One Year

One year.

Saying it seems like just yesterday may be too cliché. Truthfully, in some ways it does, and in others it feels like forever. Moving on from my beloved local government team was one of the hardest things I have ever done and yet also one of the easiest decisions I have ever made.

Going from public service to healthcare allowed me to continue focusing on helping others while tackling new challenges and learning new approaches.

What I miss most are the people I worked with and the people we worked to support. I miss the excitement of a nonstop pace that was truly 24/7 and always brought a sense of fulfillment. The privilege of playing a role in others’ success. The challenge of solving the hardest problems. The creativity and freedom to shift approaches and develop new processes.

Jumping into a new role meant starting over and earning the respect of peers all over again. Doing my best to gain the trust of residents in multiple communities has provided a renewed sense of purpose. I get to help, in a small way, across a much larger geographic footprint. I have always enjoyed supporting regional collaboration, and my new role allows me to do that alongside so many friends, both new and old.

Supporting medical caregivers who improve lives is meaningful work that allows me to stay connected to a critical purpose. At the same time, I get to help team members better understand how government functions and why it works the way it does. There is genuine interest, and I enjoy being able to bridge those worlds.

Many of you have asked if I miss being in the mix or the adrenaline of racing toward a challenge. The answer is yes, but let me share what I have gained in the exchange.

I often carried guilt for the things I missed with family along the way. I struggled with not being present in the moment, constantly checking my phone or darting off to handle a crisis. So many people supported me during my years of dedication to community. Ironically, they were often the last to receive my attention.

While my current work, both through my employment and service on several boards, remains meaningful, I have learned the value of boundaries. I chose to make my time outside of work a priority. I cannot go back and attend the things I missed, but I can be present now, and I am enjoying it.

I have dinner without walking away to take a call. I attend events for enjoyment instead of assessment. I have meaningful conversations about life, faith, and hobbies. I do not fret about the next day or what the weekend might bring. I can read or watch the news without sounding like I am acting out a scene from Goodfellas, at least most of the time.

Please understand that I am extremely grateful for the first chapter I had. It was a journey that led to many meaningful things for others and for myself. The journey did not come without mistakes, loss, and sacrifice, though. That was not just true for me, but also for those around me.

Often, I failed to recognize that the people who cared about me experienced their own hurt and disappointment while watching me struggle through difficult moments. I convinced myself that my challenges were not worth anyone else’s concern or time, so I created distance to make things easier for them, or so I thought. I know now that was not the case.

Today, I watch others who dedicate themselves to helping people and communities, and I hurt for them at times because I understand the imperfect balance they are trying to achieve. Service is rewarding, but it often comes with a cost that is not always visible.

Each day and each month carries meaning for me. June will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the month in which I began one journey and the month in which I ended it and began another.

The month itself is only a marker, though. The real lesson has been learning that it is okay to end one shift, begin a new one, and appreciate the breaks in between. No regrets, only lessons. And now, I am using those lessons to help navigate whatever comes next.