No emotion compares to desire. And this random thought occurred to me as I was driving down the road with my iPhone on shuffle. First, John Mayer's "Edge of Desire" came on and I cranked it up. What a sexy song right?
Who hasn't felt that or wanted to feel that - giving up all reason to have someone you love lie next to you. It made me think about the things we do in the name of desire. It makes your heart flutter to feel it, whether it's for a lover or for a new future.
Desire is what moves us forward - wanting and needing something so bad it consumes your life. When I lie down to sleep I dream about where I want my life to go. When I have my mind made up on something I want I seldom waiver.
The next song on my iPhone? "Desire" by Ryan Adams; another hauntingly beautiful song about wanting something out of reach.
"With no secrets. No obsession. This time I'm speeding with no direction. Without a reason. What is this fire? Burning slowly. My one and only. Desire" - Ryan Adams
Desire is what life is all about. The last time I posted on my blog - about a year and a half ago - I was about to begin my master's degree program online because I had a desire to push myself forward in my career. That one decision has taken me further than I could have ever imagined. A few months into my program, I was offered a job at Navarre Press, a weekly newspaper in the Florida Panhandle. I took it because it was clear I had hit a plateau in Clayton.
The new job took me closer to my mom and sister and gave me and Matt a new chapter in our lives outside the comfort and monotony of Georgia. Everything worked out perfectly - we found a place, Matt got transferred to Destin and my family helped us move all our belongings in July 2011. I worked my ass off as a new reporter in a new city while also working tirelessly on my master's degree in the evenings.
My job was not without its challenges - but by December I was promoted to assistant editor (even though there was no editor) and after a tragic editor hire in May, I was promoted to news editor. About the same time I completed my master's degree with honors, and more importantly, I have a capstone project that I am very proud of.
Working at Navarre Press has given me so much more experience in a fast-paced newsroom, updating the website, editing, designing and using social media. I've met some great people and who can complain about working next to the most beautiful beach in Florida? Matt and I have been steady - making our apartment a home and soaking up all the experiences we can together. We spent our second anniversary in New Orleans, where we haven't visited since our first spring break together in 2002.
But it was our summer vacation up to Georgia and Asheville, N.C., that would set a new desire into motion. We fell in love with Asheville - the mountains, the people, the music, the food and the lifestyle. Also with the birth of my brother's son - my first nephew - sparked my desire to be closer to my family while also preparing to start my own family.
We also made a stop in Waynesville - just outside Asheville - and walked around the bustling mountain downtown. I passed by the community newspaper office and thought how perfect it would be to be here. So without any reason or expectation - I sent my resume to that newspaper when I got home. A quick reply from the editor saying the paper had no openings put my desire on the back burner.
A few days after Election Day I received a phone call from a North Carolina area code and new immediately it was The Mountaineer in Waynesville. A few interviews and a visit later, I have a perfect opportunity awaiting me in Waynesville. A focus on social media and a No. 2 position in the newsroom with a very experienced editor.
Our next move is at the end of January. Desire has brought me to this point and will continue to push me in the right direction. So I'll leave you with one more "Desire" song.
