This Day Next Week

This day next week I'll be sitting at this desk, starting my new job. Right now I'm 50% nervous and 50% excited about that fact, but by then I hope that the nervousness will mostly have been replaced by 'Let's Do This Thing'. With accompanying fist-pump action. It'll be the first full-time position I'll have held since I was made redundant a little over two years ago and it's quite different from any position I've held before, in an industry I've so far only dipped my toe into.

There will be similarities to previous roles, of course. I don't think I'd have even applied for the job if there hadn't been, but I know that there will be a whole lot of new curves to learn too. The biggest difference will be that I will be working from home now and not in a 'real office'. And while I'm thrilled at the prospect of zero commute, it'll be the first time I'll have had a job not-in-a-real-office.

Now, technically, I do quite a bit of work from home anyway. Writing this blog for example. And putting together my craft contributions for Easy Parenting Magazine. And trying to write books for children. And, you know parenting and stuff. But this will properly be my office now. Not just the place I hide away from my family in. And I'll have to actually work here. Not just faff around, mincing my words and gluing my fingers together.

In preparation, I'm googling things like 'how to survive working from home'. I'm figuring out how I'll structure my day and wondering how and when I'll be able to mentally 'go home' from work. I'm promising myself I won't wear pyjamas everyday. Not even slippers. I'm also strongly considering fitting a bolt to the door to stop the girls invading every five minutes. I mean, they'll be in school for much of the day and they'll have activities and play dates and time with grandparents and things like that - but they do live here and they do like to have all of my attention when they're with me... Kids are needy like that. Who knew?

Other than the logistics, which always have a knack of working themselves out, (they do, don't they?!) I'm really looking forward to this new chapter of my life.

"That's all well and good," I hear you cry, "but what will you actually be DOING?"

Well, I'm thrilled to tell you that I will be working with TG4 as a researcher and content creator on Róisín, a weekly discussion show presented by Róisín O'Hara  - broadcaster, journalist and mother. The show is heading into its third season and growing in popularity all the time because of the broad range of topics it covers - from the heartwarming to the heartbreaking - and for the fact that it gives a voice to women from all over the country that are facing issues, dilemmas and challenges that may otherwise go unreported. The team that work on this show are absolutely passionate about making really interesting and great quality television and I feel unbelievably honoured to get a chance to work alongside them. I honestly can't wait to get started and I hope you'll enjoy watching what we create. (don't worry, there are subtitles ;) )

It's funny, but a few days ago this blog turned 7-years-old and I've been thinking a lot about how things were then and how they are now and how I couldn't have even imagined all this back then.

Seven years ago was pre-kids. Pre-motherhood. It was working in an office and reading other people's blogs whenever I could skive a few minutes. It was starting this space as a practice-run for something else that I've since let go. It was commuting for three hours a day. It was feeling something missing from my life. An urge to create. To write. To do something. Even if I wasn't sure what that was. Or why.

Looking back through the archives here I can see the shaky start and the slow, slow progression towards 'finding my voice'. I can see my confidence growing. My choices becoming clearer. My path opening up. My mind shifting away from the long held belief that I had to live a certain way. That creative lives were only for other people.

I never knew, when I hit publish that first time, where starting this blog would lead me. Or if it would lead anywhere at all. But, I really believe that without it I would most likely still be sitting in someone else's office wishing I had a life like those 'other' people but not knowing how to get it.

Where Wishes Come From has become far more than just a place where I share certain aspects of my life. It's become an entirely new way of life for me.

And I am grateful.

Especially to those of you who are reading. And those of you who are still reading. And those of you who have been reading from the very beginning and who, miraculously, still dip in and out seven years on. Without all of you, I probably would have stopped writing things for you to read a long time ago. Which means I would never have gotten to a point where I can be grateful to you for getting me a new job. And a new life. So thank you. From the bottom of my heart.

Seven is supposed to be a lucky number.

It must be true.