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Movie character Forrest Gump said "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." He was right-sort of. It is easy to spend years and years training for one career path, climbing the ladder and standing, satisfied, at the top. Once at the top, it is your choice whether you take a life-shattering tumble, or spread your wings and fly. You may not choose when you have to make a choice, but you do have a choice in your reaction to a difficult situation. Work instantly springs to mind as a catalyst for difficult decisions. Relationships, among friends and family also present sudden situations for choice. Whether you suck on a sour lemon, or sip sweet lemonade is all up to you.

Employment, or lack of

In today's market, most people are thrilled to have a job-any job. Several situations can make a job disappear fast. Being laid off due to economic circumstances, or fired due to internal politics are two common causes. In either situation, it would be easiest to stay in bed for a week and have a pity party. While that may be agreeable for a few days, eventually lack of work will result in lack of money, and consequently, past-due statements for every monthly bill. Rather than waiting for the world to hand you a gourmet box of chocolates, take matters into your own hands. Craft a resume, sign up for classes, and practice your interviewing skills. Try on your nice clothes, and keep them clean and pressed should an opportunity arise. (While seemingly trivial, trying to find comfortable, professional clothes before a last minute interview is stressful!)

If your job is ruining your life, you must make the choice to move on. Far more difficult than being "let go," letting go of a stable source of income takes courage and bravery. You could be walking away from your dream job; however, if it was dreamy on paper, but destructive in person, walking away is the right choice. You can wait until you are re-employed, or you can step off of the cliff mid-air. Once you jump, though, you must create your own parachute. Find some temporary work to pay bills and assess what you want to see, when you reflect in five years. Perhaps it is time to grow in a different direction. Only you can make that choice, and follow-through.

Family

Being part of a family guarantees many forks in the road. If a relative falls ill, or a family member needs help, the choice to change direction becomes urgent. Strolling blissfully along in your comfortable life, it would be easy to resent

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