m o n o c h r o m e j u n k i e †photographer. artist. author. singer. songwriter. musician. teacher. student. humanitarian. visionary. addiction counselor. therapist.
I’m happy to report that after a turbulent year, things are finally starting to look up! Dare I think it safe to exhale?
Not quite yet; but I can feel a change in the wind. As I stare out my picture window, I feel a natural smile resting on the corners of my mouth. I don’t remember the last time I felt a smile that wasn’t forced.
Just received news that I’ll be able to afford to take the rest of the year off and simply heal from all of the chaos and drama that has been my life for the past several months. Perhaps I’ll seek out another position as an Addiction Counselor in the spring: Time will tell.
For now, I’ll luxuriate in the thoughts of taking this NIKON DSLR out and about and actually be a photographer again. (Of course it helps to have a new car.)
I really want to take the plunge and become a true black and white photographer; but when I think of all of the vibrant colours that are out in the world- I recoil. There’s so much emotion in black and white though. Only when one strips away colours, do the contrast, gamma, and various tones (midtones, etc.) come forth in their own ways.
I have an appointment today; perhaps I’ll venture out with the camera and see what I find. 😎
It sounded so glamorous to both Josh I to go out and have a few drinks at Kaiju’s, but neither one of us were vibing. It was sort of meh, when put into practice, so we had one drink each and went home to our digital devices. 😅
Almonds wrecked their car, Brian went to jail, I got pulled over, and Martin needed to be rescued 50 miles away where he’d been stranded for days without food.
It. Was. A. Night.
In my world, however, it’s truly just another day. I can handle pretty much whatever the world throws at me, AND I keep a good attitude rolling through it all.
Firewalker. <——— me
Just another day in the hood. 😎
In other news, I absolutely am living the dream. I have to pinch myself everyday going into my office, where I see a handful of clients daily. It feels so surreal to passionately want something so badly and work hard in school for so many years, and then it finally pays off: I’m a therapist.
Speaking of which, I get paid in two more days: $1,300 after taxes and insurance (medical, dental, vision). I feel pretty good about my benefits too: 401K, a plush benefits package, PLUS a life insurance policy of almost $100,000 in which I don’t have to pay a penny into to set my kids up with $30,000 each- it just comes with the job automatically and every holiday AND the following day = PTO/ paid time off. I have no complaints!
It’s been awhile since I’ve submitted a general update on my life. I’m so used to setting goals and achieving them, I’m almost lost without a packed-down goal sheet.
I have no complaints. Just got hired as a therapist at an addiction treatment center, my kids are thriving and all doing well in their own homes with their own jobs. I’m getting ready to receive my $2,000 sign-on bonus with my first check, so right at $3,300 to $3,500. Not too shabby. 😎
Josh and I are cohabitating, as usual. He’s my best friend. Nobody’s been there for me for so many years (almost 18!). Mom is doing well too. I go see her when I can (which is several times per week) and stay the night with her on Saturdays so I can go to Church with her on Sunday mornings, then I’ll go to my church on Sunday nights. God is so faithful with His blessings!
We’ll stay here at the mobile home for a bit longer, but soon, we’ll be able to get a nice 2 to 3 BR house and I cannot WAIT. I definitely want my own home office.
It’s 9:06 pm and 5:30 am comes early! I like to wake up early enough to have my time with the Lord (prayer/anoint myself/Word/Bible) as well as get a bit of work done before heading to the office.
It’s been a long road, almost 12 years maintaining my blog. When I first created Monochromejunkie, I was just toying with the idea of getting an education. I wanted to be a Serial Killer Profiler so signed up for Criminal Justice, then switched my major to Social Work (hated it), then switched my major again, to Psychology and I loved it. When I added on a CPC/Certification in Substance Abuse- I knew I’d discovered my passion.
I spent the next 3 years pursuing my Master’s degree in Psychology and Addiction Counseling. I absolutely loved it. My passion isn’t for just any area in the field of Substance Abuse, but particularly those in recovery- who have just entered rehab, and ultimately detox. Most rehab programs are 28 to 30 days in length, of which 7 of those days are spent in heavily monitored medical detox and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).
There are successful rehab programs, but I haven’t heard a lot of talk about the importance of a strong after-care program. Things like beginning to go to AA/NA meetings, short term and long term goals, helping them work out transportation with free programs like THRIVE- an organization which helps those in recovery with 8 rides per month to AA meetings. Also, encouraging the clients to consider going to college for free using pell grants that don’t need to be repaid. I have a wealth of community services knowledge that will be super helpful as a Substance Abuse Counselor, and equally helpful in creating a structured after-care program.
So yeah, I created this blog to leave my thumbprint behind for my kids and family; a memorial of sorts. I always knew that I’d maintain my blog until I found not only my desired job, but career. And so I have.
I won’t be deactivating my blog, but will be posting a lot less because my goals have been accomplished! I may still pop in from time to time with a nature shot here or there, but for the most part, my blog will serve as a timestamp of a decade (and some change) of my academic journey, and photo collection- a time capsule, if you will.
For Gav: I saw this in colour on my morning walk down an alley yesterday, but my brain immediately converted it to black and white & I thought of you. 😉 Hope you like it. xx
m o n o c h r o m e j u n k i e † 