Wow, I can't remember the last time I just wrote a blog post... well, I mean it's not like I can't go back and see the last blog post on Wonderland Boudoir was a year ago this month. Honestly, I can't even tell you how that happened (well, actually I can…and I am… which if the point of this post). The year 2019 FLEW THE FUCK BY. So much has happened since the last time I just put pen to paper.... errrrr... finger to keyboard.
WHERE DO I BEGIN?
How about at the end.
I moved to the Golden State. Yes, Wonderland Boudoir has moved to Los Angeles, California! I wanted to do this for several reasons:
I needed a change
I love Los Angeles
I want to further my career in photography
Now that I told you the conclusion, let us start at the beginning.
THE BEGINNING
I have lived in Dallas my whole young adult life. I move there in 2001 to go to University. From there I graduated with a degree in International Business. I thought I get a job in importing (oh the irony as I type that last word). Instead, I started my career in Finance. Little did I know I would stay on that path My first job post-university was working for a few sub-prime auto lending companies. As a child of the recession, like millions and millions of other Americans, I lost my job. Each time I lost a job it took about seven months to find a new one.
During the downtimes, it never felt bad at the beginning. I was in my young 20's and I was getting unemployment. Back then rent wasn't as crazy as it is now so being unemployed felt like a mini-vacation. That was until reality set in and I couldn't make those car payments. I had to grind to find a new job.
Seven months later, I did find a job at one of the most famous electric companies in Texas. I made it on as a contract employee with the promise to go permanent in six months. I made a LOT of lifelong friends there. I also learned some lifelong lessons.
PEOPLE DON’T LIKE THE TRUTH
One of the major lessons I learned at that company is that people don't like hearing the truth. I also learned that I may be clairvoyant (that's for another post). The day before a huge meeting I had a dream about a two-headed stone dragon that was in the form of a fountain that was set in the middle of a courtyard. What that two-headed dragon represented was me having a choice. One of those choices would cost me something. That change would be life forming. The dream symbolism also indicated I would end up on top.
The next day at work we had a meeting, and I forget what the meeting was initially about, but I spoke up to voice my concern. Most of the people in that meeting room, including myself, had been a contractor for this company for over 18 months. We were promised to be permanent after month six. When I challenged them on it I was told that " I should come in like every day was a job interview". Then I responded, "This is the longest job interview ever." The entire room burst out in hysterics. After that meeting, swarms of people came to my desk thanking me for speaking out. After the crowd dissipated, another coworker, watching all of this, came over to my desk and said, "It's funny how they all thanked you, but no one backed you up when you were telling the truth."
Two days later I was laid off.
Don't be sad because this was the best thing that could have happened to me.
I am proud that I spoke up.
I spoke my truth.
I said it for the people too scared to say anything because they had more to lose than I did.
The woman who fired me thought she was seeking revenge, but what she gave me a gift.
THE GIFT
I was laid off for another seven months. During my second stint, I hung out with my dad every day that summer. We traveled together, laughed, he moved to Dallas with me for a bit. I love him. Then by September, I was hired at a new company. He moved back to Austin. By November my dad passed away.
I was given the gift of time. I know that now.
I won't lie, I was ANGRY when I got fired. I stood up for what was right. Yet I was the one being punished. I later learned that after I stood up, the same day we were let go, they hired on others permanently. What I said started a fire, and a change happened. But once the dust settled and I got my mind right, I realized that if I hadn't been laid off I wouldn't have had all that precious time with my father. I wouldn't have learned who my dad was as a person.
As a human being with past and vulnerabilities.
My dad, who raised me as a child, learned who his daughter was as an adult, and he loved me. He loved my flaws, he loved my attitude (cuz it was his), he loved my style (my parents fight over who I inherited my sense of style from). He loved me for me... cuz he's known me before I was me. I was his because I was a masterpiece he and my mother created together. Our parents love us in a way we will never ever ever comprehend.
I love my father.
I type as I have tears strolling down my face.
Even though my father has left Earthside, he stills comes and visits me. He lets me know he's okay. He tells me what he's up to. When something is important he has me deliver messages to those that need it.
