First Breath of Autumn

{photo: via}

The changes in seasons often mirrors our own life changes – living space, career objectives, new relationships, and personal decisions.  There’s something “new” and “fresh start” about the back-to-school season, regardless of how long you’ve been out of school, or whether or not you’re still in it at all.

Blank notebooks, sharpened pencils, new clothes.  It’s a new year, in a sense. Like the leaves turn from green to red, the pages of our own stories turn, closing one chapter to begin the next.  The leaves are still green here in Colorado, but I can feel the change coming in the evening breezes – it’s cooler and crisper than it was just weeks ago, and that’s a refreshing and delicious feeling.  And if this Midwesterner knows anything, it’s how to recognize Autumn as she creeps in around corners before being seen in broad daylight.

Summer Lovin’

When I first moved to Boulder, one of the first things I did was take on some contract work with one of our local tech startups.  Lijit Networks provides a sweet search and stats service to bloggers and online publishers, so being a blogger and online publisher who got to work with other bloggers and online publishers, it was an amazing fit.  I learned the ropes and worked 20 hours/week from February until May, when I accepted their offer to go full-time.  It was exactly the right choice, allowed me to be fully present in the job I was doing, and learn from some of the brightest minds in Boulder.  I’d also never experienced any real work environment other than large corporation and ad agency, so experiencing “startup” life in a startup rich city has completely rocked.

However, big changes are around the corner and new opportunities are arising.  I’ve made the choice to first of all continue my yoga teacher training here at the Core Power studios in Boulder.  CPY offers what they call an “Extensions” program, which is basically an apprenticeship and will provide some one-on-one mentorship, followed by some in-studio teaching opportunities.  Hopefully this helps me get over the nerves and jitters I have about getting up in front of a class, and will totally erase “because of fear,” to the excuses I’ve made for not teaching yet.

Yoga, Writing, and New Gigs

Starting mid-October, I’m back in a shorter round of training and by mid-November hope to be actually putting into practice all of the energy I’ve put into studying.

Meanwhile, I’m still writing for the Minneapolis-based media agency and have also accepted a communications position with a non-profit that I am thrilled about.  It’s part-time (so a great integration with the contract work I already do), and allows for telecommuting.  The group is HQ’ed here in Boulder, and I’ll get to bounce between the offices here (on campus!) as well as go back to the working-from-home option when needed.

No, I’m not taking on more. I’m letting go a little bit, and my last day with Lijit is this Friday, August 20.  I’ll mark the transition with a camping trip with friends, and then be an official part of the communications team with a non-profit with a focus on women in technology and the information, research, and mentorship that surrounds that.  Exciting, huh?

This fall is going to be a big one.

What changes are you anticipating this Fall season?

Tagged as: Boulder, fall, Lijit, seasons, summer, writing, Yoga