Photo by Asael Peña on Unsplash

Since December of last year, I have been living with a foot injury sustained at work. I've been paid worker's comp, seen all the doctors and am scheduled for surgery next month. When I started my current job, I loved it. I was a Starbucks barista whose only care was making a good cup of coffee in an efficient manner.

This injury is the stuff of nightmares. It was such a fluke. I literally stepped on a single ice cube. My foot barely slipped. I didn't fall. But my plantar fascia (the part that gives you heel pain) tore and healed up wrong. I also ended up with tarsal tunnel (which is carpal tunnel for your foot). I believe I have a third problem that has largely been ignored--constant pain in the side of my foot that is unrelated to the other two diagnoses, but began with this injury.

What I'm saying is: I have been well taken care of by my company. It's getting close to time for me to head back to work. But, assuming this surgery does resolve my problems, I can't go back to work. I'm high risk for Coronavirus. Beyond that, I don't know that I should go back. I have not enjoyed my job for a long time--to the point that going in makes me miserable. I'll do what I have to for a paycheck, but I do wish I made enough money to write and teach full time.

That's what I've been working on during quarantine. I've been writing on Hive and Medium as well as for the Center for Creative Writing blog. I have students in two of my current classes. I have a potential student waiting for my response on how to set up a private session. I'm doing what I love and it has been incredible for my brain.

I don't want to go back to another job! I want to keep growing my writing and teaching business and pursue my dream. But, money.

Ah well. I do enjoy the many perks of working at Starbucks. Again, I'm well taken care of with this injury. And free coffee? Count me in. Plus there are so many other benefits I utilize whenever possible. I think I'll be sad if I do have to move on from the family culture of my job, but I know that it may be time for me to make that choice.

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I teach blogging, expressive writing for traumatic release and recovery and host generative writing sessions at the Center for Creative Writing. Write with me!