Dear Lake Compounce... (A Love Letter)

Dear Lake Compounce,

At the time of this post I will be long gone. It's not you, it's me. You see, you have shown me the world but it is time for me to go out there and experience it for myself. You've done nothing wrong, trust me, this is the hardest decision I have ever made. While I love you more than anything, this is goodbye, we can never be together again. Except maybe for the occasional visit. 

But I want to say thank you for everything you have done for me. The last four years have brought forth a change in me that I can only credit to you. You have helped me gain so much confidence. You have taught me how to be a better person and a stronger manager. You have taught me patience and understanding. You have allowed me to work amongst roller coasters, and carnival games, and guests from all over the world. You gave me the opportunity to take something that was broken and work with a fantastic team to turn it around. You have put me in some of the weirdest situations that I have gotten to problem solve my way out of.

Not only that but, you have introduced me to the most amazing group of people I have ever met.

I have had some of the most amazing managers, both my own and those from other departments that I have worked with. They are understanding and yet push me to be better. They talk to guests in a way that amazes me and drives me to learn to communicate better. They have taught me the basics of both guest service and business management. I now strive to embody traits from all of them.

I have managed the most incredible team members. They have tested my patience and helped me understand the true meaning of compassion. They have amazed me with their own patience and dedication. They have made me laugh even on the most difficult days. Together we have grown and shaped the Admissions department and I could not be more proud of them.

I have made the most fantastic friends. They support me no matter what. They have no shame, and don’t care if we walk down the sidewalk crazy or talk about strange things in public. They understand me like no one else does. I have completely fallen in love with their laughs. From the silent laugh where I look over and just see their bright red face, the tears streaming down their face, their whole body quivering; to the rolling on the floor, guffawing laugh, to the snaughle. Their laughs have lifted me up and filled me with joy.

All of these people make me feel whole. They make me feel like nothing can ever go wrong in the world, like I can fly. They give me strength and happiness and fill me with wonder and knowledge and creativity. They make me smile.

I ask myself why I am leaving you. When I am any other place I feel empty and lost, like something is missing. When I am among these people I feel the most incredible joy. I never laugh as hard anywhere else. 

But the thing is, I need to build my life in the place that I want to be for the rest of my life and sadly, you are not there. I pray that I find a place just as special as you are, filled with people who light up my life like these do.

I know that in my absence you will continue to grow and evolve, to make changes without me. It saddens me to know that I will not get to be apart of these things that will make you into something better, but I know it is necessary. I look forward to the days I can visit you and see the wonderful things that have occurred without me.

Although I am not a fan of on-off relationships, I hope that if, one day, the universe decides that our world will collide again that you will welcome me back with open arms. I know I will do the same for you. Deep down inside me I can feel that our journey isn’t over yet, but now is not the time for it to continue.

I wish you the best. That you find peace amongst any storms, and that you continue to thrive. You have been a place of sanctuary for me and I will never forget that. There will always be a place in my heart for you. I will miss you more than you can understand, so much that it already hurts.

Please let the people know that they mean the world to me. That without them I would be nothing and that I honestly owe the person I am to everything they have ever taught me and given me.

Thank you for a fabulous, shenanigans filled four years. Thank you for the memories. 

Lauren