It's Better This Way

Dear Gigi's Cupcakes and The Shoppe,

Thank you so very much for not hiring me. Everyday, as I drive past you on my way to my wonderful new job at National Jewish Health, I'll think kindly of you.

When I look at my station, which is quite large and all mine, I'll be grateful to you. When I'm creating the bakery menu, I'll be glad that you thought I was just too alpha to be your minion.

Dear Whole Foods,

Thank you for the four times you turned me down. You turned me down for being overqualified and you turned me down for being underqualified. For essentially the same position, at different stores. Thanks to your rejection, I have a better schedule, better benefits and a better salary than you offered. You turned my new boss down once too. We're both just fine without you. No hard feelings, I'll still visit when figs and rambutans are in season. But your bakery is dead to me. Because I do it better.

To fifteen interviews and countless applications,

Thanks for keeping me busy until the right one came along. The funny thing is, this new job, as baker at National Jewish Health? I didn't actually apply for it until after I interviewed. I applied for Food Service Worker II, (which involved something to do with salad bars and trays and cleaning?) but when I got there, the chef told me he wanted to talk to me about a job that hadn't been posted yet. Something that would be a better match for my skills. So I had a great interview, and then applied for the job. And today I got my offer letter. I start Monday. I can't wait.

Because of all of you who said 'no', I'm in a job where I can use everything I've learned, everything I am, and where I have so much to learn and so much room to grow.

So thank you all very, very much for your part in getting me to this place. I really mean it.