{"id":15371,"date":"2021-10-29T10:22:01","date_gmt":"2021-10-29T17:22:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kimberlypearl.co\/blog\/?p=15371"},"modified":"2021-10-29T10:22:01","modified_gmt":"2021-10-29T17:22:01","slug":"five-things-10-29-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kimberlypearl.co\/blog\/five-things-10-29-21\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Things (10.29.21)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"how<\/p>\n

1. This<\/span><\/a> article from\u00a0The Atlantic<\/em>, “A Profession is Not a Personality<\/a>.” For as long as I can remember, being an Independent Career Woman\u2014essentially a Sheryl Sandberg Lean In<\/em> heroine\u2014was my only goal. To me, this was both the pinnacle of success and the best possible form of rebellion against the patriarchy, so I committed to the fantasy with full steam.<\/p>\n

It took 20 years and a cross-country move for me to realize that this was a delusion, not\u00a0the<\/em>\u00a0dream. That to live, breathe, be<\/em> my job was to be a cog within a construct developed by and for men to serve but a small percentage of the population. True, this is our reality (and I would be remiss not to admit that it’s served me), but I no longer needed to lose myself within its web.<\/p>\n

To be clear: this epiphany is still in its infancy stage. The blinders may be off, but I’m learning how to navigate with this new perspective. My mini-sabbatical in sunny L.A. has helped tremendously in processing it all, but as uncertain as I am at times, I’m also confident in wanting to choose<\/em> happiness. Which for me, happens to include personal growth and stability within my career\u2014but now, no longer centers around allowing my work to consume or dictate my identity.<\/p>\n

2. I recently had a conversation in which I was asked where I saw my career in five years. Or perhaps the question was about what I wanted\u2014the phrasing escapes me\u2014but the answer would’ve been the same. A year ago I would’ve had my entire trajectory mapped out, I said, but now? I didn’t know (somewhat true), but was content where I was and how things were unfolding naturally (mostly true, but this just grazes the tip of the iceberg).<\/p>\n

The response was predictable: That’s not good. You should have some idea.<\/em><\/p>\n

I was intentionally vague, I know, and though I could’ve delivered some polished, corporate-appropriate response, I didn’t feel beholden to justify myself. This desire to be more like water\u2014flexible, adaptable, resilient\u2014was not out of lack of ambition, but the result of a newfound understanding of my priorities.<\/p>\n

Re: separating my job from who I am.<\/p>\n

3. In less serious news, fall weather has me in the mood for red lacquer again. I’m still looking for the<\/em> perfect soft, coral-rouge\u2014dusty, creamy, a balance of pink and orange\u2014but until I stumble upon nail polish nirvana, these brights have been steadfast favorites over the years:<\/p>\n