Photographic Friday: New Beginnings

Before I start blogging about the AMAZING vacation Aaron and I only recently returned from (everyone is hounding me to get blogging about that. There are over 2000+ pictures to sort out! Give me a break, people!) I thought I'd post about something else that happened just before we left for Alaska that's pretty much a big deal.

As y'all know by now, I resigned from my position at my former agency. It was a very difficult decision to make and I have always "prided myself" on being a career monogamist; I will get into a job and stay in it FOREVER. Well, with my last job, forever came sooner than I thought. Around February I started looking for new opportunities. I, for one, wanted to have more free time, I was also thinking about pursuing my doctorate (the program I start this September) and wanted to pick up another teaching class at NHTI, where I'm an adjunct professor. Unfortunately, my current position wasn't conducive with any of those desires.

I was very picky with the places I applied to; they had to meet certain criteria. I knew I didn't want a "boss" nor did I want a schedule that was predetermined. I also wanted the luxury to use the types of therapeutic interventions I wanted to use and I really just wanted everything to be flexible. So, low and behold, I found a position that sounded pretty good and I applied for it (among a few other positions). It had been years, YEARS since I had interviewed or applied for a new job so I figured, if anything else, it would at least allow me to throw my hat in the ring and sand off some of the rust I'd acquired being a career monogamist. The interview at this particular practice lasted 2 hours and, when I left there, I knew it was what I wanted. It felt right and everything about it felt good.

It was about a month before I heard back and the time passing made me nervous. When I got the call asking me to join the private practice, I was elated... and scared. This was a huge change but it would allow me to make my own hours, my own money, and I had the option to decide how many clients I wanted to see, AND when I wanted to see them. I accepted the position and gave my notice shortly thereafter.

I have to say, there isn't anything I have found, yet, that I don't like about my new job. I plan to work about 20 hours per week, I've picked up another class to teach in the fall (two classes back-to-back, I'll be done at 12pm every Tuesday and Thursday) and I'm working toward my doctorate. Currently, I have two days per week off as classes haven't started yet and the amount of free time is such a new concept to me. My house is spotless, I've kayaked more this summer than all the past summers combined, and I'm devouring novels prolifically. I keep waiting for "the catch" and I don't think there is one. I can work as hard as I want to.

So, without further "ado", here is my new office. I picked out every piece of furniture and the practice was more than happy to buy them for me. I am beyond excited and really look forward to this new chapter.

You can't really see it from this angle but, my office overlooks a footbridge over a brook. It's a wooded area, good for bird-watching and I even have a giant Turkey (who I call "Salem") that lives in the woods and is seen from time-to-time.