What a Difference a Year Makes!

Since it has been officially a year since I quit being a mental health counselor, I have been thinking a lot of the changes that have occurred in the past year. I think one of the biggest changes in my life is how my focus and what I consider important has changed. No longer am I so career-oriented and solely relying on myself for all of my needs. I now work as a team with someone else and have a bigger picture in mind, such as family and home. It is all so surreal since for so long I wondered if I would ever be happily married, let alone content with being at home.

Only a couple of months ago I was offered what used to be the dream job and I turned it down, since I now consider home and family more important. I was even offered another job again today, and again turned it down. It's such a weird paradigm shift.

Don't get me wrong. I still miss my job as a social worker for the PD's office in Las Vegas. I don't think I can ever get the forensic social worker in me to ever completely go away, which is why I volunteer doing status offender mediations and am on the Juvenile Justice Council for my judicial district. It allows me to still be a part of the system without being "in" the system. I get to watch the players tear each other apart and I get to walk away unscathed for once. Instead I get to volunteer for only the things I want to do and do only the work that I love.

Not such a bad life. It's definately a more content and happy life. More than I ever thought it could be, but always hoped for.