Gnome hidden in bushes at Descanso Gardens

Sorry for the unintentional hiatus.

I've been kind of mentally exhausted, primarily because of my job. It's actually been the main thing on my mind lately, but I hate writing about it here because I don't want to sound like a whiner or a broken record.

All signs point toward me needing to find a new job. It's really very obvious and it's been obvious for a while, but of course I'm resisting making a change. Luckily, every time I find myself settling into the job and getting into my comfort zone, something new happens to remind me that I need to get out of there.

I can't say that I regret ever working there. The job was an excellent move for me. I learned a lot about editing, and my eye is much sharper now than it was before. During my first year there, the company paid me enormous bonuses, fed me free dinner from a different restaurant every night and allowed me freedom in my schedule that I'd never had in any other job. But. It's been two years, and I've learned what I can learn there. All of the perks that made the job worthwhile have been slowly stripped away, and there's nothing to keep me there. So. Time to move on!

Lately I've been evaluating and reevaluating the situation from top to bottom, and it's wearing me out. I have some ideas about what I want to do for my next job, but they're vague ideas. I've been trying to narrow it down and come up with a definite plan, but it's difficult. Still, I'm enjoying the search and I'm planning some pretty exciting stuff. I guess I'll save all of that for another entry.

So. How've y'all been?
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On a completely unrelated note...

I recently had an opportunity to do something nice for someone who had previously behaved thoughtlessly toward me. I have to admit, I was very much on the fence about doing this nice thing, because why do something for someone who may not appreciate it and who probably won't reciprocate?

But then I remembered that it's easy to be nice to people who are nice to you. It's easy to do things for people who do things for you. The difficult thing is reaching out to someone who hasn't done these things. That's the true test of character.

I'm not saying that I always take the high road. I can think of two people who are not in my life now because I purposefully stopped expending energy on our one-sided friendships. I let the friendships die, and they did, proving to me that they were meant to end. There's a fine line between being an unselfish, forgiving, understanding friend and being taken advantage of, and at this point in my life, I think I've finally learned where that line is. I don't waste time with people who aren't worth it.

This situation is different. This friend is a good person. This person hurt me, but she isn't mean-spirited, and her thoughtlessness in the situation I'm thinking of was unintentional, I'm sure. So I did the nice thing for her, and I feel better having done it.

(Can you see my halo from where you are? Heh.)