I’ve officially been inspired.  After being on this wild & exciting ride for eight years, I want to start documenting my journey.

My life really began taking shape in a small town called Mansfield, Ohio.  That is where a News Director I will forever be indebted to took a chance on me.  And just like that, I began sprinting after my dream.  Television News is no easy industry.  Jobs are few and competitive.  Journalists typically sign contracts, securing their spot at a station for a few years.  Then, it’s time to start looking for your next step.

Mine came in West Virginia’s capital, Charleston.  It was another small town, not as tiny as the first, with a picturesque backdrop.  My four years in Charleston came with extreme highs and extreme lows.  I grew by leaps and bounds as both a Reporter and an Anchor.  I made a few lifelong friends.  I fell in love for the very first time.  I also experienced heartbreak beyond my wildest nightmares.  And after I picked myself up off the floor, I wiped my tears, put a huge smile on my face, and headed south.

Jacksonville, Florida is easily the polar opposite from my last two cities.  It’s a place I like to call “La La Land.”  Nobody wants to grow up.  Why would they?  The ocean is our backyard, our beach cruisers are always within reach and the sunshine never lets you down.  It’s been a crazy two years to say the least.  My job has been amazing.  I have learned so much as a Reporter here.  I’ve become a better and stronger storyteller.  And at the end of the day, I always feel fulfilled.  But I’ve also began feeling that push again.  A sign it’s time to move on…to a new city, a new station and new challenges.  That also means saying goodbye to the most amazing friends.  Leaving behind an incredible group of people will by far be the toughest challenge.  Saying goodbye to the ocean won’t be easy, either.

Right now, I feel like I’m at the end of a chapter, but not quite to the bottom of the page.  I’m dying to turn that page and see what lies just ahead for me.  But I’m not there just yet.  This is always the scariest part.  But, as I’ve been twice before, I’m ready.  Ready to start over, to grow and to explore.  After all, that’s what life is all about.  At least mine. ❤