Baby Nora is three months old …
... and today is my first day back at the office.
I'm not the same person I was twelve weeks ago. My belly is softer. My boundaries are stronger. My brain melted down into milky-goo, whirled into a chrysalis, reformed, and new ideas are
bursting forth.
It's time to begin
again.
In the weeks leading up to this moment, I've felt every possible emotion. Excitement and optimism. Nervousness and doubt. A bittersweet longing for time to slow down.
I have worried, "What
will happen once maternity leave ends?" "What if my baby cries all day when I'm at the office and won't accept a bottle?" "What if I miss her too much and can't bear to be away?" "What if I feel like a
sleep-deprived zombie and can't perform at the level I used to?" "What if I've lost my edge?"
I have a wise friend who recently turned 50 and has two kids of her own. She's someone I turn to whenever I'm facing a big life transition and need a few words of encouragement.
She reassured me, “Your greatest work is still ahead of you. Not behind you.”
(I know she means every kind of work, not just the type that happens in front of a computer screen.)
The best is yet to come. In more ways than one.
I’m holding onto this idea as I move into what’s next.
And so, here's to a new chapter. It's going to be demanding and surprising.
It's going to be sweet and miraculous. It's going to be all the things ... and I'll continue to share the journey with you.
Thank you for reading, friends.
Onward we go!