MilliGFunk Hiking in Colorado
I’m nervous, excited and sad to share with you the news that my years of blogging from rural Missouri have come to an end. On August 21st, I’ll be leaving my one-room cabin in rural Missouri to begin a new phase in my life and my career in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
After nearly seven years of work in nonprofit marketing and communications in the United States and abroad, I’ve accepted an offer outside of the nonprofit sector with The CSK Group – a strategic marketing agency in Colorado Springs. I will begin my new position on August 29th.
Spending the last 2.5 years in rural Missouri was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. In addition to professional achievements as the Marketing Director for YMCA Trout Lodge & Camp Lakewood, I’ve accomplished a lot personally. I’ve strengthened my relationship with my parents, I’ve reconnected with old friends and classmates, and I’ve been given the unique opportunity to explore the places near my hometown in context of the broader worldviews my career has offered.
I’ve been lucky that St. Louis was a social-media literate community in the early years of twitter, location-based social media, QR coding, and now Google +. I started my twitter account, @MilliGFunk, just before leaving Brooklyn, as part of an experiment in whether social technologies could help me feel connected to my friends in other cities.
The results of my experiment were more successful than I ever could have imagined, not only helping me stay connected to old friends, but making it possible for me to quickly network with some of the smartest, most creative, and in many cases most professional people I know in St. Louis. All of this, despite the fact that I’ve lived nearly 80 miles from the city.
I am sincerely going to miss the community I’ve found and the friends I’ve made in St. Louis. Thank you for supporting me as @MilliGFunk, as A Small Town Girl, and as Melissa. My journey over these last few years has been rich, challenging, and deeply fulfilling.
I’m so glad that I embraced rural Missouri and all that it offered me. I hope that wherever your life takes you – whatever ups and downs you experience – you’ll embrace what you have and enjoy the moments that you’re given. It’s amazing how quickly time passes, and it’s a great feeling to move forward with no regrets.
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I’m so happy for you, Melissa. We’ll miss you, but I’m sure you’ll develop a new community of friends in CO while we continue to stay in touch on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Good luck with this next phase of your life.
Congratulations! While I’m sad to see our “neck of the woods” lose such a great talent, I will enjoy watching you embark on a new adventure. I know your positive attitude and approach to life will serve you well in your new job and as you meet new friends.
Thank you Nick! I’m looking forward to taking the next step in my career, and also to visiting St. Louis several times each year to see family and friends here. Let’s be sure to connect tomorrow at Word Camp STL!
Jennifer, thank you for the kind words and support. It’s a scary thing to start over again in a new city, but I’m thrilled with the opportunity to try working in a new area of marketing!
You’re an incredible person! Smart, hard working and generous. Congratulations!!!!!!
Now when can we come over?!
Keep us posted.
Todd
Wow, a new adventure for you! You will be missed!
Looking forward to sharing your new adventure in words and pictures.
It has been a pleasure getting to know you.
The CSK Group are very lucky people!
They will soon get to know the joys of having you as a friend and then some.
Best of luck in the next part of your life’s journey.
Oh Melissa. We’ve had this talk. In fact, we had this talk long before today. Selfishly, I’m sad to see you go because I know that it’s not just me that will be saying goodbye to you. But its not about me, or them. You’ve made an indelible mark on the hearts of social media geeks ion St. Louis. And now, it’s time for others to share in your creative spirit, warm soul and beautiful nature. I too over the last 4 years have had to say goodbye to close friends. You were there when we celebrated for @chinacat as she moved on to her next chapter. I will hug you tightly and wish you well on your new adventure but there will be no goodbye. Thank you for all of our good times, not just you and I but with my girls too. I hope to see you soon before you leave.
Melissa, you are a bright star and we will miss you! Nerdstrong! Be well and take care!
Congratulations and best wishes on your new job and your move. Colorado Springs is a fantastic city, and how beautiful! We will miss you in Missouri, but look forward to hearing about your mile high adventures out west. Boy are they going to love your boots! Will we be hearing from Rocky Mountain Girl’s Guide?
Congratulations to you! Colorado is a beautiful state – you’ll have much to explore there. They are lucky to have you! Best wishes to you as you start the next chapter of your life!
Best of luck. I got altitude sickness in CO Springs years ago and was surprisingly cold 4th of July weekend. Would be very nice to be a little chilly this summer.
I’m sure we will still see u on twitter.
Enjoy ur new adventure!!
Thank you very much, Todd!
Sharon, you’re so sweet. Thanks so much for leaving me such a nice comment.
Dave, you know that I’ll miss you and your girls, too. Thanks for being such a good friend and seeing me through some rough spots in my transition to St. Louis. We’ll definitely stay in touch through Facebook and Twitter.
Nerdstrong! Yes! I’m so glad I got to meet you in person this summer. Thanks for the great comment!
Kim, Thank you so much. Colorado Springs is, indeed, beautiful, and I’m looking forward to starting the next phase of my life and career there. We’ll see how A Small Town Girl’s Guide adapts, but rest assured, it will definitely live on.
Good luck to you! Colorado is beautiful and I’ve met some great people from there on Twitter…I’ll connect you! Can’t wait to read more about your new adventures.
Melissa, It was great to see you at Wordcamp and hear more about your exciting job. Aaaah Colorado! Sounds like you have a wonderful future waiting for you in a beautiful destination. The advantage of social media is you’re only a Tweet away! Enjoy your new adventure!
Congratulations and good luck to you. Thanks for leading the way with social networking media here in MO.
Sad to see you leave, but CONGRATS! And I love Colorado Springs!
Thank you Danielle! Be sure to stay in touch. We’ll have a nice spare room when you want to visit the Springs
Thank you so much! I’m glad we met, and I hope to see you on the 12th at Bridge!
Thanks Caren! It was a nice surprise to see you there, and I’ll look forward to tweeting with you even after I move away from St. Louis!
Thanks so much, Elissa!
I’ve been off the grid for a few days and am just now reading this amazing news! What a change for you!! Lucky that you are a woman who flourishes in change, challenge, growing, learning…in experiencing The New. We are thrilled for you, and are quite certain you will enjoy CO to the fullest. CONGRATULATIONS!!!