I'll come back and write more detailed comments later, when I've looked at the resources people have mentioned, but right now just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has posted! This is clearly a big deal to me, and I really appreciate all of you taking time to comment on what is very clearly very off topic!
Breaking things into pieces is double-edged for me. Working out can obviously only be done piece by piece, but if I don't have a measurable overall goal (right now mine is "restore the bubble butt", but how do you measure that?), it's hard for me to keep at it. I'm starting this program--the webpage looks like total commercial trash, but I've worked with this trainer before, starting when I completely pulled the muscle that wraps from spine to thigh (the psoas) a few years ago. She was the only person who figured out what it was. Thousands of followers, but she remembers me, and apparently everyone else, by name and what's going on with me. So she's great, but somehow "do the thing daily" just doesn't work as a motivator for me.
https://glutecamp.redefiningst.....dium=progr I need to do something for upper body too, but will figure that out once I'm in an exercise groove. Oh, and there is a weekly free yoga session I want to check out--wouldn't hurt me to meet some new people!
On the more important issue--employment--I think I've broken it down too much and spent too much time dilly-dallying with a resume and LinkedIn site, to the point that they are becoming hedges against getting myself out there (& they still aren't finished). I tried this fall to find mentors by writing to people and asking for information interviews. Those aren't really done here, and the responses assumed that I was asking for a job--even though the letter expressly said I was not asking them to hire me.
I think what I need to do is start going to events in the field I want to work in (which is not academia or specifically the academic discipline I have a PhD in and have taught at universities), asking intelligent questions when appropriate, chatting with people afterwards, etc. That might lead to getting coffee (ie an informal info interview) later, and perhaps mentorship. And I need to start applying to what's out there. Many years ago, when I graduated from college, I sent out 60 letters asking for basically information interviews (even though I didn't know that phrase). I got a few responses, and two of those contacts forwarded my info on to the person who eventually hired me. I need to have the guts now that I had back then! Also, it's getting so dire that I really should just cold-call language schools and ask if they want an English instructor.
Stores close for 3 days in just over an hour, for New Year's, and I need food for this child, so will write more later. But thank you all again.
