Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes....

Four years ago, I began working as the Social Worker at the nursing home in Red Cloud. Funny, I barely remember the girl who walked through the door that very first day. I was 23and fresh out of college. I was scared and lost and was still naive enough to think that the world owed me something. Nearly four years to the day later, I closed one of the greatest chapters of my life.

At Heritage, I found my calling, I found my voice, I found my inspiration and I will never, ever be the same. I have had the absolute privilege of working with some of the nuttiest, funniest, silliest, smartest, bravest, and strongest people who have ever graced this earth and I am all the better for knowing each and every one of them. It truly has been the pleasure of my life.

This week I am starting a new journey. Last month, I accepted a position at Mary Lanning as a Social Worker. Leaving Red Cloud was one of the most bittersweet things that I have ever experienced.  Starting this new journey, I am still scared-all I have known for the last 12 years is  long-term care (in some capacity or another).  I am excited to use my skills in a different capacity. Most importantly, I am excited to be one step closer to my dreams.

I have never been much of a planner. You know those people who knew what the wanted to be since they were very young? Ya, I was never one of them! Planning really isn't my thing. How jealous I am of those who were blessed with such self-awareness. I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. All I knew was I wanted to change the world, I still do.

 I also had huge aspirations to be a horse jockey but those plans fell through, probably, at birth. Looking at me, one would tend to assume I would lean more towards a career as a Line Backer or Body Guard. Thankfully, with a whole lot of hard work, a little bit of luck, and a dash of  Laura's special craziness and everything kind of just fell in to place. The path hasn't always been smooth but from the depths of my soul, I know I'm where I'm supposed to be. Life has a funny way of working itself out.

I still question whether I made the right choice. I am a creature of habit and fear the unknown but even more so, I fear a life of mediocracy. I have to take risks and accept new challenges and continue to be hopeful that everything will continue to work out the way it is supposed to. Meanwhile, I am going to sit back and just enjoy the ride. I leave you with some of my favorite words:

"Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up. And it will."-Hope Floats