Time for a Change...

My career.
It has been an interesting and constantly evolving creature.
From 1996-2011 my career only had one identity: Illustrator / Graphic Designer.
I worked for just 2 firms.
My first job, I was pretty lucky. Landed it right out of school. Worked there for 8 years.
My second job lasted 7+ years. When I left that job (my last Design position) in 2011, I took some time to explore other fields. Up until that point, Graphic Design was the only job, other than my 6 years of service in the United States Marine Corps Reserves, I had ever known since 1996. Perhaps, I theorized, a little change was needed.
Over the span of 4 years I've worked several jobs that were not associated in any way with Illustration / Design.
I worked some retail jobs...hard work & low pay.
I Worked at a school district as a Noon-time Aide and as a Paraprofessional...hard work, fun to be around kids and the pay was a little better but the hours were not plentiful.
I worked briefly at a Diary...hard, HARD work and the pay was indeed better. 23 year old "me" could have stuck it out but 43 year old "me" said, get out of there!!!
I worked as, and still am, a Supervisor for a Security Firm...interesting work, I'll just leave it there.
I learned a lot about dealing with people and learned a lot about myself.
One of the greatest lessons you can learn as an adult is humility.
I never looked down at blue collar people who worked retail, dug ditches or delivered the mail.
Now though, I have learned a whole new respect for those folks.
The "Golden Rule" has a much deeper more valuable meaning to from my experiences of the past 4 years.
During all that time I still continued to work as a Freelance Illustrator / Graphic Designer.
Now I believe I've come full circle.
I feel in my heart that I'm ready to go back to the Design World.
I found some aspect or another of all of those jobs interesting but not as "fulfilling" as I felt when I could stand up, step back and take a look at something I toiled for hours to create. At the end of the day I worked hard, but still felt the need to be creative.
My career has evolved. 
My career has broadened.
My career has stamina.
My career will be changing!
On that note....stay tuned!
-L.
3-5-2015