One Year Later...

Well, I had been planning to write a post around the one year anniversary of me leaving my job as a local news anchor and morning show host..and talk about what i’ve been up to this last year and what I still want to accomplish…but obviously so much has changed in our world over the last couple weeks.

So, while I’m recognizing that it has somehow been one year (but how??) since I said goodbye to my TV job, my co-workers (some of who had become my best friends) and my 2:15 a.m. alarm clock, my thoughts about the position I’m now in have definitely changed given this global pandemic.

When people ask what I’ve been up to since leaving my job, I usually respond by saying something like, “freelance media work.” Which means what exactly? Well, basically I’ve done a lot of different things: on camera work for several businesses, media training, a lot of emceeing of events, blogging and content creation, and for the last six months I’ve been on air once a week at KGSR Austin City Limits Radio. I’ve been staying busy, but have repeatedly told people, “not busy enough.” I like to work and want to work. Although I left my job to have more flexibility, a better schedule and to not work holidays, I still want to use the skills I have and help provide for my family.

As I’ve been approaching this one year anniversary, I have to admit I’ve been pretty hard on myself for not being as busy or finding as many freelance gigs as I would have liked. I was naive in thinking, “Oh, I’ve worked in the Austin market for 12 years. I’ll find plenty of work!” I spent the first few months after I left my job networking almost every day. Coffee meetings, lunch meetings, networking events, being active on social media. Planting many seeds, so that people would think of me when the right opportunity came along. And several of those “right opportunities” have come along. Just not as many as I would like. I was constantly reminded by close friends to be patient and give it time, more things would come my way.

But, then at the start of this month that marked one year since I left my job, the coronavirus pandemic hit. SXSW, which generates an estimated $350 million for the City of Austin, was cancelled. The emcee and panel moderating gigs I had lined up were gone. The social media partnerships I had been working on, no longer a possibility. Social gatherings were discouraged..then eventually banned in the city. Schools were let out for an extended springs break meaning my 4-year-old would now be home all day for the time being. And as this was unfolding, I tested positive for the flu. Oh and did I mention I’m seven months pregnant?? Man, it hit me like a truck. I was knocked down for nearly a week. And by the time I started to feel better, Austin was about to be under a “shelter in place” order.

It seems that no one is immune to the stresses caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Restaurants and retail shops are closed, travel has nearly come to a halt and parents are having to try to homeschool or simply care for their kids all day while working from home. There’s the feeling of isolation for those who live alone. Add the fear of getting sick on top of the financial strain and it’s enough to cause stress and anxiety in every household. Feelings that are present in my own home between my husband (and me) being self-employed and me being 7 months pregnant.

What I am grateful for is my current position in the workforce. While I do wish I could help ease some of the financial burden during this time of uncertainty, being able to be at home with Runner without the stress of a full time job at the same time has been a blessing. Leaving work to be a full time stay at home mom was not the plan for me (not that there’s ANYTHING wrong with that). I have been “working” nonstop to find work since leaving work. I have constantly wanted more. But, now I find myself feeling fortunate that “more” hasn’t come yet. I’m getting to spend hours of one on one time with my son (not without some stressful parenting moments of course..he screamed at me the other day that “mom school is so weird!”), before his baby sister arrives. And by staying at home I know I’m staying as healthy as possible. So, while it’s okay to want more in life, I hope that when I look back on this time I can remember the feeling of being thankful to be where I am in this current moment.

We made this rainbow of hearts to spread a little joy to neighbors out getting fresh air.