It was a year ago this week that I moved to Atlanta. A year ago that I started my job.
It had been just three weeks earlier that my world turned into a whirlwind. A whirlwind of giving my two weeks notice, finding a new place to live while in a whole other city, packing up my place in South Carolina, attending going away parties and trying to soak up all the family time I could before we were separated by a 4.5 hour drive on the world’s most boring highway. My world changed completely, with just one phone call.

I guess somewhere in between a life-changer of a breakup and just generally growing up, I had lost belief in “dreams come true".....thought that "happily ever" after really did belong only at the end of storybooks and that answered prayer happened for other people but certainly not for me.

Three weeks earlier I had traveled during the tail end of a freak ice storm to Atlanta for an interview for a new position. As I rode up the elevator, I wasn't nervous.....interviews had become almost like a second nature. I remember so clearly getting off the elevator, staring through the ceiling-tall glass doors and the big cherry-wood desk behind them that anchored the lobby. I remember sitting in the roomy leather chairs watching CNN on the TVs and waiting for the man I'd only talked to over the phone to appear....wondering what he would ask me, if the experience I had would be enough this time.
I felt like the interview went well...the people, the work, the environment....all seemed amazing. They told me "they'd be in touch" but they had more interviews to cover next week.
I walked out of the building and willed myself not to get excited. It was too perfect and by the time I was halfway home, I had convinced myself completely I would never get this position.

And just at that moment, my phone rang.
And it was HR
And they said they'd cancelled the other interviews
And the job was mine
And just like that, with one phone call, it all changed.
With one phone call I moved from a city with 12,000 people to one with a population of 420,000
With one phone call I moved from the only state I’d ever lived in
With one phone call, I regained hope
With one phone call, I started a new chapter of life
With one phone call, a lot of things became clearer

All the phone interviews and real interviews I traveled miles and miles for.
And the countless resumes I sent in that just went unanswered
The entire change of career path I had embarked on……more than a year of night school….with weekends spent shadowing the radiology department or studying anatomy and physics on the beach
But it was all for this. All for something better. Not just a new job. Not just a job in Atlanta. But the best job….for me anyway.

How much easier I thought it would have been if I had known the outcome. If I had known it would “be ok.” That my “year wasted” as I liked to call it in classes wasn’t a waste at all.
But that’s not life I suppose. And I realized that sometimes reaching your dream involves a long road, confusing trails and a bumpy adventure to get there.

