I will have a LOT more time to work on my photography from now on

[DVC Jen]

After 11 years with this school - and a very difficult past year and a half - I finally had enough of the lying, manipulating and blind siding and manipulating I could take from my boss - and I quit!

I have been crying more than not since noon, but after some long talks with family and a few friends I am feeling better.

Financially it is going to be possible, just a bit tight for a few months. I have the total support of my husband and daughters (and I feel really blessed about that).

I am going to spend a lot more time working on improving my photography - practicing doing portraits - and there is even a local pro photographer that has offered to "take me under her wing".

And I will be doing some serious volunteer work for the city I live in.

Another friend has a small store she does acrylic nails in and she said I can set up some brochures - and even use her store to do some work in if I want to. She is giving me a key next week.

I am not expecting to really make any money for a VERY long time. I am really just wanting to work on improving. I am also really looking forward to destressing and enjoying my life again. The stress I have been under the past year and a half has been horrible - even affecting my health.

Who knows - I am looking forward to what is the next chapter in my life. Maybe it will involve photography - maybe not. If it does - great. If it doesn't - then I will at least learn more and have more time to play.

Not really looking for replies - just trying to stay positive and look to the future instead of dwelling on the unpleasantness of today.

 

[hjd0411]

Good for you! And lots of and going your way. I can understand a little of how you feel - I love my job, but the new management we have is making work almost impossible!

You just enjoy yourself, and de-stress, and take time for you and your family.

Heather

 

[Pea-n-Me]

When one door closes, another always opens. Good for you for making positive changes in your life! Sorry you had a bad day but hopefully things will improve from here. Glad you'll have more time to work on your photography and hope it will turn into something profitable down the road.

 

[DVC Jen]

Thanks - to both of you. I think all of us who love photography dream about turning it into something you can make some money with. It would be great if it did happen - and OK if it doesn't. Either way I am just going to enjoy it and continue to learn and hopefully grow.

It is a constant challenge - and I do love a good challenge.

 

[jann1033]

i'm happy for you and hope it all works out for the best. nice of your friends to help you out and your family to be supportive Annie Leibovitz, move over!

 

[SueInBoston]

Hope this leads to bigger and better things......

 

[DVC Jen]

Annie Leibovitz, move over!

LOLOLOL yeah - right! LOLOL

at this point I would be happy to sell some local landscapes at a street fair. Honestly - I really would.

It feels good to laugh - thanks.


Sue - thanks to you too. I know there is SOMETHING else out there I am supposed to be doing. Just not sure what it is yet.

 

[Groucho]

Best of luck! Keep your chin up. You'll have more time for here, too.

Here's a story that I haven't told many people here... if anyone remembers, I had a big 10-day trip to WDW in January. I came back to work afterwards feeling good, and on my third day back, I went for what I thought was a one-on-one with my new manager, at which point I was informed that my name was on a list of people to be laid off, and there was nothing I could do about it, and it was through no fault of my own. This was a huge shock as the group that I was working for was very happy with me, very happy to pay for my services, and had no warning that I'd be going, and there was no one there to do all the things that I did. (IT work.) I supposedly had two weeks to find another job inside the company. I quickly found one and then discovered that I wouldn't be able to get it, because the new manager would have to let someone else go if I didn't leave, and he didn't want to because he knew them and didn't know me. Of course, I found out that part later, and got pretty bitter about it over time. Granted, I was bored at the old job, but I'd been there for over 8 years and would have been happy in a different position there!

In the city I live, IT jobs can be tough to get, thanks to huge layoffs over the years from Kodak and Xerox, and general softness of the job market in upstate NY. I applied for tons of jobs, most applications were never even looked at. It was pretty frustrating, especially when my old position (which was supposed to be gone when I was let go) was recreated and they got someone else, because I couldn't be rehired for 6 months due to the severance.

Fortunately, there's a happy ending... just over two weeks ago, I started a new job at a very small company (3 full-time and 2 part-time), making not a lot less than I was before (more than I expected to), and getting the chance to do all sorts of neat stuff that I hadn't at the last job. Not only that, but I pretty much got three offers in one week so I was able to choose which I wanted. All this happened about a week after discovering that my wife is pregnant (which we'd been working on for a while.) So now I'm back in the working world and having a fun time, and able to think about LBA again.

