If you have been following me for at least 6 months then you know that this is a HUGE transition year for me! If not, quick recap…..I was a teacher for 20 years in the same district. I started as a special education teacher in a middle school, then elementary school. I spent the last 8 years in my own 5th grade classroom and I LOVED it….until I didn’t. I just knew it was time for a change. I can’t explain it, I just felt this overwhelming calm that there was something more waiting for me on the other side of the classroom. I didn’t have a plan in motion. I’m more of ‘jump, then figure it out’ gal….trusting that it will all work out. Now, don’t get me wrong, I had many sleepless nights this past summer wondering ‘what did I do?!?!?!?!?!?’ (don’t let instagram fool you…..yes I traveled lots but I didn't pay for a thing ….more on that later). I was nervous AND excited and always kept coming back to ….it just feels right!

Everyone kept asking me what I was going to do and I said all of the right things but truly didn’t have anything ‘officially’ lined up. Honestly, I thrived off of the reaction of my family and friends who undoubtedly supported me. Very few people questioned my intentions and ‘leap then logic’ mentality. So I thought….well if this many people who I love and respect believe in me (and my gut is telling me I’m doing the right thing) then I MUST be on to something great!

So I took the leap….and I LOVE IT! My life is nowhere near perfect and I still have so much to figure out but I’m happy and balancing three jobs where I am thriving! I feel fulfilled. I didn’t realize how trapped I felt having to leave the house every single day at the same time and stay in one building until the bell released me at 3:45…..only to rush home to my ‘mom duties,’ revisit teaching duties while trying to watch TV, spend quality time with my kids and fall asleep on the couch by 9pm. Repeat for 5 days in a row from September through June…I was tired, and losing my sparkle. Don’t get me wrong, I love teaching and have THE MOST RESPECT for teachers- they truly are THE BEST HUMANS!

So now my days are mine to organize- I am an education advocate at Levy Advocacy and I feel so fulfilled! I am still in the field of education, working with wonderful families and school districts, just from a different lens! I am also an adjunct professor at Providence College (my alma mater!) teaching Methods in Literacy to 10 fabulous sophomores and I couldn’t be happier. That job is surreal- to walk around PC campus (or skip with a big smile on my face) as a member of the faculty rather than student- how lucky am I?! And of course….Cozy Carmel, my small business! I have so much more time to be creative (did you see the pumpkins?!), commit to shows (so many fall festivals!) and take more orders. I make my own schedule and I feel like I can breath. I am available for my 2 boys, both physically and emotionally. I have this new sense of calm and I am excited for what is to come! Because let’s be honest, money pays the bills, not a gut feeling and a leap of faith. So if you are sitting there thinking that you are envious of my life after the classroom- don’t be when you get your next consistent paycheck LOL. If you are an educator reading this, you are AMAZING and your skills are transferrable (more on this in a later post). If you are thinking of a career or life change, sit with it. Listen to your gut. YOU GOT THIS!

xo,

Stacey