At 10:25 pm on Wednesday night, I was sitting in the back of a cab on Gardiner Highway contemplating the outrageous amount of traffic clogging road between me and my hotel room’s bed. After a 17 hour day, I really just wanted to go to sleep. I was tired. My colleagues had poked fun at my yawning and futile attempts to “wake myself up” by standing, wiggling and otherwise avoiding the slump-and-sleep I was headed for in my chair.

And then I realized that I’d spent the last three days doing research for a company that has helped more than 10 million patients. And I realized that I was sitting in the back of a cab on Gardiner Highway. And that I’d be sleeping in a big, comfortable bed. And that I was being paid to do this amazing work.

I had a “somebody pinch me” moment sitting in that cab last night. Three years ago, I was coming home at 9:30 pm from a seasonal job as dining room manager most nights. I was tired and achy and entirely unfulfilled. And I was sure that’s where I’d be forever. And that scared the shit out of me.

When I worked at Eastern College, a lot of students – especially moms – would tell me they felt like they were hopeless, that they couldn’t do it, that it was too hard. I knew how they felt because I felt the exact. same. way. And while it was hard to juggle school and parenting and work, it was worth it. It took me a little longer than some of my friends to know find the career path that was right for me, but I found it and I’d be lying if I said I’m sure it’s not going to change again. It will.

It kind of already has.