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Today is the 15th day of September, 2008, and I have done it. I have quit my job and am now a full time freelance writer and author. I think I am in shock.
No, I am definitely in shock. I wanted to post all last week, but it just didn’t feel right (write?). What was there to say? Anticipation and anxiety had put most of my writing projects on a standstill, and I was literally counting down the minutes. Time slowed down, each day lasted FOREVER it felt like, and by the time Friday afternoon came I was so ready to peace out of my old job that I barely gave it a glance back. My boss held the door open for me as we left the building to go for a drink and said, “Take a look, this is the last time you’ll be here,” I tossed my head over my shoulder and was like, “yea, bye bye.” and walked out the door, listening with some satisfaction as I heard it slam and lock behind me. Chapter closed.
The weekend felt the same – no inkling of the fact that my life had changed. It wasn’t until I was sitting at dinner – I took myself out with a book as a treat – that I took a sip of wine, relaxed back in my chair, pulled the book out and settled in that I had the first sparkle of freedom.
This morning, I woke up, went to a weight-loss meeting at 9am, went grocery shopping, enjoyed the unusual warmth and wind of the morning, and got my oil changed. Plan for the day? Have lunch, do some work for client A, go to the gym, work a bit for client B until my boyfriend comes home, then make dinner and watch a movie. Tomorrow? How about waking up, hitting the gym, and working on a short story or two?
So I am still riding high on the fact that my finances are in good shape from my previous job, and actually elated by the fact that working part time freelancing last month (August), I pulled in about $500 after taxes – after taxes – and while that isn’t enough to keep me floating indefinitely, it is a better start than I imagined I could have – I never thought anyone would really pay me for my work!
Today’s the day. Today is the first day of the rest of my life – and I don’t want to put anything I’ve been waiting for off anymore. Today is the first day I get to do it all, just the way I’ve wanted to for months. What I’ve been waiting for. And I am 100% ready to make the best of it.
Game on.