The moral of the story is, things usually have a way of working out. If you weren't happy at your old job, you'll definitely be happier away from there. Money is definitely not the key to happiness (though it is the key to Disney parks, unfortunately), I was very ready to take a lower-paying but more interesting job over a higher-paying miserable one. Even if it takes you a while to make some money - already, you're free of a miserable job and able to spend your time practicing your hobby. That sounds like a good decision in my book.

 

[Master Mason]

Groucho, I am glad that things worked out for you... I'm in IT sales, and that fear is a constant albatross around my neck.

Jen, Do what you love, happiness is unfortuanatly highly under rated in our society.

 

[DVC Jen]

Thanks Groucho.

You are definately right about money doesn't make one happy. I am just kinda concerned since we have a daughter going off to college this year. At least it is community college (2 years there and then transferring to UTD) and she is living at home. That is a HUGE savings. Our youngest has tried out and made 2 more dance teams - that is 4! LOL It isn't the monthly tuition that is gonna kill us - it's the costume fees, monthly tuition all due in the same month. We are talking 550.00 - same month the oldest starts college.

It will work out though - Em has been at the dance studio for 11 years and I am sure if I explain the situation they will be more than willing to work with us and spread that huge amount out over two months.

I had a long talk with the president of the school board today. I was very careful about what I said. I didn't want to come across as bashing the director or bad mouthing anyone. For the most part I loved my time there and found it very rewarding. That is what I want to remember. It was a good talk and I got closure from it.

I feel very confident in my decision - just really curious as to what is next, but that will reveal itself when it is good and ready.

I am glad things worked out for you. Losing ones job - especially like that is very scary. Thanks for sharing your story with me.

So how is your wife feeling? Good I hope. And is your son ready to be a big brother?

 

[Groucho]

So how is your wife feeling? Good I hope. And is your son ready to be a big brother?

Everything's going just fine with my wife, thanks for asking, and I don't think my son has any idea that there'll be another one in the house yet. We really haven't tried to explain it to him yet either.

 

[dburg30]

All things happen for a reason. I feel you are going to find something very rewarding that you love as your next vocation .

 

[jann1033]

Best of luck! Keep your chin up. You'll have more time for here, too.

Here's a story that I haven't told many people here... if anyone remembers, I had a big 10-day trip to WDW in January. I came back to work afterwards feeling good, and on my third day back, I went for what I thought was a one-on-one with my new manager, at which point I was informed that my name was on a list of people to be laid off, and there was nothing I could do about it, and it was through no fault of my own. This was a huge shock as the group that I was working for was very happy with me, very happy to pay for my services, and had no warning that I'd be going, and there was no one there to do all the things that I did. (IT work.) I supposedly had two weeks to find another job inside the company. I quickly found one and then discovered that I wouldn't be able to get it, because the new manager would have to let someone else go if I didn't leave, and he didn't want to because he knew them and didn't know me. Of course, I found out that part later, and got pretty bitter about it over time. Granted, I was bored at the old job, but I'd been there for over 8 years and would have been happy in a different position there!

In the city I live, IT jobs can be tough to get, thanks to huge layoffs over the years from Kodak and Xerox, and general softness of the job market in upstate NY. I applied for tons of jobs, most applications were never even looked at. It was pretty frustrating, especially when my old position (which was supposed to be gone when I was let go) was recreated and they got someone else, because I couldn't be rehired for 6 months due to the severance.

Fortunately, there's a happy ending... just over two weeks ago, I started a new job at a very small company (3 full-time and 2 part-time), making not a lot less than I was before (more than I expected to), and getting the chance to do all sorts of neat stuff that I hadn't at the last job. Not only that, but I pretty much got three offers in one week so I was able to choose which I wanted. All this happened about a week after discovering that my wife is pregnant (which we'd been working on for a while.) So now I'm back in the working world and having a fun time, and able to think about LBA again.

The moral of the story is, things usually have a way of working out. If you weren't happy at your old job, you'll definitely be happier away from there. Money is definitely not the key to happiness (though it is the key to Disney parks, unfortunately), I was very ready to take a lower-paying but more interesting job over a higher-paying miserable one. Even if it takes you a while to make some money - already, you're free of a miserable job and able to spend your time practicing your hobby. That sounds like a good decision in my book.

yikes Groucho! glad things are looking up for your family i really think going to wdw is a curse for our family...it never fails as soon as we get back what ever job hub was supposed to do next falls through