The Writing and Photography Blog of Kevin J Sabo

I know I said I was backing off my mental health posts, but this has been on my mind for a bit and the new information kind of pushed it over the edge as far as writing it.

Where to even begin?

To describe the last few weeks as eventful is a drastic understatement; that’s not a bad thing.

June was jam-packed with events to cover in both Stettler and Castor, some of which I still need to write up. Then, to close out the month, I ended up spending five days in Ponoka covering their annual Stampede. Fortunately, I had a couple days of downtime off this week, followed by two half-days working today and tomorrow.

Lynn and I were joking that I was spending a week in Ponoka and it wasn’t at the hospital; it definitely speaks volumes for how far I have come. Aside from being totally mentally and physically rung out by the time I finished my work trip, I had a blast and look forward to it next year; I’m only hoping I can get a hotel a little closer. This year I was commuting back and forth from Wetaskiwin, which while not bad still wasn’t ideal.

Other areas of work continue to evolve as well. With some shifting responsibilities around all the weekly papers, I have been, provisionally, appointed as editor of a third paper, the Bashaw Star, effective tomorrow. However, instead of throwing me into it without a life jacket, management has opted to give me a trial over the summer to see how things go. If things go well, and I’m not overwhelmed, I let my publisher know and the switch becomes permanent in September. If I find it to be too much, I also let the publisher know and other options are figured out for the publication, no harm, no foul. It sounds like unless I completely botch it – yeah, right – management is leaving it completely in my hands as to whether or not I hang onto it.

On the plus side, it is a smaller paper; on average only eight pages. On the minus side of the ledger, it is more responsibility for me to spread myself around. Still, talking with my publisher and the regional editor about it and ideas I have for the role and how to handle it I don’t see any reason why things won’t be successful.

All that said, it does make me happy with the decision I made to drop down to one course after I get my current courses finished. To that end, I finished the final essay for the English course and am starting the process of reviewing before the exam, which I’m hoping to take near the end of the month. I’ve still been doing some work on my Biology course as well, but it has taken a bit of a backseat as I do this final push for my English course.

I look at the progression life has taken me on over the last few years, and I am, in all honesty, in awe.

When I left the ambulance in 2013, I was a shell. Most of the following decade can best be described as a living hell. My mental health was at an all-time low, self-harm was chronic and suicide crept closer and closer to the forefront of my mind. My confidence was shot. My self-worth was shot. I honestly didn’t know that I would ever find a way out.

Despite the fire starting to go out, the spark refused to die; I did the work that was set before me by my doctors and therapists and found the right medications. The fire was rekindled and now burns as bright as it did when I worked in the ambulance service, if not brighter. I know I didn’t get here alone; I’m grateful for my team of healthcare professionals and for those that took a risk on me. Without them, I never would have had the opportunities that I have found along the way.

Even the opportunities afforded me over the last eighteen months that I’ve been on staff blow my mind. I’ve had the opportunity to cover a significant court case, the Ponoka Stampede twice, and a variety of other local events. I’m given the opportunity to tell stories that matter to the public and to the community and in doing so I have found a confidence and voice I had thought long lost.

With everything that’s happened so far, I can only imagine what is yet to come.

Thanks for following along.

Kevin