Same ISH, New Year

This year seemed much a repeat of last year, all things considered. The globe continued to be hit with wave after wave of viral infections, the financial situation for many continued to decline, and politics continued to be the absolute dumpster fire it always has been. There wasn't much hope going around in 2021.

Being the stalwart, independent, creative people that we are, many of us fought against this oppressive gloom of hopelessness by creating hope within ourselves and latching onto an entrepreneurial spirit. It was the year to try new things, throw caution to the wind and give it a solid try because hey, it couldn't get worse!

I was not immune to the urge to change. This past year saw a lot of upheaval in my personal and professional life. I divorced from my spouse, moved back to my hometown 900 miles away, changed careers, and enrolled in college to continue my education. My son also became an adult and started out on a life of his own, leaving me an empty-nester. This was actually very fortunate as for quite a while after my separation I was dependent upon the availability of old friends' couches to survive. Not an ideal situation if you have a child in tow.

I still haven't fully adjusted. I live currently as a permanent guest in a friend's apartment, which means I can't have my own belongings out in the cozy manner I was accustomed to. I don't have my own office space anymore and the space I do have is too small for the desk I was so proud of for the past 4 years. My financial circumstances are only a fraction of what my former spouse was able to provide, so every spare moment has to be spent trying to earn a few extra dollars instead of happily typing away on the next story. I had to completely rearrange my life at a time when I thought I had finally reached stability.

But it wasn't all bad. I've had quite a few successes over the last several months. I drove 900 miles all by myself in only 10 hours - and I'm terrified of long drives. For the first time in my entire life, I am completely on my own and so far I've survived. I managed to get a job fairly quickly after 5 years out of work, and I'm passing my college courses with flying colors. With any luck, I'll graduate in May with some qualifications that will finally allow me to get a "career" like a real adult and maybe earn enough to pay all my bills.

Oh, and did I mention I was published again? (click the picture for link)

I'm so excited and proud to be included in this wonderful collection of dragon-themed short stories. I highly suggest you check it out, as well as the other books available from this publisher.

(check out their website for more about Balance of Seven)

So, what's in store for 2022? We just have to live through it to find out. But it is my intention to do everything I can to make it better than 2021. Hopefully, that means getting around to some writing projects that were pushed aside during my upheaval and interacting with folks more. It absolutely means finishing my education and attaining stability as much as my chaos-fueled mind can manage. And maybe, just maybe, it means better things for the rest of the globe, too.

Happy New Year and Happy Writing. May 2022 bring us all closer to our goals.

Until next time,

Sianyn