Friends and Sliver Moons

With that…I headed to Vegas. Not for your typical weekend of debauchery. For a weekend with friends who I don’t see often enough, for time away from “home”…and for some serious personal reflection.

My friend Manus is one of the most amazing people on this planet. I am forever grateful he’s in my life…yet still question how our paths crossed and stayed connected for so long. He’s an incredible man of integrity and value. In Vegas, I felt like I went home. I was WITH family. Manus is my brother, his sons are my nephews. I stayed back and talked to the woman who he fell in love with, and recently married. It was my first time meeting, Ms. Margarita…I think both of us understood how important the others opinion was of ourselves in the eyes of a man we both adore. We talked about him, her, the boys, me…and what’s been on my mind lately…MEN! I told her about my decision to pack things up and live a life not void of purpose and direction, but one without CLEAR directions. She told me she KNEW the world had something amazing in store for me. I told her I honestly believed that this time away from the life I’ve built in California is by design. The timing of everything cannot be THAT coincidental. The world is pushing me to do my own thing, to live for myself, take care of myself and surround myself with the ones I love…because whenever this is over…my life will look entirely different.

On the drive home the next day, I found myself lost in thoughts…and staring at a sliver moon. Teeny tiny, skinny little moon…hanging in the middle of the desert, somewhere between Vegas and home. For an hour I kept staring at that moon. I started to wonder why…what is it about this new moon? And just like a baseball bat to the head it hit me! New beginnings are like the beginning of the newest moon. With that, I leave you with “Sliver Moons and Other Musings” as I begin my journey!

The Back Story

The Back Story

Having grown up with a single parent, I’ve learned independence and work ethic, but I lacked quality time with my mom – she was always working. It was over 3 years ago that the world brought me to Red Mountain. At the time, I wanted to learn a different skill set so that at one point in my life, I could follow my dream of being self-employed – and so that one day…when I fell in love, got married and had babies…I could still contribute to the household and to the community AND be a mommy and wife.

I had no idea what the world had in store for me when I walked into Red Mountain for the first time. My world was about to be rocked and I didn’t have a clue what was in store for me. Without getting into the details of the happenings from June 17th, 2006 to the present – let me just say, I learned a lot…and I grew even more - as a person, a woman, companion, friend and daughter. I loved where I worked. Who I worked with, who I worked for…and what I did. There was nothing about my job that was normal, nothing about it that fit into any box. I hated answering the question “what do you do?” What don’t I do? But it wasn’t really work…it didn’t really feel like a job.

It was five weeks ago today, I was laid off from Red Mountain. That day wasn’t as upsetting as I once envisioned it in my head. Prior to this day our company had stood tall at 160 ish people. The day before I fell victim to a “reduction in work-force”…we had 33 employees. I watched this happen to so many of my friends who fell before me. I understood why it needed to happen. I wasn’t resentful that it had to be me. I was grateful for what I had been given over the last three years. I left the office sad for having to walk away, but SO hopeful for what the world had in store for me.

In the five weeks that have passed since that day, my world has been topsy turvey. I rediscovered that dream from years ago…and began putting the pieces into place to start my business. Within weeks I had a business name, DBA, a logo, business cards designed, website, facebook and twitter pages… All for Shore Break Consultants. My cousin Jessica asked me if I was going to be ok, when I told her the news. My response: “do you know me? When I moved to California I had $200 dollars in my pocket and knew one person in the whole state. Today, I have money in the bank, more friends and contacts than I could even know what to do with. I’m going to be FINE!” And with that…I know that the next chapter of my “work” life and Shore Break Consultants is going to be a success. I have too much drive and motivation for it NOT to be.

But who wants to read about that…? In those five weeks, I’ve also learned a lot about people. Their capacities as support and friends. I’ve learned that a lot of those who I would have considered my friends…weren’t there, not even to ask how I was, what I was planning…or just to say hello. Nothing. I got a crash course in learning the difference between “friends” and “friendly”. Turns out, I, Anna Rachelle Lauri, truly think the best of just about anyone I encounter. I find the good in everyone. And because of that, I fall in love with people, maybe not for whom they truly are, but for whom I believe them to be. In a tearful conversation with Amy, she reminded me that this isn’t a bad trait I possess…it’s because of this I have found the most AMAZING people to surround myself with and to call friends. Sure, there are going to people along the way that disappoint and leave me broken hearted – but let’s not focus on those people. Let’s focus on what was…and move on with grace to the next chapter.

With that, it’s been decided that Ashley will not be renewing the lease we’ve shared for the last year. I’m not going to lie and say I’m not sad…and that I don’t think it’s a sign of where I friendship has found itself in the last few months. With that…I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do. Let’s think about this, I love structure, stability. And here I am about to embark on a solo-business venture, which lacks the two things I crave the most. Back to those amazing people…my friend and sister Berenice sat me down last week, to see what it is I was planning on doing with my lease and my living situation. I broke down. Literally. She told me it’d be foolish for me to sign a lease, any lease without understanding with my income stream would be. She said I should stay with her and Alex and Davis. If only temporarily…until I understood what I needed to live. BUT, she continued on…if I was given this “opportunity”…I would take it and travel. The timing is too perfect, Anna, she said. You get laid off and your lease expires within 2 months of each other. Travel. You’re not going to get this opportunity again. She’s right. I know that. But this isn’t the side of the table I expected Berenice to be sitting on. Where I’m head in the clouds, Berenice is feet on the ground. I didn’t expect her to tell me to put things in storage, use their guest bedroom, build a business AND travel. She told me the decision wasn’t complicated. It’s either you’re staying or going. The rest is details. Ah, details.

I decided to do it. To take time off from the structure I know in my life in Orange County and to see what awaits me outside the “Orange Curtain.” Details are starting to get worked out…most importantly who will love and care for Stella. It was my mission, going forward to be open to possibilities…and to take things as they came…find the value, appreciate and keep on moving and growing.