Life

The start of a new chapter

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Why taking time to breathe has been good for my soul.

Taking a career break is the best thing I’ve ever done. 

Now, I’m fully aware that leaving a job, or stepping out of a role, for some time off isn’t something that everyone can do, for a whole host of reasons. I know I’ve been SO lucky to have this opportunity. But I tell you something, it been good for my soul. ðŸŒˆ

Importantly, I’m achieving my primary goal of spending more time being Mama – and admitting that it’s harder to be a full time parent than it is doing marketing. 😊

I’ve learnt a lot over the last two months, and with another two months before I start a new role (exciting), I thought I’d share some of my reflections from my time out:

🌟 I know my stuff – over the last year I definitely doubted myself for various reasons – not knowing if I’d lost ‘my touch’. But having interviewed for a few roles and met some really great people, I remembered what I love! I was asked to go along and talk to teams (thanks again Verity Gregson) and asked for advice from people I respect (Caroline Rhys Jones). I even got asked to do some consultancy work via a contact of my Dad’s, which totally warmed my heart. Marketing really is my great love, and I’m excited to do more, with great new people.

🌟 Being brave is cool – leaving a role that I loved at a firm that I’d been at for over a decade, was brave. At the time I didn’t know if I was doing the right thing, but now I know it was simply the next chapter. I also left a role before this last one, after nearly a decade, and survived! It takes courage to see that the place you’re in isn’t part of the next chapter, and then make change. I hold so many wonderful memories from that time, as I do from a career spanning over 25 years! No regrets, just gratitude, but time for something new.

🌟 I am really lucky – having time out has allowed me to focus on my family, my friendships (old and new) and me! To think I have already had a few months off is mind blowing. But I have packed in so much. I got a new job! I’ve had lovely lunches with friends. I’ve spent time with my family. Had a holiday. And importantly, Sammy has stopped asking me if I am going to London. There’s also the flip side – people I thought would stay in touch, or reach out, haven’t and that has been hard. But equally I’ve heard from so many people I didn’t expect to, and I’m so grateful to everyone who has supported during this time.

🌟 Being his Mama is the best job – this time has been so restorative, not just for me (I’m walking, exercising – sort of – and being kinder to myself generally), but also for Sammy. I am present. When he wakes, When he gets home. And I get to do more bedtimes. You cannot put a price on that. I know that when I go back to work in a few months, to a new role, I will need to balance things again, but this time will have set me up to find the balance we need as a family.

So as I head into spring (I’m hopeful that is is finally here) and wrap up the Easter holiday with a few more days out, I feel grateful, rested and happy! If you’d have told me six months ago that’s how I’d be feeling now, I don’t think I’d have believed you, so I guess I can’t ask for more that.

Thanks for reading.

M.

Carpe Diem

MarzLeave a comment

When you take the old man’s advice and seize the day!

It has taken me a while to decide to publish my inner ramblings. I’ve always loved to write, but never thought about putting it out there in the big wide world. I find it therapeutic. A break from parenting a three year old, trying to develop a career and stay married. Be a sister, a daughter and a friend. As well as have some me time. All of those things combined are a challenge, but I do love a challenge!

Many of you might be thinking, why? For me it’s just an outlet. A place to share things I have learnt, perspectives on topics I’m passionate about and, why not? Some people might even enjoy ‘my musings’, we shall see. Ultimately I just love talking so this is a way of capturing it all.

Open to the public

But it’s an interesting concept isn’t it, sharing your thoughts with complete strangers. I have found out a lot from other blogs I read and it got me thinking, what do I want this blog to be about? What could others get out of reading my ‘stuff’? There is social media for that too I guess (I’m a big fan of the ‘Gram) but sometimes a perspective, or point of view on top of an instastory, or a facebook post is what I need. I’m a thinker by nature. I like research, I research everything. I like to be informed.

So here are three things that I get out of reading other people’s ‘stuff’ and others might get out of reading mine.

  • ‘That’s totally normal’ – often as a Mum, I worry about how I’m doing it and what I’m doing, will he be scarred for life if I shout at him, or if I work another late night? Is it just a phase when he tells me he prefers Daddy to me?! Yes that one, probably linked to the former point. Is it ok to want a career and to be a parent, in equal measure. Just knowing that I am not alone in the joy and pain of parenting has helped me enormously.
  • ‘Yes I do really need that’ – I would be a liar if I said that I haven’t spent a lot of money on things I would never have discovered if I didn’t read blogs or use social media. I go looking for – “best way to paint tiles” – to discover via blog number three, why paint tiles when you can buy tile stickers?! I mean that was the best discovery in while for me. I’ve loved finding small brands that I may not have otherwise discovered, to compliment more traditional brands that I love.
  • ‘Honesty is the best policy’ – I’m often told at work that I am firm but fair, honest but caring and that I “tell it how it is”. I used to worry about that phrase. Did that mean that I lacked empathy, or didn’t care about others? Actually what I have realised is that is a bit of a super power. Getting to the point, cutting through the noise, just being transparent. You can still wrap a massive hug around that. I love reading people’s honest accounts of life. No rubbish. Straightforwardness at its best. I will always aim to be honest, but will occasionally wrap a hug around that too (or pour a gin, and have a hug, but then there will likely be tears, and that’s for another post!).

So that is blog post number one. I hope to share my ‘stuff’, my ‘musings’ with you often. I don’t really mind if no-one reads, but for me this is my ‘therapy’, my ‘me time’. I once read an article about ‘writing a good blog’ and it did say that your first post will probably be rubbish, but my Dad often used to say ‘Carpe Diem’ – so here you go, I am seizing the day.