I hate the idea that we’re each living up to somebody else’s expectations. Or that a path has been laid out for us and, like good little soldiers, we follow without question. Go to school, go to college, have a few girlfriends or boyfriends, start a career, get married, have children, work until you retire (with a few vacations along the way). For awhile that path feels good, like when you check items off of your to-do list. But after awhile doesn’t it feel like your soul is being sucked out through your eyeballs?
That’s how I’ve felt recently. It started with feeling dissatisfied at work, wondering if “this” was it for the rest of my life. I missed the engagement, challenge, creativity and camaraderie that I used to find at work. That dissatisfaction grew until I dreaded going to work in the morning and resented any extra hours I had to put in. Even when I wasn’t logging extra hours I felt like I was expected to and I resented that. It took me awhile but I realized I was nowhere close to living my best life. So I started taking steps to remedy that. First on the list was starting this blog and then my Etsy shop (BoldLifeDecor) for creative outlet and second, quitting my job. I put my notice in a few weeks ago and my last day is November 16th. I’m excited and nervous all at once. (I’ll write more on this topic after the big day.)
I hope that you’ve been lucky enough to find a career that gives you the freedom you crave while stimulating your creativity and intelligence. It’s what we all deserve. I’m optimistic that I am on my path to that reality. The time I’m taking away from work will help me clarify the vision I have for my future and give me the opportunity to really think about what makes me happy. In the meantime the husband is being super supportive, giving me pep talks when I need them and making cocktails when I need those. Here’s the recipe for the delicious drink he’s been perfecting over the past few weeks, I call it an autumn margarita.
Autumn Margarita (makes 2 cocktails)
Ingredients
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 3 cups water
- 3 ounces Tequila
- 1/2 ounce St-Germain Liquor
- 1 Lime
- Ice (for cooling simple syrup, shaking and filling rocks glasses)
Simple Syrup Recipe (makes 4 cups)
- Pour 3 cups of water into a small pot, begin heating over high heat
- Add 1/4 cup sugar while stirring
- Add 2 cinnamon sticks
- Stir periodically until sugar is completely dissolved and simple syrup starts to boil
- Turn off the heat and transfer simple syrup to another pot
- Add a handful of ice (about 1 cups worth) to the syrup to cool it down faster
Cocktail Recipe (makes 2)
- Cut lime into 8ths and squeeze into a cocktail shaker
- Add St-Germain, tequila, and 2 cups simple syrup to the shaker
- Add ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds (as my husband says “shake the shit out of it, shake the ever-living shit out of it and then kill it”)
- Fill 2 rocks glasses with ice and evenly pour the cocktail shaker
- Use cinnamon sticks (from simple syrup) for garnish
You’ll have extra simple syrup so, if you realize you love this drink as much as we do, you can make another round stat. You’re welcome.
XOXO
