At 36, I had everything I ever wanted.
I was a senior communications leader at one of the world’s biggest entertainment companies, earning a title and salary that I had worked my entire career to get.
Not only did I have my dream job, but also an amazing group of friends and family, a healthy relationship, and a passport that was getting stamped almost monthly.
I felt like I was finally creating the life and family I always wished for. Until, suddenly, everything changed.
A breakup and a layoff forced me to reevaluate my life
Lauren Paige Woulard
After returning home from a girls’ trip, my partner of four years and I had a hard but necessary conversation, and ultimately decided to end our relationship.
Although we had our ups and downs, we seemed to be working through things, and I never thought our struggles would ultimately end in a breakup.
Because we had been living together, I was forced to pack up my belongings at my partner’s home in Florida and move to my mom’s condo in my hometown of New Orleans — the best financial option and a way to be close to my family when I needed them most.
Luckily, my job allowed me to work remotely as long as I visited the New York City office once a month, so moving states wouldn’t be an issue.
Plus, my mom and I are close, especially since I’m an only child, so I was excited to live with her again. But part of me still felt like a failure returning to the city I grew up in.
However, I looked forward to spending meaningful time with her — something I hadn’t been able to do since moving to a different state.
It felt nice slipping into our old routines: watching our favorite “Real Housewives” episodes together, grabbing lunch, being each other’s plus-ones to sporting events, and recapping our days in person instead of over the phone.
I was so grateful for every moment we shared together, but I didn’t think I’d stay there much longer than six months.
That all changed when I was laid off from my job. Full of shock and uncertainty, I was faced with the reality that, for the first time in my life, I didn’t know what would come next.
Suddenly, I was stuck at home, unemployed, and staring at a future I couldn’t map out.
Reconnecting with my community inspired my next career move
Lauren Paige Woulard
Thankfully, severance and unemployment benefits gave me something I had rarely allowed myself before: time.
As I sat with myself, I realized I’ve spent almost my entire life searching for that next title, promotion, or accomplishment.
The layoff forced me to face the truth I had been denying: it was time for a change.
So, instead of rushing to recreate my old life, I decided to lean into the one I had. I decided if I was going to be in New Orleans, I was going to truly be here.
After exploring new parts of the city, attending local events, and trying new fitness classes, I started to see my hometown in a new light.
When I used to visit the city as an adult, I never thought I could be happy living here again. However, I never had a community to rely on, since I had grown apart from my childhood friends and was never in town long enough to truly reconnect.
Now, a year and a half after moving back, my life looks completely different than the one I thought I wanted. I started a business, established a flourishing group of old and new friends, built a personal brand, and discovered a passion for community-building that I never knew existed.
Most of all, I found something I wasn’t expecting: I love living back in New Orleans, and I’m really happy.
The city gave me space to heal and rediscover myself after one of the hardest chapters of my career.
I’m not sure if my time living at home will be permanent, but for now, I’m content and hope to continue to blossom here until the next adventure calls me.
Overall, returning home didn’t ruin my life — it’s helped me rebuild it.
