My Anniversary

I love an anniversary, and today I just so happen to be celebrating one. It's my six month anniversary at SB. Although my official start date was Sept. 29, my boss and publisher Mike Whitehead wanted to treat me to something special today. We lunched at the Cambridge Club, and I even had dessert. 

I've learned a lot in the past six months, both work related and not. First, it didn't take me long to learn that when you take a risk and shake things up in your life, things get better. I will be honest, I absolutely loved my last job as entertainment editor for The Times. I made wonderful friends there, many of whom I stay in close contact with, so when I got in my car on my last day at The Times, I cried my eyes out. I don't like change and I was freaking out, saying to myself, "Stephanie, you idiot! What have you just done!"

But the risk rendered many rewards. I have a great job, as one person said, "How old are you? You're kind of young to be an editor, right?" I'm 27, and I'm helping guide and run a magazine. Day to day, when you're moving one task at a time, that doesn't feel like a big deal but it really is a privilege.

Second, if you know anything about the newspaper industry, things aren't going well. People often say, "You got out at the right time." Maybe that's how some people see it. I'm just happy to have never taken a furlough.

Another thing I think about quite often is the personal benefits this job has brought to my life. I've always been one of those people who worked to live, not lived to work. I work hard, but I enjoy having a life outside of the office. Before, my job and personal life were intermixed. I would go to concerts, but had to write a review at the end of the night. I could go to a friend's birthday party, but I'd need to write a column about it. It's nice to be able to reserve special times for my inner circle. I get off work around 5 p.m. most days. I go to concerts just to have fun. I enjoy time with friends and don't have to milk a column out of it. 

This job has brought a lot of good to my life. There's a sense of balance. I have time to exercise, cook, watch TV and do a multitude of things I love. There's more of me to share at the end of the day and more people to share it with. 

Just as with any job, sometimes there is stress and hardship. But even considering that, as I've gone through the day and thought over the past six months, I'm proud of the twists and turns life has taken. I feel like I'm a better person, and part of that is the decision I made six months ago. That's something to celebrate.