Rising Into Leadership

If you've noticed I've been a little quiet lately, there's a good reason for it.

For the past couple of weeks, I've been learning the ropes of my new position as Housekeeping Manager at the Exeter Inn. Between the excitement, the responsibility, and simply trying to find my new routine, blogging has taken a temporary back seat.

The funny thing is, this promotion has been years in the making. What looks like a new title on paper is actually the result of two and a half years of hard work, perseverance, growth, and overcoming some of the hardest seasons of my life.

So today, I wanted to share why this promotion means so much to me.

More Than a Promotion

Two and a half years ago, I walked through the doors of the Exeter Inn as a housekeeper.

Three months later, I was promoted to Housekeeping Supervisor.

At the time, I was proud of myself, but I had no idea how much this place would become intertwined with my life and my journey.

What many people don't know is that during the beginning of my separation and divorce, Hunter and I actually lived at the Inn for nearly ten months. During one of the most difficult periods of my life, these walls became more than a workplace—they became a safe place.

The Inn saw me through heartbreak, uncertainty, fear, and rebuilding.

It saw me leave work exhausted and emotionally drained.

It saw me show up anyway.

It saw me cry.

It saw me laugh.

It saw me survive.

For most of my time as a supervisor, I worked under leadership that made coming to work something many of us dreaded. There were days when it felt like no matter how hard we worked, it wasn't enough. Days when morale was low and stress was high.

But through it all, I kept showing up.

Not because it was easy.

Because I cared.

I cared about the Inn.

I cared about the guests.

I cared about my team.

I cared about creating an environment where people felt supported and appreciated.

Two weeks ago, something incredible happened.

I was promoted to Housekeeping Manager.

To some people, it might just look like a job title.

To me, it represents every challenge I've overcome over the past few years.

It represents every room cleaned, every problem solved, every long day, every difficult conversation, every obstacle that tried to convince me I wasn't capable.

What has meant the most to me, though, has been the reaction from my team.

The excitement.

The support.

The relief.

So many people have told me how happy they are that I'm now leading the department. They've told me they're excited to come to work. They've told me they feel hopeful about the future.

And honestly, hearing that means more to me than the promotion itself.

Because leadership isn't about having authority.

It's about creating an environment where people feel valued, respected, and empowered to do their best work.

I never want anyone on my team to dread coming into work the way I once did.

I want people to feel heard.

I want them to feel appreciated.

I want them to know that we're all working together toward the same goal.

The Exeter Inn has been more than a workplace for me.

It has been a second home.

It has witnessed some of the darkest chapters of my story, but it has also been there for some of my greatest victories.

This promotion isn't the end of the journey.

It's the beginning of a new chapter.

And for the first time in a long time, I am truly excited to see what comes next.

Sometimes the greatest victories aren't the ones everyone sees.

Sometimes they're the moments when you look back at everything you've survived and realize you've become the person you once needed.

And that's exactly how this promotion feels.