People come and people go.
Sometimes welcomed and sometimes not.
While it’s nice having a change of staff every now and then, it takes its toll when you have to say goodbye to colleagues who are more like family than work acquaintances.
The boss surprised us last week with the (very unexpected) news that deputy editor Tyla Harrington has taken up the position of news editor at Shepparton News.
And while I’m extremely proud of, and excited for, her I am feeling very sorry for myself.
It came as such a shock to me that I ended up a blubbering mess. Quite embarrassing really. I had to retreat to the bathroom to cry it all out before walking out with my face so red and blotchy, I could have terrified a shark.
My reputation as a cold-hearted ice queen was basically ruined in an instant.
I guess that’s how you know someone has really made an impact on you.
And Tyla certainly has.
Coming to the Riv in 2015 as a wide-eyed 21-year-old from the Deniliquin Pastoral Times, she quickly worked her way up from digital journo to editor of Bella magazine and deputy editor of the Riv in just a few short years. Thanks not only to her smarts, but her temperament.
Never in my 20-plus years career have I experienced such a cool, calm and composed leader in such a highly stressful and deadline-oriented industry.
When I’m climbing the walls waiting for that all-important phone call, she’s the one pulling me down; when I have five stories due in an hour, she’s the one telling me I can do it; when I’m thinking of writing that strongly worded email or message, she’s the one advising me against it; when I have left my car in the parking bay for too long, she reminds me to move it (on occasion not early enough); and when I walk into work after a morning of absolute chaos with the girls, she’s the one filling me up with chocolate.
I’m going to be a mess without her.
I guess the good to come from all of this is having the opportunity to work with such great people.
I have been so lucky to be in a workplace where my colleagues are my friends. Which makes coming to work a joy.
That doesn’t happen very often.
And as much as I like to say I love and embrace change, I don’t always.
It’s human nature to become attached to people and comfortable in a certain job or career, so when that changes, it can be emotional and a little scary.
Although Tyla assures me she won’t be too far away — just an hour’s drive and with the same company — I’m not sure she would appreciate me calling her every hour when my life is falling apart.
I guess I can only try, right?
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