Big Girl Panties Diaries - Entry #119 - Here’s to Second Chances — And This Time, I’m Doing It BGPD Style
If you’ve been following me for a while…
…you might be thinking, “Julie… are we still talking about job loss and emotional whiplash?”
All I can say is this: the more people I talk to lately, the more I realize I’m not alone — and neither are you.
This isn’t just my story. It’s a reflection of what so many people are navigating right now — layoffs, reinvention, uncertainty, grief, rebuilding, all of it.
And until we normalize these conversations, until we stop pretending everything is fine when it’s not, we can’t help each other through the messy middle.
So yes, I’m still talking about it. Because the minute we go silent is the minute someone else thinks they’re the only one feeling this way.
Last year when I lost my job, I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I skipped the holidays, ghosted my own joy, and hid behind the comfort of being “busy.”
This time, I’m doing it differently.
It reminds me of maternity leave. The first time, I rushed back to work because I wanted something—anything—that felt familiar. The second time, I let myself slow down. I embraced the chaos, the learning curve, the beauty in something entirely new.
Losing a job is its own kind of rebirth. And this time, I’m honoring that.
I’m still on the yoga mat but adding back cardio and weights. Cooking almost every meal. Keeping the house… let’s call it cleanish. Reading real books again. Rebuilding my circle with family and friends. And somewhere in the middle of all that— building a business while continuing to research my daughter’s illness.
But here’s what’s different this time: I’m not rushing to prove my worth.
Last year, I thought I was grieving a job. Now I know I was grieving an identity.
The first time, I was desperate to get back to normal. This time, I’m learning to build a new one.
Because slowing down doesn’t mean standing still. Sometimes it’s the bravest move you can make.
And I’ll be honest — yes, there’s fear. But scared doesn’t mean stuck. Sometimes courage whispers, “Try again.”
It’s funny — it feels a little like tearing down a house to the studs. Messy. Uncomfortable. Dust everywhere. But underneath it all, there’s space to redesign something better.
Or maybe it’s like muscle memory — each yoga pose reminding me that strength doesn’t come from holding still. It comes from showing up again and again.
And my girls are watching. When they face their own storms someday, I want them to remember this season — not because it was easy, but because I didn’t run from it.
Building a business has reminded me how much I love helping others lead through change — especially the messy, uncertain kind. I’ve been experimenting with new frameworks, testing workshops, and rediscovering what transformation looks like when it’s personal.
Turns out, the same principles I teach leaders about change apply here too: Pause. Assess. Move forward with Calmfidence.
Reinvention isn’t a single decision. It’s a hundred small ones: Water the plant. Return the call. Make the damn spreadsheet. Keep going.
Acceptance isn’t surrender. It’s the moment you stop fighting what happened and start building what’s next. I’ve stopped asking, “Why me?” and started asking, “What now?”
And the “what now” has been filled with people. People who answered late-night texts. Who sent voice notes that said, “I’ve been there too.” Who believed in me on days I wasn’t sure I believed in myself.
They’ve shared advice, encouragement, and a few reality checks.
Do I have leads? I sure do and I couldn't be more excited!
Because second chances show up in conversations, coffee chats, and quiet moments you almost miss.
Second chances don’t erase the first story. They just prove you’re still the author.
Here’s to choosing the slower rebuild. Here’s to designing a life you don’t need to rush back to. Here’s to the courage to begin again — messier, braver, and a whole lot more real.
If you’re walking through your own do-over, you might also like:
Sometimes it helps to see the whole arc — not just the highlight reel. If you’re in the middle of your own career plot twist, these chapters might hit home:
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🩲 Entry #65: I Wrote the Script - Then They Used it to Let Me Go
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🩲 Entry #85: Rebuilding Without a Blueprint (and Learning to Trust Again)
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🩲 Entry #116: Rebuilding My Village (One Coffee Chat at a Time)
🩲Here's to Second Chances
BGPD Rule: When life hands you a do-over, don’t rush it. Redesign it — one brave step (and one cleanish kitchen) at a time.