JUNE

It’s been a month.

It’s been ONE month.

Wow. How do I find words to describe the month of June? To date, June of 2019 was the best month of my life.

June 1st was the best DAY of my life. I married my best friend. The man who has been by my side for basically eight years. The man who doesn’t judge me for any of my quirks, moods and indecisiveness. The man who encourages and supports me, no matter what. This man’s name is Michael, and I married him one month ago… TODAY.

After June 1st was over, we spent the next week hiking in the Smoky Mountains and enjoying our time in Gatlinburg, TN. We spent the week reminiscing about our wedding and how beautiful it was, not believing that it was already over. We then traveled back to our home in Washington the following weekend. It was crazy that I didn’t have to go back to “my house” in Morton with my parents (it’s still weird).

Unfortunately June 10th came around, and we had to get back to work. Mike headed back to Roanoke where he works at CloudPoint Geographics, and I headed back to my job at the Apostolic Christian Home of Eureka. This was a busy week for me. As the director of the memory care unit, I had to present at an all-staff in-service that occurred three times throughout the week. Sure, if I didn’t have a wedding to plan, I probably would have been on top of things and had my presentation prepared weeks in advance. But that didn’t happen. On top of preparing for this presentation, the week of June 10th was actually my last week working as the director. Yep.. that’s right. Not only did I get married in June, but I quit my job in June, as well. WHAT WAS I THINKING??

When people found out that I put my notice in, they all asked me “where are you headed?” or “Why are you leaving?” That was a really hard answer for me. I have never been the person to just quit without a reason. And although I did have a reason, it didn’t seem valid for me because I didn’t have a job to say that I was heading to. On June 14th, I packed up my office and worked my last shift as the director, and to say that I was relieved is an understatement. Although it was a great job right out of college and provided me with many experiences, it was NOT the job for me. The amount of stress and anxiety that it made me feel day and night really took it’s toll (which is a story for another time).

SO. The week of June 17th comes along. I’m unemployed. What am I doing?

That’s where this blog comes in!! June 17th, 2019 was the very first day of my new beginning (it’s funny that it happens to be on the 17th, which is a very popular number in my life!). As many or most of you know, I went to school for music therapy. I passed my board certification exam in April of 2018. Did I do anything with it?

No.

Central Illinois is a pit when it comes to music therapy. There are very few therapists in the Peoria area and very few locations that hire music therapists. Moving is not an option for me right now, so why wait for something to happen down the line when you can make something happen now? Or at least start.

June 17th was the first day that I became my own boss and the day that I really started focusing on establishing myself as a music therapist. I made phone calls, started working on a website, made business cards and started advocating for myself. FINALLY!

Two full weeks have passed since then and today, July 1st, I am officially announcing my tiny business - NOTE BY NOTE MUSIC THERAPY.

There is A LOT to do, BUT I have a website, business cards, a Facebook page and Instagram, AND I have clients (which is probably the most important part lol). I will be serving the Peoria/Morton/Washington/Eureka/Bloomington areas in several different settings including memory care units, schools, hospices, crisis and trauma centers, and schools for individuals with Autism.

My goal for July and the continuing months is to advocate for music therapy in more settings and to add more clients to my schedule. I also have not done anything that relates to the legalities of owning a business, which is also on the to-do list.

SO… the point of this blog (they will not always be this long).

I want my peers to know what I’m doing with my life. I want current and future music therapists to see what it’s like to create your own business. I want to be honest and share the successes and the difficulties that come my way. I hope to inspire music therapists to not give up when it gets difficult. We have a TOUGH field where we constantly have to advocate for ourselves, and I want you to know that I’m here to support you, as well.

With all this being said, June has been a wonderful month and has really changed my life. I am so excited to see what happens in my marriage and my business, and I can’t wait to share with you what comes next!

This is also the launch of my website and Facebook page! Please follow me on both Facebook ( @notebynoteMT) and Instagram ( @notebynote_MT)