Oh how times do change!

Something personal about me, I have horrible anxiety!  Walking to work sometimes I feel like just crossing a busy street is the hardest thing that I will ever do.  Why?  Im not entirely sure.  I just know that facing my anxiety head on has helped me immensely!  If this were 5 years ago, it bogged me down to the point that I wouldnt leave the house because I was too "scared."  But then life changed, and I had to get over it.  Started working a retail job where Im looking people in the eye everyday, Im showing myself that I am capable of things and that just because my mind can come up with 57 different scenarios for any given situation does not mean that anything bad will happen.  

In fact it was right around 5 years ago that I had to start making some changes.  All personal stuff aside, my sons father and I had hit a point where we needed to really work on our relationship, and on my end I figured that perhaps getting a part time job would help ease my mind.  Game Stop has always been a sort of dream job of mine.  Yes, I say that with the customer perspective of when Im in there I love asking them every single question I can think of, really testing their knowledge and passion for their product.  So I did an interview (it was holiday time so they were of course hiring!) and completely failed!  Gosh that stuck with me for months.  I would think of what I could have said, what I should have said, and even 2 months later thinking about it would make me cringe.  

Fast forward to last week.  Im walking around my store, I work @ Younkers in the clothing departments, and I see a friendly face who I know to be the manager down at my local Game Stop.  I say hey, ask if he is going shopping and if I can help him with anything, he says no, he is here to talk to me!  Okie Dokie, whatchya got?  He says that he has his assistant manager position open and was wondering if I would be interested.  I try to not do a kartwheel while answering yes  So I went in and had an interview with the district manager, which went well, and then another interview with Taylor himself, which also went well.  Yesterday, he came back into the store, this time with an official offer of an hourly wage, and the paperwork to start the hiring process!  Major YAY!  There was another hour or so of my shift, so when I did clock out I went upstairs to start the process of my 2 week notice with my HR manager (human resources for anyone who might not know that off the top of their heads.)  However he says right away, "let me fill out this paperwork to request we match this offer, and you can just stay doing what your doing!"  Oh my gosh talk about an empowering feeling!   So as of right now, my plans are to stay where Im at.  This allows me to make more an hour, but keep at part time hours and be able to focus on the Artsy Bits  

My biggest apprehension right now, or thing that I just dont want to do, is have to look Taylor in the eye and say "thank you, but no thank you."  He came to me, this opportunity found me, and I do feel like it would be a good fit.  He and I have always had good communications, and like I already said, Game Stop is a dream job of mine!  So today's anxiety is way different than 5 years ago!  And who knows where we will be in another 5!  Out of all of my life stories, especially the ones that illustrate how times change and things from the past can come full circle, I think this is one of the most motivational things I have experienced!  

I have a few more days of hanging out with my son before he goes to stay a few weeks with his dad, and then its on to Artsy Bits!  

Im hoping to get an entry made for the Make Ugly contest, and then my plans are to do a 30 day challenge(ish) with photoshop and illustrator.  

Thanks again for all the support with my Chanunpa Threadless submission, I still have not heard anything back on if it will be printed or not, but here were the results:
Final Tally was @ 487 scores.
62 fives.
113 ones.
Average... 2.59

There were also 124 FB +Likes, so thats pretty spectacular ;]