I did get a job offer from Best Friends. Due to circumstances there, it wasn't the "dream job" but after being there, I don't know if being a trainer there is my dream right now. It is a completely different environment than what I was used to and fairly different than I thought it was going to be. I did love the caregivers, they are wonderful people. The trainers were enjoyable and do a lot of the things that I do. However, I was not a huge fan of the management. Wonderful people who do wonderful things. I'm just not sure that my place is with them.
I spent the drive back and the last week and a half weighing my options. A lot of this decision is emotional but it is also about trying to make the smartest decision for my life in this moment. Thoughts:
Best Friends
Pros
- An incredible organization- Best Friends Animal Society is a driving force in animal rescue.
- Working with special dogs in need- Incredible, incredible dogs.
- Wonderful people- I felt like I could make friends there.
- Being with people so like me- I was with fellow dog and animal geeks. I wasn't the crazy dog lady.
- A part of something bigger than myself- Best Friends is a part of a movement.
- Beautiful scenery- Zion National Park was just a taste of it.
Cons
- Living in Kanab- A very very small Mormon town.
- Management- I'm a little tired of working for places where I don't feel like management treat all employees well.
- Best Friends is it's own world- Not always a good thing. It is like living in a bubble. People get tunnel vision.
- Leaving family and friends
- Living in the desert- Beautiful but hot. And very sandy. I'd have to leave my beautiful Colorado mountains.
- I would start as a caregiver- I don't want to give up training.
Colorado Springs
Pros
- Family- I love being close to my family. I would miss hanging out with them and I might become an aunt soon. I don't want to miss that.
- Friends- Finally I feel like am a part of a wonderful group of friends. I feel like I belong here.
- Training- I have worked long and hard to earn how far I've come with training. There is potential to take this further. Training dogs is my dream and I do not want to give that up.
- My house- I just bought it. I just got to move in. And it's not done. I want to keep working on it.
- Colorado- I'm a Colorado girl born and raised. Every time I look out my window and see that beautiful peak I feel lucky.
Cons
- I sometimes feel stuck
I feel like I've had my life on hold for a long time. I need to make a decision and start heading in a direction. I thought that would be deciding to move to Kanab and be a part of Best Friends. That was my dream.
But the funny thing about life is that dreams change. What was your dream at one point in your life changes at a different point. It's not always easy to find your way but that's also the great thing about life. It was my dream to go work at Best Friends at a time in my life where I really needed that dream. I needed a bright light to get me through that hard time. Now I'm in a different place and I'm a different person. I have a different dream.
Right now, my dream is to be here. And what's wonderful is, I am making the choice to be here. I could be in Kanab at Best Friends working my way toward being a trainer there but I am choosing to be here. I have wonderful friends in my life that mean so much to me. I have often said that I finally feel like I belong with a group of people. It took me a long time to find that. Maybe I'd find that at Best Friends too but right now is not the time. My family is here. Back when I was in college and struggling, I wanted so much to break free and become my own person. I wanted distance to do that. I now see that family is a strength. They've come together and helped me so much. I love them. I have a career here I can pursue and I can still be a part of helping homeless pets in need. Also, Best Friends is not the only amazing organization out there. There is a lot more to explore before I get tunnel vision. I have a house here that I've barely gotten to enjoy. Here is where I choose to be. More importantly, here is where I want to be.
Time to take that choice and run with it. I'm so excited! Maybe I'll look at Best Friends again in a couple of years when dreams change again. Who knows what will happen? That's the beautiful thing about life.
(And yes I realize this is probably a pretty hokey post but I don't care. Sometimes it's good to be a little hokey in life.)
