Leaving is always hard to do.

Whether it’s leaving home for another town or leaving a job for another job.

Over the past 14 months, I’ve left my hometown of 23 years and changed jobs once after working for the same newspaper for six years.

Monday, I’ll start another chapter in my journalism career as I report to Luverne for my new job as editor of The Luverne Journal.

After seven years in the sports world, it’s going to be different sitting in cool council chambers instead of what I’m accustomed to, hot, smelly locker rooms. Luckily I’ve got six years of experience covering city governments in Birmingham.

As in any newspaper job, I’m used to wearing many hats. How do you think I’ve got government experience? I was sports editor and covered two municipalities before coming to the Camellia City.

I will admit that I was a little nervous, okay, I was really nervous when I moved to Greenville. In fact, I didn’t jump on the job right away.

I asked my current boss to hold on and let me think it over for a day. It wasn’t that I didn’t want the opportunity to experience new people at a new job, but I was scared of leaving what I have become accustomed to.

Now that I live in Greenville, when I travel home to Birmingham, other than my momma’s cooking or my father’s to-do list, I don’t feel at home. My home is now Greenville.

The opportunity for me to advance within Greenville Newspapers, LLC. was brought to my attention and I was once again left between a rock and a hard place.

After much debating, my wife and I decided that the move would be best for my career and our future. And to tell you the truth I’m looking forward to calling another place home.

Although my heart will always reside in Gardendale, Greenville will be a place I know I’ll be able to visit and not worry about feeling like an outsider.

The coaches throughout Butler County have been a big help throughout the past year and made sure I always had what I needed to better serve the readers of the Camellia City.

I will miss all the friendships I’ve built with the coaches and the countless times we’ve cut up with each other. Believe it or not, I’ll miss all of them picking at me. It always assured me that they felt the same about me as I did them.

I’ve met several friends outside of the sports world. Friends that have confided in me, encouraged me and helped me continue shooting for the stars. Whenever I was down, they picked me up, dusted me off and encouraged me to keep grinding away.

I don’t need to mention any names, you know who you are.

I won’t be moving to Luverne for another six months in order to get better acclimated with the area and find a home for my wife and I to reside.

Luckily for me, Luverne’s only a hop, skip and a jump from Greenville. I’ll be visiting often, as I hope they will as well.

Greenville, thanks for your hospitality.

Adam Prestridge is sports editor of The Greenville Advocate. He can be reached at 382-3111, ext. 122 or by e-mail: adam.prestridge@greenvilleadvocate.com