Learning to Lean: Life After Athletico

I've tried to write this post on and off for the last month... and it seems that it's time for me to finally go ahead and do it.

After 8 years at Athletico Physical Therapy, I worked my last day on Friday. I know that for those of you that talk to me on a regular basis, you are probably sick of hearing about the overwhelming amount of emotion I have around all of this... so thanks for bearing with me and supporting me.

I think about the role that this company has played in my life; I was hired and appreciated for being someone other than my parent's daughter. My leadership and professional skills were honed and challenged. I succeeded beyond what I thought was possible, and I am leaving with life-long friends.

Now I stand on the brink of the next phase of my life... my internship at Libertyville Covenant starts tomorrow, and school starts at the end of August. And I am still so excited about and committed to both of those things! It is so clear that this is the path God has placed our family on... and I love looking back and seeing the way that He's used the company and the people in Athletico to help guide us.

It seems important to my closure to share this (that may sound narcissistic, but I think that this really has all been so providential and it blows my mind), so I will! I started at Athletico as an 18 year old after I tore my ACL my freshman year of college, and after completing rehab there, was offered a position. Now mind you, I was a sociology major that had no experience in that field, and yet the manager at that facility saw something that he thought was worth hiring. That became my second home during college, and helped pay my rent, food bills and gave me a social life outside the bubble that was North Park. After graduation, I moved into a full-time administrative position that taught me a new skill set and really grew my abilities. I looked into moving up into other roles after that, and for whatever reason, then never worked out. I know now that it was God, very clearly directing my attention and energy into other areas.

Because I didn't have an interest in the medical field, I had to explore what it was that kept me happy there for so long... because I was (and still was, even as of Friday!)! I loved being able to share life with my co-workers and patients. It's one of the neatest things to see someone come in after a surgery, and be able to be that caring person for them in a potentially frightening situation. I was able to share so much of our story with Brady, and how God was transcending previously set expectations, and hear similar things from hundreds of people. I am deeply invested in my co-worker's joys and struggles... and even though my heart from them comes from Jesus' heart for me, I was able to live that rather than preach at them. I was floored when a co-worker told me that she learned more about God through being friends with me than she's ever known before. God is so good! He uses EVERY situation. I have learned so much more about God's character through all of the people I've come in contact with... because He created them all with a purpose that for the most part was so different than mine!

I'm not fearful of this next chapter of our story because I know that God's authority is crazy and so faithful. I am sad to be missing the parts of every day life that come alongside being in the trenches with people... but I know that I always have my family at those clinics. I feel so blessed to have walked away with such a profound and life-changing experience. Not many people get to say that about their ex-employers. So to all of you who have been in my life at Athletico, thank you. You have changed me for the better, and I love you!