You all deserve updates on life, since it's gotten well enough to the point I can't afford to rest on my laurels. Which is, I shall assume, a good thing when you think on it.
1) Imagine my surprise when the mutual buddy I spoke of last time got my ex/best friend to reach out to me.
She apologized for her "cruelty" (her own words) and happily surprised at me turning things around with the job but forcing myself to speak and interact heathily with others again. She apologized for how she treated me, proud I changed for the better, understanding if I didn't want her around anymore, and a promise if we spoke again she would do her best to be decent because she missed me but felt I deserved better than what she became. I decided to accept the apology and start fresh with her.
Credit due she has changed herself after so long of seeing her distant or hostile. Much more friendly and making an effort to speak to me or get back to me, she seems to have really meant it on missing me. It reminds me a lot of the days when I first met her. And I confess, being forced to cut off from her and the feeling of a hole in my life plugged in with her returning has helped kill off the one-itis for her. I don't feel a sense of dread when I speak with her. Having the job and others to keep busy with helps a lot in that regard as well.
2) The job is going well. I'm realizing I'm being paid more to do less than at my last job in the field, and while I'll be taking on more responsibility over time, that still rings true. I still intend to take it seriously, of course, become indispensable, but... I haven't had such a feeling of job security in so many years. I actually know what I'm doing with the work than needing to throw myself into learning a lot in too little time. It's not difficult for me, I still get to move around on the site to keep active and the closest thing to a complaint is the lengthy commute. And that's not enough of a deal-breaker in the slightest. Keeping busy with it alone grounds me in needed ways.
3) I need to budget time to stuff outside of work and fitness so I don't become a boring drone. Hence not wanting to rest on my laurels as stated above. I still desperately need an offline life and social hobbies. I need to budget my energy for it as well, that's a big deal since I'm still pushing myself hard physically. In truth I have a storybook idea I want to work on... the odds of it ever being published are nil, and I'll need to learn to draw. Big step eh eh. But the visuals are meant to be that basic, I think I have a genuine kernel of a good idea, and it's gotten far more positive reception than I ever anticipated describing it both visuals and story ideas for the characters than I anticipated. It's taking everything I loved and felt good with in childhood and putting it into a tale, more or less, and if I can get that feeling of warmth and contentment out there for others to enjoy, good.
4) The shelter still goes well. I've been happy to see older cats off, though once again stuck on kitten duty the other day. Saw three kittens and a young adult off. Good, good. That I'm absolutely determined to keep going. Visiting home and my long-haired Wedgie cat has been shaved for the summer and adoring the freedom of the dirty, matted hair she willingly rolls around dirt n' mud in to make so she can enjoy the summer heat.
5) My left leg is busted atm and a small run today confirmed it, so more time to rest even if I miss running. Well, can't win 'em all, I suppose.
But yeah. Life.... life isn't half-bad right now. I do need that life bad but job security and reconcilement have done wonders for my daily psyche. Things actually got better. I'm glad.
