CalLighten Me.

In the last 13 years since this song came out, never have I ever related to it so much.

Just a short recap of the end of summer. 😊😍

This doesn’t even do my summer any justice. It was amaaaazing! I’ve explored new waters and dressed up for the first time at a festival. Quit two out my my three jobs. Countless hours with my sisters and cousins. I got stood up twice. We got a new dog. I’ve allowed myself to get close to someone again. Spent too much on 5 - 7 course meals. Got lost in a club. Stayed 5 shades darker than normal. But hey, vacation tan, right? 😏

I’ve been on a plane almost every month this year. It has been a great form of therapy and I’m enjoying the getaway. I like making plans. I like creating itineraries. It gives me something to stay excited for and look forward to. This is something I needed for a really long time.

The last ten years of my life, I’ve spent it trying to make others happy. These last two years have been the first time where I didn’t worry about including someone in my plans. I wasn’t worried about leaving someone behind. I didn’t have to work around someone else’s schedule. I needed this to find myself again. And I’m so happy the way I did it.

So this was a last minute ticket purchase. Seriously bought it a week and two days before departure. Hahaha! ALWAYS down for PDX. 😍 My favorite was the whisk{e}y library. Penicillin Drop Shot??? SURE. Always make friends with your bartender. 😏

This summer will be eventful. 😏

Orlando, The Bahamas, and Las Vegas have already been booked!

Airbnb, hotel, plane tickets, festival pass, cruise ticket. I’M READY TO MAKE THE ITINERARIES! 😍

Back in December, I got a full time job offer. I decided that I would take that opportunity, but also leave a few doors open and keep the two part time jobs I already had. At this time, I was feeling a bit discouraged because I was applying to so many places and getting no interviews. So when this FT opportunity sprouted, I grabbed it immediately. But I wasn’t easily convinced, which is why I still have three jobs.

So I have been working almost every single day since December 19, 2016. My days off have included: Christmas Day, New Years Day, Jan. 21 (only because I got someone to cover my shift), Feb. 22 (only because I had a fever of 103°F), my Asia vacation, and Easter. If you look at days I’ve actually worked and was in America, I have had five days off in three and a half months. 19 days straight. One day off. 31 days straight. One day off. Another 19 days. One day off. Now, I’m on another 19 day streak. My days would start at 6am and end at 8pm. Sometimes I would work at all three in the same day. The good thing is, I don’t normally get off later than 8pm.

I was doing fine, up until I got sick. That was shitty. I went on vacation and decided my body needed to rest. I told myself I would quit one when I got back to America. I decided to quit my most favorite job: Mazda. It is my favorite but it benefits me the least. My FT job has already started my benefits. My third job is with the City, which is a great place to work for, even if it’s only PT.

As soon as I got back from vacation, I got offered two FT jobs in the same week. I politely turned them both down. This week, I was given a third offer. And I’m sittin’ here like… “WHERE WERE THESE OFFERS THREE MONTHS AGO?!” 🙄

Part of me is looking at this like, “I’m glad they can see my potential.” I do fuckin’ phenomenal at all my jobs. I can’t complain. I put myself in three jobs. That just speaks for the places I work at and people I work with. I didn’t quit anywhere because I don’t hate any of them. It was almost heartbreaking giving my two weeks. But I am tired. I can’t keep working every single day. I can’t only have days off on a major holiday. I do enjoy what I do. Each job is different. It makes my days interesting.

I can’t believe my time at Mazda is done. I love it there. I mean, I can always come back if I really wanted. Haha. Thanks for an amazing three years, Hine. I loved it. 💕 Cheers to my Mazda Fam! 🍻

Three weeks. Six countries.