I’m more concerned about avoiding stress than actually being happy.
Oh my God, I completely understand this.
Every year we watch the Charlie Brown special, do the Snoopy dance, wish everybody a Merry Christmukkah, and thank our Secret Santas in the good riddance thread. Which is this one, in case you were wondering. 2011? Room for improvement. Srsly.
I’m more concerned about avoiding stress than actually being happy.
Oh my God, I completely understand this.
Even still; eventually my money will run out, my COBRA will run out. I need some sort of plan to find a new job.
Yeah, you should work toward finding a new job. But I have to say, Tom, from the outside looking in, you're doing amazing. You've struggled so hard in therapy this year, and you've been so much more open about the stuff with us, and you're still connecting and talking and living and being and reacting and generally being the awesome self we value. I really love hearing about your progress, even when it's back and forth and hard. I just think you're so great.
Maybe go back to school for something else? I am confident in your ability to keep moving forward, Tom.
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to talk about because it’s all so fuzzy to me. The constant emotional abuse over most of my childhood makes it hard for me to pin down specific details, and makes it very easy for me to pretend that it wasn’t as bad as it really was
Once again, I am right there with you. I wish neither of us were.
You are working so hard at this, Tom. I know it's fucking hard. You are really amazing.
Tom I know this year has been really hard for you but you are doing amazing. You are amazing!
You pictures are really wonderful too. I hope that 2012 brings you closer to peace.
{{{{{Tom}}}}}, that's a xmas hug, not a pity hug!
Aww, {{Tom}}, you are so awesome. I hope 2012 is as wonderful as you deserve.
Tom, I was all excited when I got your card today, because my roommate keeps getting mail and yours was the only card I've gotten (besides one from my boss, which had only her name signed and no message. Or money). So I was all "yay Tom!" earlier.
{{{Tom}}}
Tom, on the quit-the-job-for-six-months angle, have you considered seeing if any professional photographers in the NYC area are looking for assistants? A few months helping out/apprenticing under a skilled photographer might let you pick up the technical skills with medium format cameras, darkroom development, and so on that could help lead to a viable career in the field. You have such a good eye for composition and and light, and it's clearly something that you enjoy doing.