Moving In Weekend - February 6, 2011
I still have to remind myself of this sometimes when I lose faith in new dreams.
Today I am so thankful for that one phone call.
Whatever your dream is, don’t give up!
54 comments:
This post is not only inspiring its extremely well written. I'm glad you finally got where you belong and are happy with it. I have recently got a new job which I am in love with. You are def. not far from me at all and I can only hope to possibly meet you one day. Love you blog
So happy you're happy! Things really do happen for a reason!!
awww beautifullly inspiring post! i love the pictures !!!
Now following x
http://hayleyhour.blogspot.com.au/
Thanks for this post, perfect timing ;-)
Thank you. I needed this today!
I don't think I've been following you for a full year, so I didn't realize that you just moved to Atlanta last February.
What a cool story. And I'm definitely happy for you. Not everyone gets so lucky with their career paths!!
Thank you so much for posting this. I think we can all use that story of "hope" whereever we are in life. Thanks for sharing your heart & congrats on beginning to fulfill those dreams! - Tara xo
goosebumpbs goosebumps! so happy for you and that we both can Atlanta, HOME! :) xooooo
I just started following you yesterday and you can't even imagine how bad I needed to read this post! So ironic :) It is amazing that you got your dream job. I recently graduated and after countless interviews and unanswered resumes I settled for a mail position that I absolutely hate but this post gives me hope.. and at a time when I so desperately need it! Thank you!
what a beautiful post. it is amazing that sometimes we think everything isn't going to go well and then with just one moment everything gets much better. so happy that things are working out for you. they only get better.
have a fabulous day!
A perfect reminder to never give up on your dreams :) Happy 1 year anniversary!!!
What an awesome post! I had a similar situation a little over a year ago. Not quite as drastic, though... I only moved about an hour away from where I'd been ;) It's so important to try not to question the timing of everything-- I think God's got it all planned out, no matter how crazy things might seem :)
Such an inspirational post and you are so so right. Sometimes it's so easy to get discouraged, but following your dreams and never losing hope is so important!
I'm so glad you are in a career that you love and enjoying the big city life :)
xxx
Jenna
you're amazing girlfriend.
Great great inspirational post!
thanks for sharing!
OH AND CONGRATS!!!!
xoxo
oh my, ash! of course you know i can totally relate to this post! i'm so happy that you found your dream job and you enjoy living in ATL! i'd love to live in the dirty dirty! haha. one phone call can certainly make a huge life changing difference!
i remember the day i got my phone call. it seemed sooo sureal! this month will be seven months since i've moved to pa. i can't say i'm in love with the area, but i do like my job. i miss the south wayyy tooo much! i'm def soaking up this experience and look forward to what the future holds - just pray i'll make my way back down south :)
IM FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, AND 4.5 HOURS AWAY!! (and also a diehard Gamecock fan!!) umm, what town of 12,000??
i moved to Atlanta in June of 2010 on the same premise-- a break up that was life changing and a job that was perfect for me.
looove this! i'm still super super proud of you and so happy that you love your job and life. miss you lots but i know your fairytale story will continue to unfold in atl!!! love you!
amen sistah! i remember reading about your move in weekend a year ago. :)
love ya bestieee
aw very happy for you girl! That takes strength and courage and you sure do have both of those qualities! :)
Inspiring post :-)
It's so eerie how everything just falls into place!
Great post! Thanks for sharing everyone needs this reminder!
I needed this. Thanks. And congratulations.
What an amazing post and story. I am so happy for you! :) What a great reminder to never give up hope!!
you.go.girl! i think it is awesome you had the strength to pick up your life and plant your self in something unfamiliar. so many gals just can't do that and you are rocking it! loved this post. clearly you are growing as a woman and that is just awesome!
Beautiful post Ash! I adore you so much! Such an awesome and inspiring story! I am so happy for you and I just love that you love your job. That's amazing! I'm coming to Atlanta soon...so get ready to see me! :)
I love that you are happy! There are times when it is so hard to be upbeat about life, but it is when you remember the little moments it makes life worth living. From what I have heard from Ashley and Julie you are an awesome person and deserve every bit of happiness! xo
awwww, congrats on your 1 year! that was such a great post and i'm so happy you're happy!
This was such an inspiring post! Thank you! And congrats on your one year anniversary of the move!
I love this post!! so inspiring Ashley! Some times we all need to be reminded that everything happens for a reason and in the end things will all work out. Yay for 1 year!
Yayy! I'm so happy for you! :) And can I say how perfectly inspiring it is for me to be able to read this right now? I hope in another year I will be able to write a post like this....and we will have become atlanta bfffs :)
I love this so much! When I graduated college I went to work at a department store that I thought I would build my career at. Then I didn't want that anymore but I didn't know what to do. 6 months later I just started a new job that I love! I agree with you on wishing I knew then what I know now but either way it's great when things work out :)
Such a cool story -- and a great lesson learned. =)
Love this post! So glad your dreams are coming true! :)
This is a great post and so insipiring! I couldn't agree more...don't give up! There is always something out there for you :) I'm so happy you found your happy new chapter!!!
Love your couch, and happy call anniversary!! Thats amazing, so happy for you.
beautiful post!!!amazing blog!!!
i'm following you!!if you like mine,do the same!!!
Freaky Friday
Freaky Friday FB FanPage
I love this post! So inspiring!
Aww great post!! What were your "plans" initially! Isn't it funny how things crazily(?) just fall into place!
i conmpletely agree!!! so true that it's all worth the wait! thank you for sharing :)
I love this, Ashley! Yay for your one phone call and for following your dreams!
~Tiffany
http://tiffanyd22.blogspot.com
This is beautiful Ashley! I am struggling with my job right now and this sort of made me feel better, the never. lose. hope. I needed a little pick me up tonight and you just gave it to me!
AMEN!! Thanks for this Ashley! I'm in desperate need of inspiration lately and your doing a great job of giving me some :-)
I love this. Thanks so much for sharing!!
Catherine
FEST
i didn't get to comment on this yesterday but i am your biggest fan about this decision!! such an awesome, inspiring post, too!! LOVE YA!
You are so right! Don't give up on your dreams. Everyone needs this reminder frequently. And p.s. you and the mom (?) are so cute!
So glad you moved here just before I moved back!! I'm glad you love it (besides the awful traffic ofcourse!) You were totally meant to an ATL lady!!
What an amazing post and definitely something that I can relate to. I love what you said about how much easier things would be if we knew the outcome that everything would be okay. Sometimes it's hard to see that in the present day.
You have amazing courage and strength to chase after your dreams and I'm so happy you have found something and somewhere that fits you so well! I love your story :)
Thank you for this reminder. I'm so glad everything fell into place for you. I'm still waiting for my phone call. I get impatient :) I decided to go back to grad school to pursue my passion. I know in a couple years when I'm done, my phone call will come. And I will keep the faith :) Loved this post lady, and I'm so happy for you!
what a great story and experience. I started over last year as well and though I am still making some things happen in order to get to the place I want to be living in, I pray that I too have that one phone call back at the place that is perfect for me. Thanks for sharing! xo -
allthatsgoldglitters.blogspot.com
What a sweetie! I am so happy for you that you are happy.
Needed to hear that :)
this was such an amazing amazing amazing post ashley and i know im wicked late because i havent read any posts in like 3 days
i couldnt agree more with what you said...going for your dream job. Everyone deserves to be happy! and im so happy you are LOVING it!!
welcome to atlanta where teh playas play...aka ashley
xoxox congrats baby G you rock!
Does it still feel this crazy to be living in ATL? Like you at least still have that dream of living in such a good city even if other things have fallen apart?
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