Hi All!
A lot has happened since my last post. A lot…
I know where I want to begin: I no longer work as a Property Assistant for a housing complex company.
THAT was quite possibly one of the worst jobs I’ve had to date.
The job itself wasn’t bad! Quite contrary — I enjoyed helping people find homes in the apartments I showed them. It was the boss I had that made the job not worth the paycheck. Every day, I would have to deal with either verbal, emotional, or on the rare occasion physical abuse, or deal with her belief that everything bad to ever happen to her was someone else’s fault and thinly racist veiled entitlement to anything good. If you want to see a small glance into what I mean, see the story I submitted to Reedsy.com here.
But I don’t want to bash her. Would I feel better about it? Sure, who doesn’t like to vent their anger about those who hurt others because of their own misery. But then, that would make me no better than her. And I know I would be shaming my parents, grandparents, family and friends if I lowered myself to her level.
I choose to look forward in this life. I don’t want to look back to my past unless it’s to remember the love and fun I had in my life, as well as the reasons why I will myself to get up everyday and try my best to achieve my dreams and hopes.
I currently work as a temp Administrative Assistant for a well known college. No, I won’t tell you the name of said college… yet. I’m trying to find a more permanent position with this college, so I don’t want to jinx anything. I’m just thankful they were willing to give me a temporary job and learn what they have to teach me.
I’m still writing, too. While I can’t divulge in what exactly I’m working on, I can tell you it feels good to play with words again. I can almost imagine this is how a potter feels when they pick up that wet block of clay again after months of abstaining from the craft. Even if nothing ‘productive’ comes from moving the wet squishy material through their fingers, it’s still satisfying to play and relearn the craft.
Of course, I could tell you what I’m working on. But I don’t want to. You’ll just have to stay tuned!
I’m getting away from the original reason why I’m writing this post; this year has not been easy. I’ll be one of the first people to point that statement out and go ‘Duh!‘. Yet, I look back to the same time last year, and I can’t even believe how different things have become, and how so much has changed.
This time last year, I was still getting used to living in a new state — not as a student where going home after a semester was always something to look forward to, but as an adult moving away from home looking for work. I was living in an apartment with six other people, all who were complete strangers and had no qualms in keeping their distance from one another. I had to stay away from home that Thanksgiving because Covid cases were high, and I was working the next day. My room was freezing, and I felt my sanity slowly leaking away into the chasm of despair and depression. I was seriously questioning my thought process in moving away from home with very little money, no job lined up, and my self-esteem dwindling with each day. It wasn’t a pretty picture. The only thing keeping me together was the hope something better would come along.
Today, I’m working for a college and loving every moment of it. I’m living with just two roommates instead of six, one of whom has become a close friend. I also have one of my cats with me, giving me someone to look forward to when I come home from work. Life isn’t where I want it to be yet, but I am so thankful of where I am today. I’m thankful I stuck to my gut and stayed in Boston, knowing I could do better. Be better. I’m where I am today because I didn’t give up, though there were many days where I wanted to.
I am thankful for the possibility of tomorrow, of what Lady Fate and Lady Destiny are planning for me. I am thankful of knowing when I wake up tomorrow morning, there’s a whole new day, a whole new start, and a whole new possibility waiting for me.
As frustrating as 2021 has been, I am thankful of the lessons she has taught me.
So tell me, what are you thankful for?
L.J. LaBree 