A Leap of Faith to Find Her Purpose
Photo Credit: Gavin Fernandes @photaugraf
Something happens to a woman when she turns 50. She reaches the point where she knows what she wants and, more importantly, what she doesn’t. What she will tolerate and what she won’t.
My 50th birthday present to myself back in 2007 was quitting a great job in a pharmaceutical company. I loved the job and the company, but after 17 years I longed for something more. I wanted to give back to my community, to feel that I was part of something bigger than myself, bigger than just making money for a corporation. As part of my job in pharma, I handled community relations and saw first hand the amazing work being done by non-profit groups in my community. I wanted to be part of that.
I knew I probably wouldn’t make a move unless I was pushed out of my comfort zone. So, a few weeks before my 50th birthday I quit my steadfast, comfortable job and took a leap of faith that I would eventually land somewhere fulfilling. Anyone who knows me knows that this was totally out of character. But like I said, something happens to a woman at 50.
I went out on a high note. My last day at work was always the highlight of the year for me, community partnership day. I looked around at all those people in the cafeteria and felt completely at peace with my decision. Little did I know, that exhilaration would turn into some pretty severe anxiety in the next few months.
I took the summer off. It was easy not to miss working then - the weather was great and there was always someone on vacation and available for coffee, lunch, or drinks. I was also looking forward to a ten-day vacation on a Montana cattle drive. By September, though, when everyone settled into the back-to-work routine, I started to doubt my decision.
There were agonizing moments when I thought “What have I done?” or “Who will hire me at my age? I’ll never work again!”
Compounding my increasing nervousness about never landing another job, my husband got sick that fall and was also out of work. I started to wonder, “what was I thinking, walking away from something so secure with nothing lined up.” But I persisted. I knew when the right thing came around I would feel it.
I took two contract jobs that were interesting but I was looking for something that would touch my heart and soul. Then while volunteering at a charity golf tournament, I met Caroline Tison, the Executive Director of West Island Community Shares (WICS), an umbrella fundraising group for West Island charities. She told me she was recruiting for a Communications position and I knew this was the opportunity I had been waiting for.
A little over a year after I walked away from my pharma job, I started my new role. I was 51 years old, and it was everything I had hoped for. I met so many wonderful people who worked at the community groups funded by the organization I was working for. Their commitment to helping hungry families, at-youth risk, the intellectually handicapped, those suffering from mental health problems or cancer, and more was palpable. I also met people from partner companies who generously gave of their time and funds. And I worked with a team of great people.
But ten years later, just before my 60th birthday, I was ready to move on again. I decided that I wanted to be part of one of those grassroots community groups funded by WICS. I wanted to be with the groups that were actually doing the hard work of helping at the ground level and offering direct services to people.
When someone forwarded me the posting for a job at the West Island Cancer Wellness Centre, my heart started to do a familiar little dance. I’ll admit that I worried my age would work against me, but I pushed forward despite my fears.
I was called for an interview, and then a second one where I was asked to prepare a presentation. At the end of my presentation, each member of the Hiring Committee asked a question. “Where do you see yourself in five years?” asked the Executive Director.
She was asking that question to a 60-year-old woman, with an open heart, not seeing my age, but seeing my future. I wanted to hug her right then and there.
I got the job, and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve been there for 3 years now, and I love the passionate team I work with. For them, the question is always: What more can we do to help people living with cancer? I love being a small part of that. And I love seeing the light return to the eyes of cancer patients as they realize that living with cancer is still living, so why not do it well?
I don’t know if this is my last stop on the career train or not. What I do know is that age shouldn’t stop anyone from doing something they truly want to do. And my advice to anyone looking to make a life change in their 50’s? It may not be easy, it may be anxiety-inducing, you may have moments where you wish you had stayed on the easy path, but be patient, wait for the right thing, never give up, and you will find your way to the job that is where you were meant to be.