One thing is always consistent….CHANGE!

As I have entered (albeit, stumbled into with the grace of an elephant juggling plates on a tightrope) the adult world, one thing has been consistent.

That is change.

Change has been, pretty much the only thing that has been consistent in my life for the past year or so. And how crazy is that? Change comes in many shapes and forms. It can be good, it can be bad, heck, it can even be neutral.

What’s the change for today?

Well, my dear reader, this is the last blog that I will be writing for the esteemed Mission Milspouse. Yes, I know, I can’t believe it either. Why is this a particularly tough change for a stubborn, young bull like myself to wrap my thick skull around?

Well, I have been collaborating with MM for over two years now. I know, maybe that’s not as long as some others, but for a young and aspiring writer like myself, this connection particularly means a lot to me.

When I started working with MM, I was working with them through another organization, and I was so green to this whole blog-writing gig. I was honestly so nervous that I would write something that wouldn’t fit with the aesthetic or audience of the organization.

I think it’s safe to say, that two years later, I fit the bill just fine. Writing for MM was honestly like reuniting with an old friend.

I wrote a blog every month, and I developed a nice little regimen for myself as I went. At the end of every month, I would come up with a blog post, and while it started out feeling like work, it grew to be an incredible outlet.

I loved writing for MM because I could always tie it into some self-help, or mental health-related subject. It became such a relaxing activity for me, and I would look forward to it. I really owe this platform a lot.

When I started writing for MM, back in March 2023, I was at a very interesting place in my life. It was an incredibly formative time in my life. I had a lot going on in my personal life, and I was trying to find what kind of person I was.

I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a living, but I started pursuing English. I changed my major, I wrote for my college’s newspaper, and then I got this gig. Every month, I had a test of my writing ability, and it was great. I loved it.

Like I said, I remember being very nervous, but also excited to be given this opportunity.

Back then, over two years ago, I was debating if this was what I wanted to do. Write. And now, after all the blogs about mental health, healing, and interpersonal relationships, I have found that answer. And then some.

I fell in love with writing. I believe it is my purpose to write, and MM helped me come to that realization. 

I owe this organization, and all the wonderful people at it, so much. I would like to especially thank Kathleen Palmer. I have been sending her my blogs via email all this time, and she is nothing but the best.

Kathleen, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

And to my audience, that, saw me, as well as my writing, evolve throughout these two years, I can’t thank you all enough. It is with an incredibly heavy heart I say goodbye to MM. But this is not the end!

There is the Veteran’s Spouse Project, a legacy site with all our previous work.

As for myself? 

Well, like I mentioned, there’s always been a ton of change in my life, especially as of late. I’ve been at a new job in Manhattan for the past couple of months that I’ve been loving. I’ve been writing every day for all of my blogs and websites. I’m at five right now, I know, and that’s just including the ones that I own!

If you would like to follow my writing (since I will not stop anytime soon), please check out my newsletter.

My newsletter has links to all of my other blogs and is a good jumping-on point. Darn, I hate it when things end. But alas, such is life! What a beautiful journey I have had with MM, and I will always be eternally grateful. It’s your favorite melodramatic, poetic waxer, signing off!

Take care MM!

*Written by Nicolas Scagnelli

Nick is a student and a writer at Binghamton University ’24. He has supported the military spouse community through his position with various non-profits to include Defenders of Resilience. 

He can be reached at nicolasscagnelli@gmail.com or can be accessed through his Personal Blog or his Professional Blog.  For more blogs like this, visit our HOMEPAGE.

Editor’s Note: MM appreciates the insights and professionalism Nick has gifted us with over the past two years. We wish him the best, and we will be ready to say…”We knew him when”…… Good luck and KEEP WRITING!