The Next Chapter...Gratitude

Life is...full of surprises.

Sometimes, it's easy to be ungrateful. When things don't go my way, when life doesn't go as planned, when I have expectations that aren't met, I get easily disappointed. I tend to focus on the negative. But, with the direction my life has gone in the past few weeks, I'm learning how to change that tendency and focus on the positive and be grateful for what I do have.

In a perfect world, after graduation, I would have gotten offered a full-time job, Bachelor's degree in hand and a full-time salary with benefits in the pocket. But instead, it's September and I've just begun my second post-graduate internship. A few weeks ago, the idea of interning yet again was daunting.

But now I'm an intern at O, The Oprah Magazine. An incomparable experience. I'm surrounded by so many inspiring and influential women who are in places I want to be one day. I'm at a publication that is read by millions and is actually influential -- contrary to many women's publications out there, this is a magazine with substance that is well-rounded. And yes, it might not be a job, but I've decided that I want to take this experience and make the most of it, taking from it whatever I can. And in this job market, I've realized that I should truly consider myself blessed.

I have a great career opportunity ahead of me, I live in an amazing apartment, and at the end of the day, although I might struggle a bit, and I might have down days, I know that I have the support of genuine friends and family. And that is something to truly be grateful for.

So this is the next chapter of my life -- the post-grad, maturing, growing up phase. Fresh out of my alma mater, moved into my first New York apartment, bright-eyed and discovering this city, this industry, and myself.

Life is, simply...good.