As my wonderful source of support and encouragement, I wanted to let you all know the reason behind my cryptic, anxiety-ridded post yesterday.

After about 4 years in the investing/wealth management field, I have given a month's notice in anticipation of a total career overhaul. My boss is wonderful and said he will try to help me transition out if he can find relevant contacts.

Right now, the overarching goal is to one day be able to do personal shopping, but I know I can't jump right in to that. I'm hoping I can get on staff at a department store that offers personal shopping services and eventually get into that program. Even if I can't get in, I have a lot of pies I can put my fingers in to cover my bills - Ebay, shopping for friends, temping, odd jobs. If I can get a job with benefits, DH and I would even be excited to up and move to a new state... who knows, maybe I will get to meet even more Fabbers one day!

I finally have enough saved that I feel I have the freedom to keep "moving toward the mountain" even if (and I know this is a possibility in this economy) I don't get hired for a very long time. I'm very much looking forward to having creativity and style be a larger part of my day as opposed to a sordid secret life.

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me to really listen to my needs and finally take a risk on a dream, long-shot and late start though it is. You do not know how long I thought such things were impossible - how long I tried to pretend it didn't matter. I feel like a great weight has been lifted.