You mean, it's not the end of the world?

Thanks for everyone's understanding and encouragement regarding my job at Mission Australia. I finished there yesterday and I am so glad to be gone. I don't know what to say except that I am sure, without a doubt, that this is the right decision for me.

There are lots of reasons adding that make me so confident in that decision. Some of it has to do with the professionalism and the personalities at work there, some of it has to do with the kind of work I was doing, but in the end the most confirming moment was on that last day's lunch break. I was talking with several people with whom I was working with and for the first time they really opened up about how they felt about their work--and everyone wanted to leave. When those still in the job look at you with a mix of excitement and jealousy about your future, that's not really a good sign. I don't think I need to rehash what they said but it was enough to confirm what I had already suspected.

But I'm gone now and they gave me such a wonderful going away party. I really didn't expect it and truly felt like I didn't deserve it but they showed me that even in my one week there, I had won their appreciation and respect and that friendships--however infantile--had been made. The bought me cupcakes, gave me a card and sent me emails to wish me luck in the pursuit of my dreams. There was so much grace in what they did. They could have easily been angry or bitter about the whole thing but they weren't. They were kind and loving and because I got that response, I feel even more confident in my decision. I really do feel like I did what was right and it seems that by putting some good integrity into the world, the world gave me a little love back.

After leaving work for the last time, I went on to have the most wonderful day I've had in weeks. I happend upon an amazing promotion by one of Sydney's celebrity-preferred salons which allows me to have a massage, a consultation, a coloring, and a cut by a senior stylist all for $140 (which oh my God, I need so bad--birthday money from Mom and Grandma at work here!), I found a cheap and intriguing book to pass the time with, and I met Jeremy and his co-workers in the park for some delicious Malaysian food at the Syndey Food Fesitval Night Noodle Market. And when we came home, I went to bed at 8:30 and got my first full night of sleep in weeks.

I feel relieved and happy again. I feel total peace about the whole thing and I really am excited about what's around the corner. I talked with the temp agency this morning too and it looks like Thomson Reuters is really excited to have me back (I was temping there before Mission Australia) and they want me to start on Friday this week. But not only that, they are also going to increase my work days from three to four per week which is good news too because we'll need the money.

I've also had some really great feed back from Sydney Tall Ships about the photos I did a couple weeks ago. They were so happy with them that they intend to use several of them on their website, publications and at their booth in Circular Quay (I'll give you a link when I know they are up) and they invited me back to do more photos and bring Jeremy along too. So, Sunday night we were off for a BBQ cruise just! It was really fun and so great to be out and enjoying the beautiful summer weather. This experience has given me lots of confidence and I feel prepared to really make an attempt of photography as a professional. Jeremy and I have been talking about it a bit and we've decided that until I get my new residency visa, I'll keep doing it for free. Once I'm a resident, I'll apply for a business number and make something happen. But I'm excited--really excited!--about seeing my real dreams happen!

And with regard to my visa, we're still drumming up background checks (there are a lot to be done). But I've got almost everyone of them in process at the moment and I'm getting the rest of my application done too. Since I don't start again at Thomson until Friday, I'll have tomorrow to clean and write my statement which will of course, be a joy.

Which also reminds me that this weekend we will be hosting our official house warming party. I wish you all could be there as I won't know more half of the people coming (they're Jeremy's friends) and there should be photos of that coming early next week.

As you can see, I'm busy and a lot of things are happening at the moment, but I feel like I've been freed and I'm extremely happy. And that's a very good thing.