Things change and stay the same

I don't have stock photos, so I take my own.

By Katy England

So, a few weeks back I changed jobs. For nearly 10 years I had been writing for The Maine Edge, an amazing arts and entertainment weekly run by my boss and friend Mike Fern. Then something I had daydreamed about, but had long since given up seeing happen manifested in real life: The Maine State Police offered me a job as their social media coordinator (I like to call it liaison, cause it sounds all cool and French). And my life changed – which when you’re in your mid- (not quite late) thirties can be weird and scary. But also awesome.

I wasn’t sure how this was going to work. Jumping into the great unknown is a young person’s game. But the cool thing about having decades under your belt when you change careers even scary things seem slightly less scary. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t have concerns – I mean, what if my interpretation of flexible schedule was different from their interpretation?

But small things really make a difference. Like having a weekend that isn’t dotted with writing and editing. It allowed us to just plan and do – instead of my old standby, plan, procrastinate and stress out. I always say, I don’t know if I did my best work under pressure, but that is when I did most of it.

For the first time in quite some time, we spent a weekend going to the library, hitting up the local playground, and doing yard-work. Nothing crazy, mind you. But it felt so normal I almost missed noticing it. These are all things we’ve done in the past (except the library, this was our first library excursion), but the biggest difference was we didn’t have to think about it.

And then I had a Monday holiday.  I know, most people barely think about Patriot’s Day, since it’s only observed in Maine and Massachusetts. But here it is – and I had it off. The last time I had a Monday Holiday was when I worked at the Bangor Daily. Police beat always fell on Monday, so I could round up weekend crime. But I didn’t have to do that.

I had a day off. It was amazing.

Of course, the kids were on spring break, so it’s not like I really had it off. But it was still amazing. They helped me pile scrap wood in the scrap wood pile. Willingly. I only note that because I will want to remember that when I have to beg for them to help with things.

So, as we all know, change is hard – but sometimes it’s good. And so far, so good.