Detours

Few things can be more frustrating than driving somewhere, only to have to take a different route because of construction or an accident. Often detours are confusing and make you wonder how your going to get back on track. Such is the case with life. Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn, or you might find yourself in a situation that is only temporary. This could come in the form of an illness, a difficult semester in school, or maybe something is taking you longer than you anticipated. We all have our own life detours that remove us from the path we are on. The road we take to get to point B can feel like the road to point Q. My life recently took a huge detour. At times it was difficult and confusing, but I really enjoyed it.

I used to work for a great company. I had great benefits, several paid holidays, two weeks vacation, a five minute commute, and I was a graphic designer, just what I wanted to do. However, without going into detail, circumstances changed and I didn't feel welcome anymore. The time had come to look for new employment. After months of looking for a new job, I found a graphic design position with a construction company. The pay was comparable, but I was going to take a major hit on other benefits, plus my commute was going to be 35-45 minutes. Despite this, I took the job because it seemed like a good opportunity.

I really enjoyed the work, I was given creative freedom that I wasn't accustomed to and I got to work on some really fun projects. In addition to the work, there was a fooseball table and a dart board, we went to a racetrack and raced cars, and the company Christmas party was held in a suite at a Utah Jazz game. I was able to do several things that I otherwise would not have been able to do.

Onsite for a video shoot 

I knew early in my employment that the job was a detour, a temporary workplace. As a graphic designer, there isn't a lot to do at a construction company, and there wasn't much room to grow. I was working at a job, not my career. Now, seven short months since starting my construction job, I have accepted a much better offer. The pay and benefits are better, and I get my five minute commute back.

The company creates learning material for elementary schools. I received my BS in Communication with an emphasis in Graphic Design and I minored in Education. This new job will be great because I get to do what I love for a company that has a purpose I can support.

Life's detours, like driving detours, can be confusing and frustrating, but eventually the detour will put you back on the path you need to be on. Enjoy the ride.

Lent

This year I decided to participate in Lent. I'm not doing it for religious reasons, I am doing it because I wanted to test myself. I decided to do something easy, go without soda. I am not a big soda drinker, I maybe have three sodas a month. Going without soda has been much more difficult than I thought. There have been occasions that I have craved it... I have never really crave soda. I have found that my craving is situational. For example, Lauren and I grilled the other day. Normally I would crack open a Root Beer or a Dr Pepper, but I couldn't. Another example is we went to our favorite gluten free pizza place in Park City; they have Apple Beer. I always get a drink if a restaurant has Apple Beer, but this time I couldn't. I realize that those examples both revolve around food, but sometimes it's nice to have a soda instead of dessert, I like to drink my calories.

This soda fast has not spawned a desire to never drink soda, nor do I think I am addicted to it. However, I am looking forward to April 2nd, the day Lent is over, when I can crack open a cold Root Brewski.

If you participated in Lent, please let me know what you gave up. Write your response in the comments.