The sun goes down on another day in Fort Wayne
Today marks the 45th anniversary of the most snowfall on a single day in May (4.064 cm) so far recorded in the City of Chicago. A good omen, or portent of doom?
45 years ago today, sometime in the early afternoon, I arrived in this world, which delighted my sisters because they got out of school early. It was kind of downhill for them from then on, I’m afraid. Generally speaking, I think things have gone uphill for me.
I chose this year to throw my life into upheaval and change jobs. Not just to another company, but to one who was currently relocating from Fort Wayne to Chicago. I currently live in neither of those cities. And the company isn’t quite ready to relocate. Consequently, the only stressors we aren’t experiencing are getting married and having children (check and check). We’re changing jobs, selling a house, buying a house, and moving to a different state. We’ll cope. There are far worse things that could be stressing us out, such as flooding, bankruptcy, divorce, to name a few. I have placed myself in this situation because I am the one in control of my life. Not the government, not the company, not you (sorry). God could very well be controlling all of this, but He works in mysterious ways, so I’ll leave it at that.
So, the company I work for is moving its product development operations from Fort Wayne, IN to Lisle, IL. This is why I accepted the job, because I would have never willingly decided to move to Fort Wayne. Not a lot of people who do like to live in Fort Wayne relish the idea of moving to the Chicago Area, what with its high crime, traffic, cost of living, and so on. It’s where I grew up, it’s where I decide to live. Many people here are bitter about the move, understandably. But, if you believe you are in control of your life, you can make the best of change. The company made a purely business-based decision to relocate. Nothing personal, but that’s how a lot of people are taking it. Anyone who does not want to make the jump to the new location has about 18 months to make the transition to a new life. Some will have many opportunities nearby, others may not be able to match what they have now.
Some may be fed up with the Midwest and wish the company would have chosen Georgia or Alabama as the new home. Just someplace warmer! Well, if that’s really what you want, look for a way to get yourself there. I found a way to get back to Chicago, and I left a job I was in no danger of losing. It’s going to be a financial burden, a lot of driving between Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana, and a lot of “alone” for a while, but it will get better.
I am the one in control.