New Job, New Me?

       I will be changing jobs soon... still working for the same organisation with the same people, though my department, title and responsibilities are all changing come this next month.  I have been offered and accepted a new position in which I will be focusing on marketing and providing administrative support to the various departments.  This switch may not be an easy one.  I am not sure how quickly I will learn my new tasks and feel comfortable in this new role.  The past three years have been spent providing customer service and support to this wonderful non-profit and honestly I have not done much else other than customer service in my employed life.  I'm sure I will do fine, even if I don't know something right away I work with an awesome team of people and we are all quite good at helping each other along.  I really should not be worried about my capabilities.
       My initial reaction was to ignore the opening completely because this position is specifically administrative work, not customer service which I have always done.  I struggled with my decision, talked to co-workers, family and friends, prayed about it, thought my mind was made up over and over again... it was quite a battle within.  Finally I decided to apply for the job when my sister told me to "just do it, it's an opportunity to do something new!".  Though new things normally terrify me and I try to avoid changes, when put into those words I realized maybe the only reason I should go for it was because it was something new, fresh and exciting.  So I applied, was interviewed (a complete nervous wreck!) and was offered the job.  I accepted.
       Since the interview I have been questioning myself.  Not second guessing or regretting my decision, not even necessarily questioning my abilities, just wondering why I decided I needed the change.  My conclusion is a tangled web.  My heart is and always will be, with the people I serve.  The people who "fall through the cracks" of society, the volunteers who have no one else to talk to, the families who see us as their only safe haven.  My heart is for these people and I am a bit sad to know I will not be working as closely with them on a daily basis.  Having said that, I am excited about my new position.  I am glad (though scared,) to be going outside of my comfort zone and expanding on my knowledge of our organisation.  I am ecstatic to be working for one of the sweetest, most caring and helpful women I have ever met, and almost cannot wait to start being her "right hand man".
       Why would someone like me, shy, cautious, easy-going, want to go so far outside my safe zone and work in a department so different from what I am used to?  Why would I put myself through the mind-blowing stress of the application and interview process when I already have a good job that I love?  Why rock the boat when I have the perfect schedule, a fantastic supervisor and awesome co-workers?
       As I have pondered these questions the past couple of weeks I've come to a realization... my current position is good, I love the people, I love my hours, I believe in our mission.  My current position though is basically the same type of work I have been doing for the last 10 or so years, customer service and help desk.  There comes a time in everyone's life when they must choose between the same and the new, the familiar and the unknown, the current good and the new better.  I surprised myself this time, I chose the new... and I'm glad.