“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck” Dalai Lama.

After a four-month leave from my job to deal with ‘Adjustment Disorder,’ I returned to work in a modified position. Instead of being a Vice Principal in a very busy high-needs school, I was assigned to work at the School Board office as an assistant to one of the Superintendents. This job was mostly administrative in nature. I had an office to myself and I worked on my own. This was the complete opposite of what I was used to; a bustling office filled with students, parents, and staff all requiring my immediate attention.

After getting diagnosed, I knew that I would not be advancing my career to become a Principal. In fact, I wasn’t really sure what my future held in terms of my career, but I was happy just to be contributing.

While my fellow VPs were making advancement plans, I was not. This was challenging for me. It wasn’t part of my plan. I didn’t choose this.

Upon hearing that I was working at the Board Office among senior staff, one of those colleagues said, “You’re so lucky!” She felt that I would have an edge moving forward since I was now working among our superiors. I reminded her that I had PD and would no longer be pursuing the same career goals.

Perception is an incredible thing. She thought that I was lucky! At first, I couldn’t believe she felt I had any kind of good luck! I had a terrible disease and I was dealing with career loss!

But in time, I have learned that she was actually right!

I am so lucky!

Those four words have become a mantra for me and you will see them appear often throughout this blog.