Before I found out I had Lyme Disease I thought I was just tired and stressed. I’m lucky to have caught it so early.
As much as I have loved working at the Bay Beacon Newspapers, Friday will be my last day. The decision doesn’t come easy. There are a few reasons behind this move.
The first is health. Recently I was bitten by a tick and contracted Lyme Disease. I didn’t know I had it until recently, but I certainly felt it.
Constant migraines, chest pain, panic attacks and burning eyes were just a few of the symptoms that suddenly popped up. I attributed everything to stress.
I’m on my first week of antibiotics and feeling more like my self again, but I’m no longer up to the extreme challenge that comes from working at a small, multi-publication newspaper. It’s time for me to move to a new challenge. I am completely moving away from news media to work at in Niceville.
I’m excited to start my new job and the reduced hours bring me to the second reason I am leaving the Beacon. My own writing has really been taking a positive turn recently and I need more time to develop new work. Cafe Bienville has such a great atmosphere and is full of creative energy and people. I see myself turning out a lot more of my writing work under its influence—and with the time!
The Beacon will always remain a positive experience for me, however. I regard my 2.5 years there with pride and affection. It’s one of the most difficult jobs I’ve ever held with new challenges on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. My growth has been phenomenal and while I couldn’t get much of my own writing done while there, the newspaper has trained me to be a professional wherever I rest my keyboard.
It will be difficult to leave at the end of this week but I look forward to new adventures ahead—and my copy of the Bay Beacon delivered to me each week.
Wow I can’t believe you have been working there 2 and half years! Shows how well I had been keeping track, still feels like just yesterday!
It’s gone by fast. I’ve been keeping busy ;p
So proud of you, that was a hard decision to make. You will have so many great opportunities in the future and this brave step will make them all possible!
I’m ready—bring it on :D
I am so pleased our paths crossed! This is a very exciting time for you – the jumping off point. I will look forward to following your new adventures.
Thank you for all the positive publicity you gave my favorite volunteer organization – Okaloosa County’s Distinguished Young Woman program. We have appreciated you! All the best, paula
Paula, I look forward to doing more with DYW in the future. What you do is invaluable and I will continue to support you in the future :)