Bridging the Gap: Meet Kait Elizabeth

She starts with a quote, something succinct; pithy. She’s clearly an observer. A feeler. Engaged in life.

Whether extolling the virtues of transitioning her wardrobe from season to season with a few key pieces, or sharing her concerns about what’s happening in the world around her, Kait Elizabeth of www.baskinginburgandy.com is not afraid to tackle an array of subjects from current affairs, and deeply personal losses to the latest in style and beauty.

At twenty-seven, Kait is well on her way in life, four years married, finishing her Bachelor’s degree, and considering her options come December when she graduates. She’d like to work in marketing or PR. With experience growing her blog, working with brands, and as a virtual assistant—along with many other interesting experiences, Kait clearly has a lot to offer the world. Check out Kait’s Blog Here

Looking back on my life at age 27, I see both similarities and differences between Kait’s life and mine. At 27, I had been in the workplace for ten years. Leaving home at seventeen, I had worked my way through college much as Kait has, forgoing the campus experience, choosing instead to braid married life, work and education into one. It was a hard go, but I was determined to make it work, as is she. Then, there were the next thirty years; working my way up the corporate ladder, starting a family, starting my own business, running for and holding public office and discovering that my marriage of 25 years would not stand the test of time. The journey of my life continues on, with the surprise of a mid life renaissance. An opening of new opportunities, exciting possibilities and adventures.

Life has a way of placing us upon a precipice, and in spite of our age difference, both Kait and I each find ourselves on one. She, wondering what the world of work will bring, eager to start a family and nurture her marriage, while I am closing chapters on a 30 year career, a 25 year marriage and am seeing my daughter off to college. We both find ourselves curious and excited about what life will bring.

Kait asked me what advice I would give a Millennial, but in answering, I thought mainly of her. What would I most want her to know about the road ahead? I found myself thinking back upon several bits of advice which carried me through my most difficult moments, like my father telling me about how prayer had been integral to his weathering and resolving the most harrowing problems in his life, or about how meditation helped me heal and provides daily guidance in my life. Instead, I settled on a bit of advice I received when I was around Kait’s age. It came form a lady working at the sunglass counter at Macy’s on a day I was totally and completely heart broken. I had just been dumped, and it was Valentines Day.

I don’t remember her exact words, essentially, this is what she said:

Enjoy and savor your life as it is today, yesterday has already happened and tomorrow has not yet come. When we look too far forward, or dwell in the past, we miss all the beauty that surrounds us, and life’s unfolding.

Life has wonderful phases, childhood, adulthood, growing old. Being single, being in a relationship, having a family, and an empty nest. Each has certain joys, sorrows and responsibilities–some things gained, others sacrificed–try not to rush ahead.

If you are present for your life, moment to moment, you will have fewer regrets, less anxiety, less anger and make fewer “mistakes”. You’ll see that your power is in the present–that’s where thoughts form ideas, actions, and life’s direction takes shape.

While the world around us has changed immeasurably since I was 27, some things stay the same, such as our longing to share our unique gifts with the world, and our desire to love and be loved, among them. We, as women, whether young or old, carry within us both a unique yet universal song of life.

More Bridging the Gap:

Read about my discussion with Trevor Gormley from Millenial View Click Here

To read about some of the women who inspire me:. Click Here