For years, I spent my days sitting at a desk surrounded by case files, wondering if there was more to this thing called life.

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Days turned to weeks and weeks into years as my 9-5 routine remained the same. There is comfort in the familiar, and for a long time, that comfort overshadowed my drive and passion.

Until it didn't.

I remember one specific session with my therapist where we discussed my internal struggle between playing it safe and risking it all to pursue my dreams.

The one thing that truly stuck with me was when she said I was trying to fit a circle into a square working in my current environment.

Not even a month after that appointment, I quit my 9-5 job and plunged headfirst into the unknown.

I was granted a credential to cover the New Jersey Devils for the 2021-22 season, and what has followed has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Naturally, there have been highs and lows, and self-doubt consistently creeps in as I navigate this new world that does not include courthouses and judges.

So many lessons have been learned, but I would not have experienced any of them if it was not for you. The ones who read my stories, follow along on this beautiful journey and interact with me daily across multiple platforms.

When I wrote my first story, I had 82 followers on Twitter - yes, it will always be Twitter -. Growth does not happen overnight, and while I have never been concerned with the number of followers or likes I had, it has been astounding to gradually see more and more of you choose to follow along.

Being in the press box and the locker room is a privilege. Telling someone else's story is an honor. Every day I step foot into the rink, whether for a practice or a game, it is a humbling experience that I don't take for granted.

Thank you for your support over the past few seasons. It means the world to me that you have accepted and trusted me to cover this team of kind and talented players.

Happy Thanksgiving!

- Kristy Flannery

PS: I need to specifically thank Dawson Mercer for never missing a hockey game since the start of his NHL career. Our hockey journeys have coincided, and thanks to him, I know I have covered 271 consecutive NHL games as a credentialed media member, something 25-year-old Kristy never thought would have been possible.

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