Accepting the mind soup

     My head is a strange place at the moment. It's like a swirly soup of positivity and hopelessness. Mmm, tasty. The exciting plan to be a vet nurse is looking less and less likely. I've been in touch with all the registered training practices in and around the local area to see if any are taking on trainees. None of them are and none will even take me for work experience for a few hours a week. So I've started asking all the local vets about work experience/ volunteering and thus far nobody has got back to me. This has essentially put a stop to my plans for now as I can't even get on a course without any recent veterinary experience. Hmph.
    
 The other plan is to do a course in dog grooming. The problem with this is that to do the more recognised City & Guilds qualification I would have to stop work and that is something I can't really afford to do. There are online courses I can do, but generally employers prefer more hands-on qualifications. I've been in touch with a couple of local groomers to ask if I can help out for a few hours a week while studying to help gain some practical experience. So far I've not had any luck there either.
     
Despite all plans being on hold at the moment, I'm feeling unusually motivated again. At the weekend I got taken to a jewellery and silversmithing fair by my sister (who is learning both these crafts among others as part of her degree). Seeing all the artists and crafts-people contentedly making a living out of soomething they love doing reminded me that it is possible to do the same, I just have to work hard to get there and have a little patience. The weekend also found me making an unplanned visit to the British Museum with an old friend to do some drawing. The trip reminded me it is important to make time for the things I enjoy as well as my responsibilites and the serious stuff. Chatting with my friend about life, jobs and the various projects I have on the go proved to be quite stimulating. I feel determined to get things done, in spite of the current lack of opportunities.
    
  For now I'm settling in to the mindset that although I may have to wait a while to get somewhere I want to be, it will be worth it in the end. Things could certainly be a lot worse and I feel rather zen about it all right now ( this feeling is currently being helped by my little ratty perched on my knee like a mini lap-cat).