I had been struggling with a decision. I had a good job in Civil Service (I say good because it was secure and fairly good paying. I had been in social services for 17 years). Maybe some of you came across my little question and remember. Maybe a few of you commented. My decision and question was about quitting my job. Whether I should or not even though I had nothing lined up.
It was gut wrenching for me at the time, and I appreciated all the comments I had received. I had been in social services for all those years and could no longer in good conscience continue doing the work. I felt I was a part of the problem. That the job I had and the dept. I worked in needed to be scrapped and all the money sent back to the taxpayers. I felt guilty every time I got my paycheck.
I felt like I was dying on my job, but quitting seemed like jumping off a cliff. A wise man that I shared this with told me."You'll die either way.. you might as well do what is right." Well, I did, and I quit. I walked away from a secure government job in a bad economy and... I've survived. God has been good to me. 7 days after quitting I walked into a long term substitute position in a local middle school that paid more than my Gov. job.
When that ended, I was offered a job as a commercial painter and the past 2 years have been doing my art in the evenings.. painting 40-50 hours a week after getting home from my day job. So... I have often thought of updating all those people who gave me the time to comment but it would take so much to ping all those different people. I am not even sure how to do it... so, just in case you were one of those who commented and offered advice.. I'm doing ok.
Sometimes it does work to take a chance, to step out in faith, to put our foot out in the darkness.... maybe not all the time.. but it has worked for me this time. I have never looked back!
Love your work, Mike! Enjoy looking at it over on FaceBook. :-)
Wonderful work! Stunning.
Forgot.. Here’s the link to Oil Painter’s handbook. http://www.amazon.com/Painter-Oil-Daniel-Burleigh-Parkhurst/dp/0486448479
Great stuff.
Beautiful work. Will try to reference you frequently!
It works out well for most people, if they pursue happiness, armed with a firm set of personal moral ethics.
BTW, this website is not a blog. ;^)
What a wonderful thing you did, the right decision, though it was a gutsy and difficult one! Attaboy, freemike! You are LIVING the spirit that made America!
Good for you to follow your passion. I have two sons that do that, and it is rather amazing to watch!
Congrats. Life is too short to waste. I left a cushy corporate life 7 years ago and never looked back. Now I’m doing what I ALWAYS wanted to do, since I was a boy. Best days of my life. The weeks—and years— fly by. Enjoy your blessings.
Carole
haircutter