Remembering how to love yourself

Now that I have an escape option from my current employer I am feeling so much happier.

This happiness was written all over my face while my car hurtled down a hill and around a curve on my return to the newsroom tonight. After several long, public meetings, my newfound sense of freedom was nearly overwhelming as I drove. I turned my radio up super loud, took the turns sharp and bought into the rhythm of several classic rock songs.

The knowledge I’m not going to be a reporter for too much longer has given me a renewed excitement about doing my job well. This enthusiasm has carried over to nearly every aspect of my job.

Tonight I didn’t even rush out of the newsroom — like I have so many times. I stayed long enough to really add something to my stories. It felt good. It’s what a journalist is supposed to do.

It isn’t that I haven’t done these things in the past, but I didn’t do them because I felt excitement about producing a quality story — I did them because I knew I was supposed to. This is something that hasn’t happened since I wrote opinion columns in college. Knowing that I won’t have the opportunity to be a reporter forever has driven me to find the real silver lining.

I’m going to try and retain this enthusiasm through August; although I expect it will eb and flow with time. Right now, though, I’m going to bask in it and make the most of what’s in front of me.