The last few days at Automattic have been… something else. The Alignment Offer has come and gone, and while we’ve had to say goodbye to some wonderful Automatticians, I am more committed than ever to our mission and the work we do.

Over the past few days, I couldn’t help but reflect on my journey with WordPress and Automattic, and the feeling that comes up again and again is a sense of deep gratitude. Back in 2006 or thereabouts, WordPress changed my life. I started a business that supported my young family, I co-founded the ABQ WordPress community, and eventually, I joined Automattic – a move that was truly life-changing for us.

This company has given me so much. My husband and I were able to homeschool our children while traveling the country (and beyond) with them. It’s taken me to places I never dreamed I’d visit and I’ve met incredible colleagues from around the world. I’ve seen over and over how our distributed work model changes lives. Talent is indeed distributed globally, even when opportunity isn’t.

At Automattic, I’ve had a hand in developing a revolutionary way of working. Transparency isn’t just a thing we give lip-service to – it’s the foundation of everything we do. We give and receive trust in equal measure. We lean into questioning the status quo, experimenting, iterating, making mistakes, fixing them, and always striving to find better ways to do what we do. We don’t get it right all the time, but we try.

I never considered the Alignment Offer. Of course, a lump sum of 6 months’ salary is going to be tempting. But there’s still so much good work to be done here. We are a smaller team now, but we’ll be stronger for it. I’m excited (and okay, a little scared) about what’s to come. But I know it will be good.

Change is scary, no doubt about it. Losing respected colleagues is tough. And I’m grateful they were all able to make their decisions from a position of strength, cushioned by a generous severance package. For those of us staying, as we mourn the loss, I hope there will be a renewed sense of purpose and alignment. I can see the signs of it already as I look across my colleagues and see them paving their own way through.

I love this place. I have good work to do. Mission. Impact. These aren’t just words – they’re the reason I’m here, the reason I’m staying. WordPress and Automattic have been transformative forces in my life, and I’m committed to paying that forward.

Here’s to the next chapter. There’s work to be done, and I’m ready for it.