliver it and speak with her a few minutes. I had some health issues and when it was time for me to come back to work I was met with my replacement and given my walking papers. During the time that I was trying to get better it was with the anticipation that I just wanted to go back to work. It was a hard knock as I had never been told I was no longer needed at any job that I had had. My heart is heavy for you and I know that God and Faith will take you on a new an exciting journey and this will all be in the past. Your writing can be an outlet for you now and you do well at it so keep it up. Thanks for the time that we shared even though never meeting. Good luck and I will be looking for something special to happen for you. Trudy Bailey
I think Vicki is on to something. You are intelligent, inspirational, spiritual, joyful, and “meteorological”. Lol. Sounds like the author of a book I would want to read. Thank Channel 12 for giving you the time to do it. When is the book signing tour? “Fear not…” Blessings, Leslie!
Leslie, you are really going to be sadly missed by our family. I love you and I wish you the best in life. Keep in touch, ok. How is the pup doing? ❤
Leslie, I know this is a little late, but let me tell you this. In my younger years I always wanted to be a paramedic and became and from my fellow co workers, I was good at what I did, but life wasn’t going to be complete without becoming a cop (a life long dream) so in 1985 when I was 23 y/o I got hired into the City of Flint PD. I was so excited, I finally got a career with benefits and a pension. For 22 1/2 years I worked my tail off to be the best cop I could be for the citizens of Flint. As I worked as a cop, I continued to work as a paramedic for a private ambulance company. Life was good. I worked the north end on mid nights most of my career, loved the action. Yes, I received a few injuries along the way, but recovered, I thought. In November of 2006 I along with a rookie trainee responded to a pretty bad call. I was forced to make the decession to shoot a guy, take his life in order at save another. There’s more to the story but I’ll spare you the details. Anyway I got hit with PTSD. The city did everything they could not to get me the proper treatment and refused to pay workers comp. let’s move on to one year later. I had 22 1/2 years on the job, 22 1/2 of my best years. It came time to settle the workers comp court case. The city told me that I could return to my job and get fired when I reported for duty or accept a 23 year retirement at age 46. I was forced to take the retirement. I lost all of my pay for my saved sick hours, over900 hours and my vacation hours which was over800 hours. I had a major adjustment period in life. I loved what I did and again told by my co workers, both cops and civilians I was good at what I did. I was not financially ready to retire, so I went back to school and now I teach drivers ed. I don’t love it but the pay is good and helps with the small pension. I’m now 52 and to this day I miss my cop job dearly, but life goes on and I have a decent paying job.
You hang in there, I know how you feel, it hurts. You will survive and become what ever you want. Your a good person. Susan Drost
Leslie, I believe as long as you keep focused and GOD as your priority, you will stay strong and HE will do the rest!!! You are an inspiration to many, and many have come to know you more than “that tv12 weather lady”!!! GOD BLESS YOU and prayers to you.