Update

My life is usually pretty interesting, but lately, it's been more interesting than usual. Here's a sum up of the past few months.

I've been feeling stagnant for a few years now. Working in the printing industry is a losing prospect, and I haven't had enough writing energy to push myself fully into that career line, as I'd been hoping. My current job is pleasant, but between the economy, the city, my union and my boss, I'm not making as much money as I should.

In August, I had something of a nervous breakdown. I tried to quit my job and go back to being a janitor, thinking that the only way I could free myself for writing, and since I wasn't getting any benefits at my current job, I might as well have a benefit-less job that let me write. Thankfully, I came to my senses, realizing that my elderly knees are in no shape for crouching before toilets. Instead, I realized I was feeling like I did back before I went on Prozac, and therefore my anti-depressants weren't working anymore.

So I signed up for therapy, visited the doctor and got the medication thing sorted out. For varying reasons, I had to wait a while before finally starting therapy (I had my first official session three days ago.) But I did have an intake interview, where I realized that I probably knew more about psychology than the master's student who was working with me.

I also looked into volunteer jobs, saw one for art therapy that looked interesting. I didn't think I was ready to run a full class, but it put the idea of being an art therapist into my head.

At work, I cut back my schedule so I had two free hours in the morning, when I knew I'd have the energy to get things done. This was excellent, but only lasted a week, since work suddenly picked up. Earning money was nice. Missing my productive time wasn't.

I started filling my time with things--films and museums and music. Joined the zoo and the art museum, bought a fancy camera. I signed up for a free online class through Coursera on public health and communities. I went to a gathering of Catholics who supported marriage equality, and discovered a church that I might have stayed in if the entire Church was like it. Later, I walked in a march with them, and felt the need to show others that it was possible to belong to a traditional religion and still be a social liberal. Marriage equality was passed. Woo!

Prompted by my experience with the therapy intern, and my curiosity about art therapy, I started looking into schools. I've been avoiding the psychology field because I spent my early life around mental illness, and I was tired of it. I didn't like working with people, I sucked at writing papers, and I didn't have the money for it anyway. But now I started to rethink those obstacles, and decided to go for it. Student debt, here I come!
A quick glance at UW's psychology master's program didn't show it to be appealing. It seems mainly geared towards research, rather than therapy. But Seattle U's program looks perfect. It focuses on Existential Phenomenological Psychology, which looks at people as unique individuals, and not as examples of a mental condition. It takes a deeper look at psyche and spirit than some other practices.
So now I have a goal. I've already joined a community college to clear out the few classes I need, and I've put out requests for letters of recommendation.

Last night, I saw the Red Hot Chili Peppers in concert, my first big concert that was more than just a band on a stage. (Whoa cool lighting effects and strobes and giant screens! I am so fucking glad I don't still have seizures.) Now I'm pooped.