Stephanie Doty:  

Hmmmm--I'm one of those people who "bloomed" relatively late in life. Oh I had a fair idea what I wanted to accomplish when I was younger, but was very much a "product of my generation" and the rather narrow, limited thinking of the times --50s and 60s. I, like all too many other women, "suffered" from the dysfunctional attitude of society toward women and that dysfunction held as tenaciously in my family as anywhere else. In my 50s, I decided to end an unsatisfying marriage. My partner is a fine person; I simply was not fulfilled OR happy on much of any level, so I walked away from a 17 year relationship and never dreamed I'd be "starting over" in the truest sense of the word. It's been a long, challenging ride, but the only thing I'd change is to have made the decision to leave when I was much younger and KNEW the marriage was not going to succeed over the long haul. I began working as a development professional in early 2000 and have since gone on to earn my master's degree in non-profit leadership. I've been unemployed since October 2008, having learned that being outspoken and true to my convictions are not necessarily desirable traits that are looked upon favorably by people who do not function at a higher level. It took me seemingly forever to "find" my voice and once I did, it seemed only natural to use it. I've learned that management is not always necessarily interested in hearing the truth if it doesn't jibe with what they want--or THINK they want. I won't misrepresent what needs to be do...Expand for more