ONE NIGHT I LOST POWER
Before, I would have been too scared to share this kind of information with the world, but I am now learning to live in my truth, vulnerability, and intuition.
Random Story: One night, before leaving my beautiful downtown Dallas apartment, my father came to me. I was awake, slightly drowsy but awake. All the electricity in my apartment was off and the only thing that lite my apartment was the rays from the moon.
I hear a loud whisper, "Korin. Korin." I wake up and it's my father's voices and all I see is his silhouette. He's walking towards me while I'm still laying on my bed. I can't see his face, only his body. I say, "Dad! Dad! Hang on! I need to take your picture. No one is going to believe me! " I grab my cell and it's not turning on. "How is it dead?! I fully charged it before going to bed." Feeling defeated I try to turn on the lamp next to my bed, it's not working. My dad commands my attention again and this time he says, "Korin, I have a message for your brother. Let him know that whatever happens that I will always have his back. I am looking out for him." Then my dad leaves. Feeling frustrated that no one is going to believe me, I fall back asleep.
The next day I'm feeling like I might be crazy. I knew this wasn't a dream. I was awake. I decided to call and speak to my bestie Ms. S, who I know won't judge me and think I'm crazy. She patiently listens to me and then tells me my encounter with my father is not abnormal. She told me that spirits can't come back in the physical form so sometimes they have to use electricity so you will recognize their human form.
Nonetheless, my brother was going through a major change, and he did get past it.
I bring up this whole story because I want you guys to know that I believe things work how they are supposed to work in this life. Sometimes we see things as a setback when in reality they are setups.
MOVING TO OLD EAST DALLAS
Not too long afterward, I move out of my beautiful apartment in Downtown Dallas and move to Old East Dallas. I moved because the rent was getting more expensive and I needed a cheaper place to live because I had committed to moving to Los Angeles by July of 2019. I needed to save all the money I could. I officially moved out of that place on January 31, 2019.
I moved into a beautiful art deco apartment built in the year 1959. While the place was nowhere as nice as my previous spot, I liked it more. It felt like a REAL neighborhood. A community. There were so many different personalities. It was like a sit-com. Many of these people have lived in this complex for over 10 years and knew the comings and goings of everyone's business.
My goal was to only stay here for six months, but I ended up doing 10.
I learned the value of being a good neighbor. I learned that everyone has a story. It also reinforced the teachings that you should never judge a book by its cover.
In February I worked on my GPS (my version of a mood board) and how I was going to get California. This book included how I was going to save money. What part of LA I was going to live. What my new life was going to be like. This was not my dream, this was my pending reality printed in colored ink.
My vision board and my new community was my haven because my job was becoming more unbearable by the day. Without going into too much detail, I felt like I was walking into the pits of hell Monday through Friday. Every day was a battle for my mental health. Every day I come home wanting to curl up into a ball and wallow in my pain. However, I used that pain as the catalyst to spark my drive to get to Los Angeles.
Every day I would apply to 10 jobs. I would also work on my interviewing skills. I met with so many people and companies and flew out to California so many times that I lost count. I used to love flying... but it all started becoming so routine (something I never thought I say). I felt like I was on planes more day than I wasn't.
I won't go into too much detail because this post is already over 1600 words long, but I received several job offers, but only one was the obvious choice. It was what I manifested. It was for an iconic brand, in a great area, and it where I wanted to live.
I put in my two-week notice to the CFO and I never felt happier in my life.
After 1400 miles, 50 packed plants, 3 days on the road, and 1 trooper of a dog, Jax and I made it to Los Angeles.
Wow. That's a fucking lot.
Trust me, I cut out a lot of fat.
Okay, I'm going to end it here. I do want you to know I am going to start a personal site. Once it's completed I'm going to list it here so you guys can read about all my adventures.
You guys have no idea who excited I am to be here and get this third act of my life started! There is so much awesomeness and I cannot wait to see where I'll be at a year from now.
I know it's February 05th, but I want to wish you all guys an amazing 2020!
Oh yeah, Dallas! Don't worry I will ALWAYS come back to you. I even have a March Mini Session live RIGHT NOW! Check it out here!
