Fluctuation, yes, I'd say the people working in the arts will be most affected by this. I have a friend here who recently started her own business (well, two years ago) and she was lucky that it took off right away. Her husband was a struggling theatre actor at the time and she backed him all the way. It's great that he had that, because not many would have accepted it I think. About a year ago, he started to work on his own production piece and also as an actor in it and it was a great success which landed more jobs for him. They were lucky! So many would have failed, but I guess if you have the drive and the right people supporting you (family is everything, if they don't support, you're on your own as I have found out the hard way), you will succeed eventually.
Yes, you're so right, it's a hard life being a writer. Most writers are their worst critics. I've been writing a book for more than 18 years and can't bring myself to really love it or finish it. It's a curse sometimes, but on the other hand I wouldn't have it any other way. When I started in journalism, my life was completely planned out. I was going to travel, see the world (well did some of that) and write about world issues. When I quit the business because I discovered that if I ever were to become successful as a journalist I would have to jump through corporate hoops and write what they wanted me to, I swore to myself that I'd never sell out that way. And I didn't. But that also meant that suddenly, my life wasn't that well planned anymore and I had to find my own way by taking jobs that I didn't always want to do, but had to to survive. It's life, isn't it? I don't have any regrets, and looking back at it, I grew so much because of it.
I've had 'normal jobs' before, but it just wasn't me or what I had envisioned to do for a longer period of time. My life has never been normal. What is normal anyway?
Yeah, the new job is definitely something I am excited about. It is flexible and might come with its own kind of stress (trying to make it everywhere on time, especially in winter may prove difficult). But I've been quite isolated the last few years, and it will be great to be out and about and meet new people (colleagues) as well as meeting customers. My experience with the loan agents I've dealt with was always good, they didn't just collect and run but have a little chat too, which feels more personal in my opinion.
And I guess the agents sometimes get to hear a lot about what's going on in people's lives, which may put our own troubles a little more in perspective.
But 5 years in Vietnam? Wow, that must have been an experience too! I'd love to hear more about your experiences there. Vietnam was on my list for our upcoming trip, but now I might have to postpone visiting there, since there won't be enough time. But definitely in the (near) future and that's something I haven't been able to say in a while: definitely.
RE: When it flows and flows even better...