I was privileged this week to attend an event featuring senior executive women sharing their experiences.  I actually have attended many, many events featuring executive women sharing their experiences.  What was different about this one was the degree of honesty.  Perhaps it is a sign of the times, but nearly to a woman, each had a story of being let go from a position they loved.  For some of them it had been years ago; for some merely days.  What I and the other audience members witnessed was a glimpse at the humanity behind the title.   Women shared the pain of being the messenger of bad news to others – getting physically ill prior to giving an announcement.  They shared of being in shock and spending the weekend in bed, eating ice cream and crying, when they were on the receiving end of the release.  They shared their weakness and they shared their strengths.

And yet, to a woman, none of them stayed mired in their distraught.  They allowed themselves the time to grieve the loss and found a way to come back stronger.  For most it was a reminder that they are more than their title.  And for all, it was the relationships that they had built that pulled them forward to their next experience. 

In many ways my story is not all that different from theirs.  Circumstances and responsibilities may not be the same, but the feelings are oh so familiar.  Their willingness to share their pain and triumphs gave me a little more encouragement as I trod this winding path.  I can only hope to pass that hope forward as well.

What’s in a name?  Evidently a whole slew of reinvented identities for me!  I was reflecting on one of these transformative identity changes – and then realized there had been many.  In fact, how you address me is dependent upon who I was  and what i was called at the time.  Let me share with you the many sides of me:

Janet MacMeekin – the original me

Janet Carol – who I am when my mother is full of familial pride or angry at me

Jan MacMeekin – my first radical shift, circa 8th grade.  Decided Janet was too formal and “Jan” was much cooler.  And so I was. (or so I thought…)

McKeever – college name for those who were too lazy or unfocused to remember my real last name

Janet MacMeekin – back to the original for job searching purposes.  Besides, I was a mature college graduate now.  (or so I thought…)

Miss MacMeekin – first year teaching

Ms MacMeekin – second year teaching; more worldly and embracing my feminist side; also not wanting to draw attention to the fact that I was still unmarried when ALL my friends were getting married

Janet MacMeekin – back to the original; back to grad school; looking for another job; entry into the corporate world.  Now totally mature (you know the story…)

Janet Neal – Finally got married and found a name that’s easier to pronounce but shockingly just as easy to misspell

Mrs. Neal – Now I’m really a Mom…

Chris’ mom, Emily’s Mom, TJ’s Mom – OK , now I’m really a Mom!

Ms. Neal – Divorced but still a Mom

Janet MacMeekin Neal – Embracing all of me!

Stay tuned…..I have a feeling there may be more to come!