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Non-Career Advice: Kathy Lee.

Non-Career Advice is a series that asks people - young, old, and in a range of occupations - for words of wisdom unrelated to work, career-building, dollars, or getting ahead.

Kathy Lee / Medical student
Also: Writer / quote collector / culinary whiz  
Age: 30

Any movement drives you forward — even if it’s in slow motion. “A friend of mine who works for a scholarship foundation asked me if I would mentor some students at UCSD this year, and I told her I thought that was the worst idea ever — I’m mostly a mess these days, I said. I lost my sister this year, and the months following have been marked by loss and grief and the big changes that often accompany tragedy (including a decision to leave school and move home, from DC to San Diego). I told my friend that in many ways, I'm still reeling, and working to pick up the pieces.

She said that was exactly why I should be mentoring — because I had lived, and am still living. And I think she's right. I don't think I realized this until very recently, but I think this year, with all its challenges, has made me stronger. It's been awful and isolating in ways I never thought I would experience at 29 — and now, 30 — and for a while, I thought that by coming home to reassess my path, I was hitting pause on life. But really, I think I've just been moving in slow motion. I really couldn't see myself being OK in April, but I got here somehow, and I think that no matter what happens later in life (and I know that, inevitably, there will be more challenges and more emotional ups and downs), I will know that I can handle it - even if I am flailing all the way through.”

Thank you so much, Kathy. More from the Non-Career Advice series, here.

13 comments:

  1. So brave! Thank you for sharing!

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  2. so true and such a good reminder. thank you for sharing!

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  3. wonderful. your words are inspiring!

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  4. most of the time i feel like a mess too. well written post.. and inspiring words.. these life experiences while earth shattering at the time do make us stronger.. we are capable u=of much more then we give ourselves credit for

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  5. So touching, I really related to this, great post!! :)

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  6. Very wise & inspiring. great post.

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  7. love this post. we honor life by living it. thanks, kathy, for a timely message. happy holidays.

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  8. This series has became my favorite, such great advice EVERY TIME. I can't believe you know so many amazing people, you're so lucky!

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  9. I am speechless and overwhelmed (in a good way) by all your words of support and kindness. Thank you so so SO much everyone!

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  10. Brave and true. I think we're all flailing for reason or another. I'm 32, which for so long I thought meant I needed to have it all together. But I don't. I'm still figuring it out. I'm still testing my boundaries and my independence and being an adult who doesn't have to check with Mom and Dad before doing something (until last November I was living at home due to unemployment.)

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  11. Perhaps sometimes we are all a little too hard on ourselves, this is a lovely reminder that slow motion is still motion and even worthy of our own admiration! Kathy you sound like an amazing and brave lady and I'm sure you'll make a great mentor :)

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  12. Hena, yes!

    Camila, thank you for reading! And yes, I agree! I'm so lucky to have such inspiring, creative people in my life — they blow me away constantly.

    Fee, absolutely — I think so, too!

    And Kathy, thank you again so much for your beautiful words. It's such a pleasure to have you.

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