As we arrive in the not so distant past, just four years ago, I’ve come to realize what a solace this space has become. While sometime I feel pressure to be clever and useful, this space has allowed me to often times, just be myself.

I appreciate you all for that.

There are so many sides to us. There are so many versions we have to shift between throughout the day. Some days are exhausting. It’s no wonder we need our alone time to reset.

Oh, how I relish the quiet.

Which, apparently, I didn’t get much of back then.

I was in full swing at the full time-all consuming job. That year I wrote even less…just 15 posts and my viewers had dropped to the 2k mark. Eesh.

I knew I wasn’t writing. I remember being rather unhappy about it. I didn’t feel creative, and the day/night job was sucking all my time and energy.

Looking back, I liked many aspects of the job…

but there were aspects that left much to be desired as well.

Amidst a number of incidents of being thrown under the bus by my boss, I decided to go to the Austin Film Festival and do something for myself and the career I actually wanted.

I attended my first screenwriting conference at AFF that year and it was an eye opening experience, and I still consider it one of the best things I ever did for myself. The second night, surrounded by all those amazing people talking “shop”, I had an epiphany. I had to quit my job.

I remember nearly sending an email right then and there. But I didn’t. I called The Sis and talked it out. I waited. I wanted to know if it was a fleeting thought, an impulse given the surroundings, but it wasn’t. And when I got home, I handed in my resignation.

It was like a weight had been lifted.

Who was to know what would be in store for all of us a few short months later…

Some things on the timeline are a blur, the bad memory and all, but there was a Dragon Age 4 teaser trailer to get excited about (although we’re still waiting…), I got pulled on stage by half naked men at a Thunder from Down Under show (oh, the embarrassment), I cut my hair again (the shortest it’s ever been), and I shared some goal setting tips.

I wish I could say I was in a better place, professionally, at this point, given the inspiration I found then, but it only feels now like things are finally coming together. Sheesh.

A BIG Thank You to all of you who have stuck with me through this long, winding journey. I appreciate you!

xx, Rach