A Busy Month (Another Life Update)

January signals the beginning of the year. Sometimes, I like new beginnings. It’s nice to get a fresh start in your life once in a while; things become exciting and new. Adventure blooms before your very eyes. (Can you tell that I’m ready for spring already?)

But if you’re experiencing the start of something new, then it signals change. Sometimes change isn’t fun. It’s difficult and anxiety-inducing. Sometimes you’re forced into this new beginning, not feeling very prepared, but you have to do it anyway.

As you may remember, I graduated from college again last month. Once the new year started and everyone began to trickle back to their work/school obligations after the holidays, I only had to return to my internship. I quickly churned out my manuscript reading for them due to my increased free time and simply because I missed the act of it.

I have also agreed to help OAR (Oakland Arts Review) out for the semester. Despite the fact that the class ended and I graduated, I hate seeing projects unfinished. I wanted to see it through before bowing out. I originally told myself that I’d pitch in with the little tasks, like mailing the booklets out in March. However, once our first meeting of the semester concluded, I was dumbfounded at how I managed to pick up extra roles. Hello, more submission readings! (For the record, I’m not complaining about my additional tasks. I was just very surprised that I ended up with more work for myself than expected.)

And between all of that, I’ve also been stalking job search websites and applying to a couple of places. It’s tiring work, crafting cover letters and whatnot. But I’m determined to find something. (Oh, if I only lived in New York. Then I could apply to work in a literary agency office.)

But that’s not all! I have also been more involved in my church this month because, for most of last year, I had to take a step back due to school getting in the way. It’s nice meeting new people again (and this is coming from an introvert).

So basically, contrary to what some (real-life) people may think, I’ve actually been pretty busy lately. But I don’t mind being busy. I find that, if I spend a lot of time doing nothing, I get too content and end up being afraid to step outside of my comfort zone for a while.

I just hope I can carry this momentum into February.



Randomness: I managed to read an entire novel this month, too. THE POISONED BLADE by Kate Elliot, in case you were wondering. I’m also about a third into THREE DARK CROWNS by Kendare Blake. (It’s so good, from what I’ve read so far!)

Maybe I’m on track to read more than nineteen books this year? I’ve already read more than I did last year around this time, so that’s reassuring.