Remember me?

Hello out there in blogland! Remember me? I was once a semi-devoted blogger who liked to share my internal dialogues and meanderings. How are you? Hope you're well and have been enjoying spring. I've missed you.

I can't believe that a month has passed since I last wrote! It seems like Easter was such a long time ago now. (So much has happened since we last spoke!)

The theme for the last four weeks has definitely been 'Endings' - from the closing of the women's employment program I was working at to saying goodbye to people and finally, the completion of my studies at school. It's been very bittersweet, hence, the silence. I wasn't in the mood to document what was going on, especially at work. It's not even that it was so depressing or anything because, to be honest, the last few weeks at work were the most fun I've experienced there. I just didn't feel like it. But let me tell you, we were 'haunted' as my co-workers would say (translation: bored and restless) - a state in which imaginations go into overdrive (quite a creative time, really).

Just to give you some background on the situation - Employment Ontario is undergoing a huge transformation to improve their services. Their hope is to provide more accessibility to service delivery which encourages training, industry and government to work together (an integrated service delivery model) providing service within hubs around Ontario. What this means is that some of the smaller centres that offer services to a particular clientele that can be serviced under the new model are being closed, like the one I was working at. (Please note that there are still specialized services available to certain populations such as those with learning disabilities or requiring mental health services, for example).

The "wind-down" phase at work was very strange and surreal. I teetered between feeling sad about the closing and disappointment that I wouldn't be able to work at such a wonderful place. On a superficial level, I was upset that I wouldn't be able to look out onto one of the busiest corners of Toronto from the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows or walk up the steps of the subway station right in front of the building. The location was amazing - a constant reminder of what drew me to Toronto in the first place, the energy, diversity and excitement. I knew I would definitely miss being part of that.

Of course, on a grander scale, there were so many other things that I was going to miss like my lunch-hour walking partner, having fun with my co-workers, the wonderful women I met as clients (some of which, left as friends) and of course, the program itself - what it meant to me (as both a student and an employee).

I think I would be doing the program disrespect if I didn't pay homage to what my time there really meant. I felt like I had grown and learned so much by being there - personally and professionally. I gained confidence as a professional by uncovering my strengths, humbled as I discovered areas for growth, reinforced my passion for helping others, became aware of my own personal boundaries and found my voice as an Employment Counsellor. It was really quite a validating experience which was incredibly rewarding and rich. I'm just grateful that I was fortunate enough to be a part of such a special program.

And now...what's next? I'll let you know. For now, take care and talk soon. xo