I went through a tough breakup, lost my job, and moved back home with my mum.
- At first, returning to the town where I grew up made me feel like a failure.
- Amazingly, reconnecting with the community healed me and inspired me to take the next step in my career.
At 36, I had everything I wanted.
I was a senior communications leader at one of the largest entertainment companies in the world, earning a title and salary that I had worked my entire career to achieve.
I not only got my dream job but also a wonderful group of friends and family, a healthy relationship, and a passport that got stamped almost every month.
I felt like I was finally creating the life and family I always wanted. Until, suddenly, everything changed.
A breakup and a layoff forced me to reevaluate my life
After returning home from a girls’ trip, my partner of four years and I had difficult but necessary conversations and ultimately decided to end our relationship.
Although we had our challenges, we still seemed to work through them, and I never thought that our struggles would ultimately lead to a breakup.
Because we were living together, I was forced to pack up my stuff at my partner’s house in Florida and move into my mom’s condo in my hometown of New Orleans – the best financial option and a way to stay close to my family when I needed them most.
Luckily, my job allowed me to work remotely as long as I commuted to the New York City office once a month, so relocating to the states wouldn’t be a problem.
Additionally, my mom and I are very close, especially since I’m an only child, so I was excited to be with her again. But a part of me still felt like a failure returning to the town I grew up in.
However, I was looking forward to spending meaningful time with her – something I hadn’t been able to do since moving to a different state.
It felt good to get back into our old routines: watching our favourite “Real Housewives” episodes together, having lunch, seeing each other at sporting events, and reminiscing about our days in person rather than over the phone.
I was so grateful for every moment we spent together, but I didn’t think I’d be able to stay there longer than six months.
This all changed when I was fired from my job. Filled with shock and uncertainty, I had to face the reality that, for the first time in my life, I didn’t know what would happen next.
Suddenly, I was stuck at home, unemployed, and looking forward to a future I couldn’t map out.
Reconnecting with my community inspired me to take the next step in my career
Thankfully, severance and unemployment benefits gave me something I was rarely allowed before: time.
As I sat with myself, I realised that I have spent almost my entire life looking for that next title, promotion or achievement.
The layoff forced me to confront a truth I had been avoiding: I needed to change.
So, instead of rushing to recreate my old life, I decided to embrace what I had. I decided that if I were going to live in New Orleans, I would actually live there.
After exploring new parts of the city, attending local events, and trying new fitness classes, I began to see my hometown in a new light.
When I visited the city as an adult, I never thought I’d be happy living here again. However, I never had a community to rely on, as I was separated from my childhood friends and was never really in the city to reconnect.
Now, a year and a half after moving back, my life looks entirely different from what I thought I wanted. I started a business, established a rich group of old and new friends, built a personal brand, and discovered a passion for community-building I never knew I had.
Most of all, I discovered something I did not expect: I love living in New Orleans, and I am truly happy.
The city gave me a chance to recover and rediscover myself after one of the most difficult chapters of my career.
My time living at home may not be permanent, but for now, I’m content and hope to continue thriving here until the next adventure calls me.
Overall, returning home didn’t ruin my life – it helped me rebuild it.
