Just accepted a job!!

My journey on Spark began about 2 weeks after I was laid off from my teaching job. Little did I know at the time that being laid off from that job was a blessing, not a curse! I was miserable, working 65 hours a week, stressed to the limit, and had put on 15 lbs in 6 months. I had stopped exercising, was eating comfort food, and just trying to survive day to day feeling exhausted and wrung out.

The last 9 months have been a struggle to stay positive and not feel like a loser. I applied for over a hundred jobs, only had 6 interviews, and just felt hopeless at times. But through all those times Spark was there!! There are so many helpful, caring, and wonderful people on this site that provide so much support!

With all that support I have been able to lose 19 lbs, am exercizing 6 days a week, eating healthier than I ever have, am in the best shape of my life, and am about to run my first half-marathon in 5 weeks!! I have chosen to go back to on the career path of social work, where I was before I became a teacher. It will be less pay, however the satisfaction and not working over 40 hours a week will more than make up for that! I will be able to keep my life in balance, my stress in check, and my exercise and eating plan in place!

Thank you to all my fellow Sparkers and teams! I could not have done it without your support!!