Change is Good, Right?

One hard and fast rule about journalism I have become all-too-familiar with is that change is inevitable. Since working as a correspondent for the Standard Examiner five years ago, I have worked for nearly a dozen different editors, waded through hundreds of stories that have gone to print, and battled the chronic ups and downs of a newspaper budget, but things always got better, things always improved, and things were great.

I loved my job and it was the perfect gig for me while I stayed at home with our kids.

The time has come that things are changing again, but this time I cannot weather it out with the newspaper. With some changes that have been made at the paper and the stories written by correspondents cut back by 75 percent, it was time for me to look at other options. 

When I learned of this, I was depressed, sad, deflated, in shock, worried, and then the cycle started all over again - depressed, sad, deflated, in shock, and worried some more...

I began sending out my resume a few weeks ago and have found another freelance writer position working from home. I will still do what few stories I can do for the paper, but this new position will be the bulk of my time. 

Some things I learned during the process:

I am very aware that Heavenly Father knows me, knows my desire to write, and also knows of my desire to be home with our girls. I felt at peace when I prayed, but then my fears and sadness would creep back in, so I would pray some more.

John has been telling me for a long time now that there are better opportunities out there for me - I just didn't have the courage to look for them. I was forced to forge forward and I believe this opportunity will be great - and probably even better. I don't have to cover any more boring meetings!