Learning to Be Happy for Others

The past few months have been some of the happiest of my life, but that doesn't mean they've been the easiest. Taylor Swift said it right in "22" when she sang, "We're happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time. It's miserable and magical."

And that's exactly what 22 and post-grad life has been like for me.

I am so incredibly happy with my life. I have an amazing support system and awesome friends, and I'm more creative and excited about life and my career than I ever have been. But I did go through a phase when I thought my life was over and that post-grad life sucked. I was bitter and cranky and wasn't enjoying life. And while I still feel like I'm overworked, underpaid, and under-appreciated, and I'm so painfully exhausted from working four jobs, I finally feel like I can do this.

When I was younger I was the kind of person that was never fully happy for my friends when something good happened to them, because I was jealous. I wondered why good things were happening to them and not me; I became bitter.

But this year I've grown, both as a person and a professional. I've learned what I want out of my career, and I've learned what it means to be a good friend. With that said, it's been a big week for the people in my life and I am so excited for them.

One of my friends who is also in the journalism field, has been looking for a new job for a long time. We became friends because we bonded over the fact that we both had larger aspirations than our newspaper. Anyway, she got a job offer for a Boston TV station! WOO HOO! 

I was so excited for her, but old me would have been bitter and upset that she got a job before me. Thankfully, I'm not that person anymore; I know that she will be great in this new position and I'm so excited that she was able to get out of newspaper.

Another friend of mine is the lead singer of a locally based indie rock band. They're great and they've been trying to play in different venues; the other day she just found out that they were going on tour with three other bands! They'll be traveling from home in Boston to places like Connecticut, New York, Florida, ending in Texas. They'll be playing every night for a month! How does that happen?! I am so proud of them, because I know they deserve it.

My cousin is also battling with the trials of the first year after college. She is taking a gap year before she goes to physical therapy school. She hadn't been hearing good news on the grad school front, but the other day she texted me to tell me that she was finally accepted into a program. I was so so, so proud of her! She's wanted to be a physical therapist for as long as I can remember and to finally get the acceptance letter was so awesome for her.

Not only has it been a great week for the people in my life, but I landed two job interviews, one of which offered me a position on the spot! The other I am waiting to hear back from. But either way, I made it and am officially moving to take on the TV world.

If I've learned anything, it's that just because everything in life may not be going how you want it doesn't mean you can't still be crazy happy, both for yourself and for others.

But I've also learned that some of the most important people in my life are doing the first year thing, and they're doing it successfully. I'm not jealous this time; instead, I'm proud. I believe that we are all going to be so damn successful some day. There have been speed bumps, sure, but everything has still been worth it.