I promised you guys I’d keep you updated on My Hero’s Journey.

I’ve talked to some people, and I’ve gotten my old job back. It’s a good deal, and a good place, and I’m grateful for the opportunity they’ve given me (props to ya peeps, you know who you are). I’ll be back at work on Monday, it’s a full time gig. So while I expect my posts at Life Coaches Blog to come a bit slower, I’ll still update regularly (goal is 3 posts a week…enough for my adoring public? ).

Coming face to face with my Evil One, financial lack, has been a very clarifying experience. I’ve started talking with my dad and my brother more honestly about the matter, drawing the information out and making plans. The pain of not having enough money to pay the mortage has been good in a way; it’s drop-kicked our asses into action in a way we should have done earlier but didn’t.

It’s also made me more focused and practical, and I feel a lot more grounded now. I’ve set some financial targets for myself in a year’s time that I’m determined to reach, and it’s also made me more determined to make this pro-blog a success.

Hmm.

Can I stretch it a bit and call my room repainting disaster my Supreme Ordeal? Haha :p Hey, it was really tough! There were so many times I felt like giving up. I’ll level with you, on day 1 I’d finished 3 walls, it was late, and I was exhausted. A seductive little voice floated into my head; ‘hey, it doesn’t look too bad to keep that wall blue. Makes it stand out. A lone blue wall…it’s really unique you know. Keep it…screw this painting thing-I mean, it looks good really.’

I almost listened, but I knew somewhere at the back of my head it was the voice of my laziness wanting to keep me in my comfy zone. Even though it sounded tempting, deep inside I knew buying that ‘one blue wall was unique’ rationlization would have been a cop-out. But hoorah for perseverence! I blasted through that night and now I have 4 complete white walls instead of 3.

I just realized as I was writing this, in a strange way, I’m on my journey home. Since I started out in the ordinary world of my old job and then crossed the threshold to leave it, it makes sense in an eerie kind of way that I’m now going back after my adventures in the new world!

I know it sounds uncanny, in a way I still can’t believe it myself, but it does seem to fit. I’m not going to stretch it and say that every situation in life corresponds to the Hero’s Journey, but I do believe that it offers us a good reflective map of various of our life’s paths.

Where then, is my Treasure? A hero can’t possibly face down the evil one, and return home without his treasure right?

I’m going to go with this:

1) I’ve spent great times with my best of friends and I’ve mangaged to help a couple with their own ventures, but that doesn’t even compare to the deepening of friendships I’ve forged with them. I’ll never forget that lazy monday afternoon I spent with one of my best friends just chilling and talking about everything, and that plane we saw flying across a clear blue sky. I’ve also participated in more forums and blogs and made some nice international friends that without this blog I don’t think I would ever have. All this was possible only because of the flexible hours I enjoyed as a freelancer compared to a full-time employee.

2) The knowledge and insight I’ve gained over the last 3 months has been invaluable. I started focusing more on the blog, if you’ve noticed my posts have become more frequent in the last 3 months, and I’ve seen the results for that come in. I’ve learnt a lot more about problogging and where I want to take Life Coaches Blog into the future. I’m happy I had the time to redesign Life Coaches Blog, which would have been a long hard drive if I had to do it while juggling the demands of a full-time job.

3) A girlfriend, which was a complete but pleasant surprise. I seriously would not have gotten to know her at all if I hadn’t been a freelancer, our schedules would have been too different. ‘Nuff said

4) The painful, but much needed reality check. The year ahead seems like it’s going to be a little tough, a little lean, but with the truth out, plans can be made, and I’m actually feeling hopeful.

And that’s how I’d like to end this post. How do I feel? I feel hopeful. And all heroes who return home, find a new adventure calling them in time. I’m not sure what mine’ll be, but I look forward to it.

Thanks to all of you for your encouragements, they’ve been a great help.