I quit. Well, almost.

I quit last month

Not officially, of course. It's remarkably difficult to resign when you're the editor, publisher, advertising salesperson and president of the company you're trying to quit.

I considered firing myself instead, but the publisher refused to approve the paperwork.

Some days, running a small newspaper feels like having five jobs and being equally behind at all of them. There is always another story, another email, another deadline and another person I worry I've let down. And when something slips through the cracks, as it recently did, I take it pretty hard.

But just when I start wondering what on earth I've gotten myself into, something happens that reminds me why I started.

Following our election forums, several people reached out to thank us for helping make them happen. A few candidates even told me that encouragement from this newspaper helped convince them to put their names forward.

I cannot adequately explain how much that meant. Seeing so many names on the ballots made me incredibly proud, and now, with an extraordinary number of candidates stepping forward for Old Massett council in December, I'm reminded again how much it matters when people feel encouraged to participate in their communities.

And then there are our contributors.

Some are accomplished writers whose work has reached audiences far beyond these islands. Others are sharing their writing publicly for the very first time. Some make me laugh out loud, some make me think, and others remind me how much there is to learn about the people and places around us.

I still find it remarkable that people with such talent and experience choose to share their words with this little newspaper. Equally remarkable are those who take a chance on us with their very first submission.

Every time something new lands in my inbox, I'm reminded that Haida Gwaii is overflowing with stories and people willing to tell them. My job is simply to make room for as many of those voices as I can. And truthfully, there are far more than I can keep up with.

Then there are the advertisers who gently remind me I haven't sent their invoices. Imagine running a business where customers have to chase you down to take their money.

By most conventional measures, I may be a terrible businessperson. I haven't made a dollar from this newspaper. Between printing costs and everything else, the financial pressure is real, and I know there are people in my field who would shake their heads at how I run things.

But I've never measured the success of Haida Gwaii News by what I take home.

We live in a time when people can be more connected to the world than ever and still feel disconnected from the people living next door. I want this newspaper to be one small place where that changes.

There are so many remarkable people, organizations and things happening across Haida Gwaii that I can barely keep up. I try, and I know I don't always succeed. But if one edition helps someone feel informed, inspires them to get involved or makes them feel a little more connected to their neighbours, I consider that a success.

I've said it before, and I mean it. As long as there's enough money in the account to pay the printing bill, I'll keep printing.

Thanks to patient advertisers, generous donations, dedicated contributors and the people who continue to pick up and read this paper, we're doing okay for a little while.

Some days I feel like I'm drowning in something I've created. But every two weeks, this community throws a little more life into it.

So, no, I'm not quitting.

Besides, Vince, our self-appointed associate publisher, says we have another edition to get out.