I’m not sure if I feel as brave and as together about all of this, as you make out. I’m in this weird place this week, where I’m much more relaxed about things, and getting keeping on top of my work, and keeping things moving (because instead of struggling with author corrections myself I’m putting them in the PA box of fun), but I know what’s really happening but other people don’t. They are busy interviewing this week for various production editor vacancies this week, and I know the people who are going for them. I think I’m now cool with it, but in truth I don’t know how I will react when there’s someone else sitting in my seat working on my journals…?

I’m also still a little scared (needlessly I know!) of what people will say when they find out that I’m moving on to do electronic journals again. I guess what I’m saying, is that I’m getting ‘there’ but I’m not ‘there’ yet.

And as for being proud to be my LJ friend, I’m just proud to have such nice people as Friends, Kelly! 🙂

The real lesson to all of us, in this, is how you cope with things. We all have our own particular challenges in life, some more than others, and I guess with Asperger’s you’ve got off relatively lightly. I’m impressed, though, by the way that you deal with things that would make people with no particular challenges absolutely despair and give up. Hmm, wonder if I’m making sense?

To begin with, I could have told you that there was no way Blackwell’s would ever let you go – the investment they’ve made in your training speaks for itself. So that was never going to be an issue. Of course, it’s always stressful to have a go at something and have it not work out, but there’s no more that anyone can ask of himself than to to try his best. That’s what you did – you gave it your best shot. The fact that it didn’t work out as you would have liked is pretty much irrelevant – you did your best, and noone can do more than that. What a star. Proud to be your LJ friend, Thomas 🙂

I think that one of my faults is that I far too worried about what people will say about me, and think of me, which is silly because most people, however kind, considerate and concientious of others they are, are far too involved in themselves to really care about that kind of detail.

Like Bill, has said, I need to learn to be able to look at myself in the mirror and accept me for what I am, and to see all the good things I’ve got going for me.

PS. And I’m sorry for worrying you with my previously cryptic posts. I did try to make it clear that it wasn’t anything really serious!! *grins*

At one point during The Three Long Years of Temphood I considered forgoing the publishing dream and just going for a job in university admin on the grounds that what I really wanted to do is write and all I needed was something to support my (I hope) (fairly) modest needs whilst I got there.

Brave? You say that, but I wasn’t really very quick at coming forward though was I? It took me a week of cryptic posts, and worrying my friends before I could write it.

Thanks, anyhow… *shrugs*

(…and possibly smiles)

I understand why you didn’t write about it before – it’s hard to admit when something isn’t working out. But I’m also glad you’ve decided to share it with us now. If you feel down about it in future, we’ll be here to perk you up! But from the sounds of things you’re dealing with everything very well.