To me, anyway. I'm just making this thread to talk a little bit about what's going on in my personal (professional?) life, so if this is of little interest to you, feel free to move on. I'm really just reflecting on the situation because I feel..."strange" about it, and writing things helps me work out my thoughts. And maybe what reflections I do write may have relevance to a similar situation one (or more) of you might be going through. This is the only disclaimer, so if you read any further, I assume you're doing so because this subject matter catches your attention. After three months of applying at various funeral homes in four different cities, I was recently offered my first position as an apprentice since I graduated college. It was a real surpise since this was from a home I applied to back in June, who didn't happen to be hiring at the time. Plus I had previously interviewed with four other places that each turned me down, so that put a slight damper on my confidence. Regardless, I put in my two weeks notice at my current job yesterday, so now that plans are in motion i'm feeling pretty excited/nervous about the new opportunity i'm presented with. I have two years worth of education to back me up, but I admit, i'm still unsure of what to expect. Practical application can often vary from what's taught in a classroom, and this is something i've often been told from people who actually work in the business already. But there's a bit more to it, I also feel...strange, in that I feel like i'm transitioning to a different stage or chapter in my life. The electrical company I work for now (and will be leaving shortly) never really meant much to me, personally. It was...unfulfilling, not of much interest to me. However, it was my first job, and I did it part-time for the entire duration of college. Good pay, great people, and it was actually the job that helped me pay for my son's expenses during the short time I had him. I suppose through time alone I built somewhat of an attachment to it, and i'm sure i'll feel out of place for a while in a new work environment. I tend to have trouble with anxiety when faced with new people and new places...but that's part of growth, eventually the new has to come just as the old must become memory. I welcome that, i'm excited for it, and hopefully that'll counteract the anxiety when push comes to shove. We'll see, I suppose. To detract this whole thread from being about me, let's use my current situation as just an example for a concept we're all affected by. By that, I mean how time inevitably brings change upon us. Are there any notable changes or transitions going on in your life currently? If so, what are they? And how are you handling them? The emotional responses we feel in response to change can vary highly between situations and individuals. For instance, my response is governed by my history of social anxiety and uncertainty about my ability (or lack thereof) to adapt to new situations. I imagine I would've been a complete wreck by now if I were the same person I was five or so years ago, so I think I have improved by a certain degree. And that's okay, because self-improvement is a process rather than a singular event. And each day is another day to change for the better. As always, if you've made it this far, thank you for reading. My threads can be a bit lengthy and I appreciate those who're willing to take the time to read them. And if you're curious of what the music has to do with the post...well, nothing really, but I figure a piece of relaxing music meshes well with a relatively long read. Enjoy your day/night, you guys. Each one is something to treasure, whether it's good or bad. [spoiler]I know I said the disclaimer at the beginning would be the only one, but I felt like I should tag this on as an optional read. I really try to avoid using this site as a space to blog about my life or anything of the sort, because i'm well aware of how obnoxious that can be. I hope you all don't find this particular thread detestable and can find something in it worth reflecting on for yourselves or your own lives.[/spoiler]