Twenty Something in 20-Something: Transitions & Taking Risks

As the new year approaches, I've been reflecting on what's transpired the past few years. All of which has indeed been a?blur. This is how the title originated; the phrase?"time flies"?has never been more applicable. Given 2022 is the last year in my 20s, I wanted to openly reflect on 2021: obstacles and accomplishments and learnings I've had along the way.?After reading this article, I'd love to hear about the transitions and risks you've taken. I encourage you to:

• Share your lessons learned or similar experiences in the comments.?
• Forward to a friend/colleague in transition that might benefit.
• Reach out with questions or a message to chat further.?
• Or introspect on your own.

2021 started with my sisters, brother, and little cousin joining me in the United Arab Emirates for a month. I couldn't have been happier. We traveled across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. I even brought them to work! However, I didn't expect to be so emotionally charged when they departed. This moment signaled I was ready to make plans to come home within the year.?

My #1 Challenge This Year: Transitioning + Lessons Learned

Offer accepted with Oak Street Health in April 2021. I had decided to leave a place and company (Cleveland Clinic) that I spent so many wonderful years with. I moved from Abu Dhabi to Detroit, then to New Orleans. Although I was aware of the transition and risks involved, it was challenging, and I am still working to feel truly settled. Here's what I learned/am still learning.?

1st: I had changed and grown. What I liked, enjoyed doing, connected with, and hobbies was shifted. Shortly after landing in the US, I realized that things (or me) were different. Not better or worse, just different. Accepting this took time.?

2nd: Starting over in any sense is tough. When I moved back, it wasn't just one transition. There were several moving pieces all at once. After arriving home, my mom told me not to travel, just spend time relaxing. Of course, I did not listen. I went on trips to Aruba, Hilton Head, Denver, Chicago, New Orleans, and Cleveland to see friends, family, and colleagues. I thought I was taking advantage of this time between jobs. Don't get me wrong, it was ALL worth it! But, as soon as I touched down in NOLA - and evacuated after 4 days due to Hurricane Ida - I realized that I hadn't mentally prepared to move to yet another foreign place, on my own, starting over in this new city. The lessons I learned here are listening to my parents (haha) but mainly giving myself grace and not being afraid to ask for support. Nothing was easy about moving back home after 3 years. Your body and mind need time to recalibrate to the environment, more time than you might think.

3rd: For the last 6 months, ever since leaving my comfort zone in Abu Dhabi, my mind has been racing. I needed to do things that made that stop. For me, those are spending time with family and friends, playing golf, exercising, and going to sports games (#GoBlue!). If anything, I always make time to do these things because I know they're my fuel to be effective with everything else. These are the types of engagements put on the back-burner more often than not. I knew I couldn't afford to do that. At a networking event, I was recently asked how I make time for such a range of professional engagements. I can't help to think that making time for what gives me energy and excitement has played a significant factor.??

4th: This is the most cliché of them all, but I finally experienced firsthand that everything happens for a reason. I have reflected on the series of decisions that led me here. For some time, I was heavily critiquing whether those were the right decisions or not. Someone I look up to took me through her own journey, and we discussed how having this feeling was a shared experience among us at one point or another. I realized I am right where I'm supposed to be. How the decisions I've made are directly tied to where I want to go in the future. I take these ah-ha moments to accept and be present in the 'right now.' The past is for learning, and the future is taken care of because of what I'm doing today.?

Career Planning & 2022's Horizon

What gave me the most solace that I have been doing right by my 20-somethings was reviewing my 5-year career plan that I created in 2018. I was shocked. My career plan is a 12-page document that I look at and update maybe a couple of times a year (side note: I'd be happy to share my approach and process separately). So to see that everything I set to do was completed - or not, with good reason - made me proud. I just revamped my plans for 2022-2026 and am excited to see how that goes. After reviewing a draft, a good friend reminded me that thoughts become a reality. He encouraged me to list everything I envisioned, no matter how far-reaching it may be. This is proof that his statement is 100% true.?

One aspect that I'm not sure I really thought about in the past is what I need to be most successful and fulfilled. As I drafted a plan for the next 5 years, I was very intentional in figuring out what I wanted and needed to succeed. More importantly, being unapologetic about what those things are. On the other hand, I am also very cognizant about looking at things positively before jumping to the negative. The healthcare executive of a major Midwest health system and mentor shared with me recently, "everything has a reason?and season." Practicing this has changed my outlook on several items.?

For 2022, I want to continue along the path of taking risks while still having a vision. That's honestly proved to work well for me. While I can afford to move this way, I might as well take advantage. At some point or another, I never thought I'd live abroad, start a non-profit (OWDOT), skydive (...twice), move to the south, learn Mandarin, play golf, or have some of my closest friends located all over the world. I am embracing this journey and what it's teaching me.

In closing, the last few years have been full of change, thankfulness, grief, joy, and growth. I can only imagine that next year will be some of the same. Nonetheless, I am ready for it...or not.?