At the end of 2012, I decided 2013 would be a new year for me. A year that I became brave again and actually pursued the opportunities and adventures that I wanted to pursue.
Working in a cubicle can make you lazy. Not just I-sit-and-type-all-day lazy, but mentally lazy, even your dreams became lazy. This was the effect on me, anyway. I retreated into my 6 x 6 space and stayed in this safe zone. I stopped writing independently and quickly found myself working, going to the gym, and then sleeping, a less-than-intriguing life.
During college I was braver. I found internships in New York, moved with basically no cash, but seemingly endless drive, and found a way to afford it. But after graduating, practicality won out and I knew my NYC dreams wouldn't work with $500 in my bank account and no promise of immediate work (not to mention, school loans preparing to knock on my financial door). So I moved back to Cincinnati, lived at home and found a job at a law firm. I worked as a paralegal until a week ago. My co-workers were kind, funny and interesting people. Alternatively, the work was boring and I missed writing. At 23, a person should be experiencing life and seizing opportunities, and I felt drained and dull, no longer intrigued by my surroundings. Being comfortable was easy, but I wasn't happy.
So I used some of my savings and traveled to Paris for a week with my sister. Upon my return home, I quit my job, bought a coat that resembles a Coleman sleeping bag and moved to Chicago (embracing that be-brave-and-take-charge-2013 mentality). My parents and I (and a 14-foot U-Haul) arrived in Chicago on Saturday to a grungy apartment that will be my home for the next few months. After days of scrubbing and organizing my belongings, it's finally starting to feel like me.
I'm currently interviewing with temp agencies while I seek out writing opportunities. Hopefully, I'll start to learn the El and find jobs that actually intrigue and challenge me. We shall see. In the meantime, I'm snuggling up in my sleeping bag-wannabe coat and exploring.
I'm thinking it's going to be a good year.
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