The End of Summer, The Beginning of Something New
In which I face the unknown, yet again.
It is the middle of August. The second one in a row in which I am not polishing off another re-read of Heaney’s, “Beowulf” in preparation for a room full of very tanned, very-already-checked-out Seniors in a High School classroom. It feels much less weird than last summer. But the lingering thought that I need new sharpie pens, an insulated lunch box and to begin to set my alarm for 5 a.m. is hard to shake.
I had been presented with quite a few opportunities in the last month, professionally speaking. Some of which would have led me back to walk through school doors. I wasn’t opposed, but weighed those decisions carefully. I was also extended several opportunities to grow in the copywriting/corporate storytelling/social media management/developmental editing field. Something, that honestly, I didn’t anticipate.
But am so very thankful for.
As, that is the direction that feels most like my next right thing for now. (Thank you, Emily P. Freeman).
I’ve been spending the last few months writing for education tech companies (which I love because I get to use all facets of my skills and experience), providing professional services such as resume and cover letter revisions, ghost/copywriting on LinkedIn for several high-profile clients, editing local print magazines, and producing my own writing.
And I have loved it. The work, the flexibility, the space to think and brainstorm, the collaboration.
In every arena I’ve played in, my end game has always been the same.
I want to uncover stories, yours and my own- and I want to help deliver them, in their purest form, to the world.
I love that I’ve gotten to do just that this summer- and hope to do it, honestly, forever.
May I just be one of the many to say, that if you’re in the middle of a career transition- just hold on, ok? It’s hard. It feels discouraging at times. If you had a career in which you also had an identity (teaching is certainly one of those), then your transition will be harder still- keep going. You are not what you do. You are, who you are. And we need you at your best.
Now, to the good stuff.
Things Giving Me Life Right Now
I know it’s tomato and corn season, that the weather is warm, and that we should still be poolside with watermelon juice dripping down our chins. And I am- most of the time. But some of the time, I am turning our AC down to 60 and making this Simple Coconut Chicken Curry.
Maddi Zahm’s, If It’s Not God has been on repeat because it breaks my heart over and over again and I need it to, to remember.
When my heart can’t take it anymore- I turn to anything written by Sammy Rae and Friends because it’s the perfect summer soundtrack.
Bodies of water- all of them. I’ve had some health concerns that have caused me to make some appointments later on this month. And considering I can never tell the difference between an actual ailment or something that my anxiety (once again) is causing, I turn to things that I know for sure help my mental health. Every day that there is sun, I am in a body of water. I’m even considering a polar bear swim club kinda commitment because it’s that healing for me.
Have you watched The Bear?????? Are you as obsessed as me????? Can we talk about it?
So much love to you, my friends. If you are dreading the return to routine or if your soul craves it. If you’ve had to weather some storms and you’re still reeling. If you’re finally, for the first time in a while, in a good place. If you have a story- tell it. If you have extra- share it. And if you have to eat your words, make them delicious.