Dear Joe:

I read your whole last post. I like: ” I am capable of it (teaching)”- I like you feeling capable.
“and I feel like I need to pursue teaching because there is more job stability in teaching than in freelance illustration.”- makes sense.

So having read your last post, you decided to not take on the China deal. I think it is a good choice: too many variables there… and the wearing of a mask (would be a deal breaker for me). So teaching, yes, adults (no behavioral problems on the part of the students) or kids. Yes, teaching- teaching art/ English/ other?

You wrote that you were in a bad, bitter place a year ago when you wrote your first post, but you were still YOU and there is a lot to learn from all your writings on this website, integrate all.

I still think separating from your family is a good, good … good idea.

You wrote: “Almost like I want to be the hero of my own story to go on a quest to overcome whatever it is I need to overcome and return victorious.” And you listed stories to illustrate the quest. I know one that influenced me a whole lot, and it was the quest of Atreyu, the child warrior in the 1984 movie The Never Ending Story. Did you watch it (and not the horrendous sequel)? This seems so fitting to you, from my viewpoint, having watched the movie. You make like to watch it for your artistic interest alone. Not a big budget film but … if you didn’t watch it, will you? Please do and let me know?

anita