Thirty-five Years with the Vermont Humanities Council
After thirty-five years delivering literature-based humanities programs to new adult readers, parenting teens, incarcerated women and men, healthcare workers and lifelong learners, I turned in my resignation to the Vermont Humanities Council yesterday.
Okay, I’ll say it: I retired.
Ouch. I didn’t expect it to hurt, but it does.
My job as a Visiting Scholar was always one of intermittent gigs, often one-offs, though for a while I was developing and delivering six-week to six-month reading and writing courses. Even though I didn’t see my cohort of other Visiting Scholars very often, I like being part of a something bigger than deborahleeluskin.com. But what I loved most of all was working for an organization whose core mission is so close to my own. VHC seeks to engage all Vermonters in the world of ideas, foster a culture of thoughtfulness, and inspire a lifelong love of reading and learning. Mine is to advance issues through narrative and tell stories to create change.
And Still Working
While I’ve retired from the Vermont Humanities Council, I haven’t stopped working. I’m still teaching, but I’m not driving all over the state to do so, and I’m writing with more purpose and focus than ever before. I expect to continue these activities for as long as writers seek my tutelage and my word retrieval holds up.
If I’m still working, I haven’t really retired, have I? I’ve just changed jobs.
COME WRITE WITH ME!
The Fifth Annual Writing to the Light Writing Circle will be held remotely on Friday, December 31, 2021 and in-person on Sunday, January 2, 2022 – both from 1-3 EST.
Free – Donations to the Moore Free Library gladly accepted. Learn more and register here.
Congrats on a milestone, closing a chapter, re-dedicating your personal mission. Appreciate all that you do!
Oh but selfish me doth protest this since I have prospered under your tutelage (trying on some Shakespeare?????)
Then the you go girl, best wishes surfaces along with some Mazel Tov. Carry on, enjoy!!!
Moving on to the next step. Hard to leave, but so much to look forward to.
Life is full of opportunities to experience a metamorphosis. 🙏🏼✨Enjoy your new and lovely journey. 🥰💞
Good luck in whatever you do Deb! I remember your lecture on getting from here to there in VT and still think of it. Hugs from a great fan!
Congratulations and welcome to the retirement community Deb!
I’ve followed your site when I began blogging and writing as an aspiring author.
I wish you the best in all you seek as an author and academic. Stay safe, healthy, and continue your amazing journey. 🙂
Like you, Deb, I’m never sure how to answer the question during registration for medical tests at the hospital, “Are you retired?” I always say, “Semi-retired,” since I have several part-time jobs. Language is inadequate to describe this state of being out of the regular job market but not yet out to pasture.