I have a new job.
Okay, not so new. I've had it a month, but it has taken me a month to feel it under my skin.
It's been a long time (four years) since I've worked in a full-time, 9-to-5, shower-and-put-on-real-clothes type of job and I don't mind admitting that it has been an adjustment. For my husband (who, for the record, has always been super-supportive of my writing/freelancing/Etsying gig), because I think he finally realizes how much housework and grocery shopping I actually did during the day despite the fact that I was sitting in the same position when he left and when he came home. For my kids, because we're expecting them to do more for themselves. And for me, because I now have a supervisor to answer to (so no more of that "I don't feel like working so I think I'll clean the bathroom" kind of mentality).
But I'll take it. Because I have one of the coolest jobs out there. I am the new Coordinator of Community Education for our school district. You know those continuing ed catalogs that come through the door a couple times a year? Yeah, I make those now. My job is actually sitting around and thinking "What cool things do people want to learn?"
Today I put together a grant proposal so we can update a campus kitchen to offer kids cooking classes. Yesterday, my Google searches involved looking for instructors in baby massage, reflexology, woodworking, and genealogy. Tomorrow, I will be teaching myself InDesign to prepare our Annual Report celebrating how many people learned something because of us.
Honestly, this time last year I had no idea I would end up here. I'd hoped I would have an agent (I'm still working on that) and that I would still be writing (and I'm still working on that, too). But sometimes life offers us an opportunity to learn. To do something new. Or to help someone else learn and do something new.
And I'll take it.
By the way, if you are in San Antonio and want to help people learn something new, get in touch. I just might know someone who is looking for you!
That sounds like a really fascinating job! It will certainly help you develop networking skills too as you seek instructors. I wonder if seeking out folks who self-publish in your community might be a place to go too--the cookbook writers might want to teach cooking classes, the history buff geneology.
ReplyDeleteAny progress on "The Shadow Scribe"? I really loved Isobel and desperately wanted to see more on her.
ReplyDeleteI think your job sounds great---and you can still pursue writing and getting an agent---best wishes with all your endeavors!
ReplyDelete