A Month Later

I've been here 6 weeks now and I love it as much as ever. I've unpacked everything except the CDs and the apartment looks great. I love waking up to it, to its neatness and warmth and brightness, to how I can see and find everything I have, to the trees and sunlight coming through the windows, to its charm. Everyone who comes here feels it. I wanted a complete change from what I had before, and I got my wish.

I've mainly been resting, showing my place off, reconnecting with people, getting organized, processing what I went through, working on myself to make sure that never happens to me again, having fun with Carla. I kind of went overboard the first month with the drinking and eating, and I'm now shooting for more moderation. I was like a kid in a candy store whose parents aren't looking, eating all the foods that I love but know aren't good for me, drinking martinis, too much wine. My body finally rebelled, screaming Stop! Please don't do this to me! So this past month I've been more reasonable with my diet, not eating any rich foods. I finally received my shipment of matcha tea, so I have a matcha latte in the mornings now instead of coffee. Not that I don't still love my cafe latte and I'll sneak it in every now and then, but not on a daily basis like before. I've gone back to drinking more tea in general. I've cut out all alcohol for 3 weeks on doctor's orders (my liver test was too high - over 60 instead of under 36 the month before) and will have the liver tested again this week. Hopefully the spike will have just been due to the sudden increase in alcohol consumption, and I can go back to having the occasional glass of wine or martini. I've gained 5 pounds as the doctor had ordered (of course, in all the wrong places!), so I think I'm pretty healthy now.

I'm now about ready to get back to work. But I still don't know what the work will be. I'm putting together a list of different opportunities that might exist, and I'm requesting that all my friends email me any ideas they might have. I have several different talents and areas that I enjoy - I would like to find something that combines my administrative talents with my love for the arts and my people skills. I'm open to anything - I just require that I be able to work out of the home.

Life is good. I almost have to pinch myself to see if it's all real. I've gone from the darkest place imaginable to all this light almost overnight. I don't take it for granted. I breathe it in and let it fill me with joy every single day.