Life Choices
Deciding to leave our lives and careers in Louisville, Kentucky behind for a full year was not an easy decision. We knew that we’d miss our friends and family, miss the joyful routine of our lives, and miss career opportunities that may not be available a year from now.
However, we also knew that the chance to travel with our children and parents while all were willing and able to join us for this crazy adventure was also a narrow window of time that may not be available a year or two from now.
So we took a leap of faith, trusting that this journey will put us and our kids on a path toward something as equally good, if not even greater than that which we would have achieved if we stayed put.
My faith in this theory has been tested to the max over the course of this past week. On Tuesday, October 12, 2021 Congressman John Yarmuth, Representative for Kentucky’s 3rd Congressional District, where we live, announced that he would not be running for reelection in 2022. This means the seat he has held for nearly 16 years will not be filled by an incumbent.
Within minutes of his announcement, friends, family, and colleagues back home reached out to make me aware of this somewhat unexpected announcement, excited to know if I’d jump into the race for the honor of serving in this capacity. All are aware of my aspiration, since leaving the U.S. Coast Guard and attending the Kennedy School for Public Policy, to earn the confidence and vote of my community to represent them in elected office. Many knew I had had conversations with the Congressman and others before I left on this adventure about his career plans and mine.
There was always a chance that he would decide to not run for reelection, however, it seemed more likely he would serve at least one more term and the timing might work out perfectly for me to make a run when the kids were a bit older and I had fulfilled a life-long dream of traveling, learning, and living abroad with my family. Well, to quote Scottish poet Robert Burns, “the best laid plans of mice and men can still go wrong.”
Within hours of John’s announcement, Kentucky State Senator for the 19th District, Morgan McGarvey, a strong Democratic politician and good friend, had announced he’d be running for the seat. Not a surprise, but a signal that if I wanted to run for this seat, I’d have to head home and start the process immediately. And so began a number of sleepless nights, much deep reflection, and many thoughtful conversations with my husband, family, and a handful of confidants.
At the end of the day, one friend put it perfectly - “right role, wrong time”. We all agree this is the right role for me to go after to put all my life experiences and knowledge to use, but the timing of it is not right for me or my family. The cost of cutting this year short to jump into the race is just too high. What was true when we left is still true today, this time with my kids, husband, parents, and mother-in-law, is precious and fleeting. So I am choosing not to run and I am mourning the loss of an opportunity I’ve hoped for throughout my career.
And as much as it feels like a loss to let this opportunity pass by without getting in the race, I am confident in my choice, have faith that other opportunities to serve my community lie ahead, and am overall, grateful for the blessing of the path I am on right now.
