It's a beautiful feeling @ericvancewalton! I moved to Minneapolis in 2010 with every intention of working at Allina medical. In Pennsylvania, I worked at a psychiatric hospital for 7 year and I have two degrees. I thought it would be easy to get a job here. I never even got as far as an interview and when the money started drying up, I just started walking in to local businesses in uptown and pitching my photography, graphic design, illustration or whatever they'd pay me for. After a couple years or that, I realized I'd actually fallen in to a workable [...albeit barely] freelance career. Things are much easier now, and Steemit has been a watershed development in the quality of life improvement, but it's the real freedom I feel people long for. Man, your quote about "people with dead eyes" really resonated with me. I only had a chance to meet you that one afternoon, but within our @caffetto group, that's one of the things I love most about company like @mada and @lovejoy. They're always excited about some crazy project or initiative. Great post!
Thank you, @kommienezuspadt! There are abundant jobs here but they are increasingly more difficult to get. This all played into the anxiety of stepping away from the job. I knew there was no possible way I could ever get that job back if I needed to, especially at 47 years old. I'm happy to hear you found a way and it's the better path, for sure. Steemit is a mecca and magnet for the kind of people who will thrive in this new world. I appreciate your comment!