Faith. Trust. Pixie Dust.
Today I got to celebrate my one year anniversary with The Walt Disney Company. It was a really rough day that got exponentially better as it went but I couldn’t seem to shake my terrible mood. My day started out with the cell phone I just got two months ago breaking and having to get going early since we had to put one car in the shop overnight. Not a great way to start the day.
For every anniversary, there is always some sort of fanfare at work. Today was no different. My whole team came in, cake in hand, to wish me a happy anniversary. Emotionally, it was a very overwhelming moment for me. I received my one year anniversary pin and was asked by my team for my most memorable moment. As I thought back over the last 365 days, I really couldn’t pinpoint one. There were so many memorable moments this past year. I got to meet the First Lady, sing with the Candlelight Processional, perform for executives, ride attractions after closing, walk through the theme parks alone at night, lose 65 lbs, complete the Dopey Challenge and make magical moments for people on vacation. Then I thought back further. I thought about where I was three and a half years ago and I absolutely fell apart. Three and a half years ago, I had bottomed out as low as I could be. Lost my home, couldn’t afford food, pregnant, jobless. I couldn’t contain my emotions when I thought about the long hard road my family had come back from. I thought about the loss of my dear friend and mentor Randy and how I wish I could have called him today and thanked him for everything he taught me that prepared me for the past year in the job I do now.
Weeks ago, I had attended a class where I got to reconnect with a fellow cast member that I attended my orientation with my second day on the job. I took the opportunity to have lunch with him today and celebrate our one year mark together. It was so great to unplug and connect face to face. We got to talk about work, about our life experiences and enjoy a delicious meal together. It’s something I’m looking forward to doing again.
Then, I get the message that my daughter is locked out of the house. Leave work, let her in the house, go pick up my husband, son, get the car from shop and figure out dinner. I should have run tonight. I should have skipped the cake. But some days are harder than others. Tomorrow will be better.
Tomorrow, I get to spend a magical morning helping out our front line staff at Magic Kingdom during our peak attendance time of the spring. It’s the boost I need after overcoming a rough day.