I've so enjoyed all the retrospective and introspective threads detailing everyone's YLF lessons and experiences from 2011 and goals for 2012. So positive, optimistic, inspiring, and fun!

In that light, I'm reluctant to admit that I feel like I'm in a slump. I joined YLF in 2010. I spent all of 2010 and now all 2011 playing the "hurry-up-and-wait" game. When I joined in 2010, I was in need of reinventing myself and rediscovering who I was after some health issues and a traumatic failed relationship had impacted my sense of self and self-esteem for too long.

However, in both 2010 and 2011 I found myself in the position of being a senior in college-- twice in a row. Despite badly needing a wardrobe overhaul, I felt (and received lots of advice) that I should wait for the most part until I knew what my life and work situation were going to be like.

I graduated in August of this year and finished my temp job in September. I started looking for full-time employment, and have been looking unsuccessfully ever since. The employer that I had worked for started working on creating new long-term positions doing what I had done for them. It took them a while to secure funding, but I was hopeful. The positions were officially funded in November, and announced in December. Interviews should begin in January. Initially my immediate supervisor expressed that she would like to hire me for one of the positions if she was to get funding (I am uniquely qualified for the position). As soon as I heard that funding had come through I was very hopeful that I would have a job. Now, a couple months later, it seems as if I'll be lucky to get an interview. There is still a chance of me getting one of the positions, but I am less hopeful.

In addition to the obvious frustrations surrounding the employment situation, it also means that I'm still in LIMBO wardrobe-wise. My current wardrobe needs are much different than they would be if I was to get the job, and those needs are probably way different than my needs would be with a different job or in a different area (even my casual and weekend needs). Exactly where I've been for 2.5 years now.