When Dreams Actually Do Come True

So about a year ago, I wrote a little joke piece about a supposedly profitable side hustle: dog poop pickup.

You can read about it here.

As luck would have it, at about the same time I was writing this piece, my future boss was actually starting a company exactly like this.

Two weeks ago, I was sitting at home on a Friday night scanning all my job alert emails as I often do. And finally, the perfect job came up:

• Only one day a week, maybe picking up a second day down the track.
• Working completely on my own, so nobody to talk to or slow me down.
• Flexibility to start at whatever time suits me, which is a game-changer for someone with an unpredictable toddler.
• Pay for eight hours, but if I work quickly and get it done early, I can finish early.

• And I get to play with dogs without my old vet nursing responsibilities.

I immediately jumped into action and applied.

The following day, I received a call from the company's owner. He was blown away by my application and pretty much wanted to hire me on the spot, but he realised he should get me to do a trial first.

So last Thursday, I attended my trial and got the job. For the first time in three years, I’m returning to the workforce.

What started out as a little joke has actually become the perfect job for me.

I’m not sure what my job title is, but I now officially pick up dog poop for a living.

So, to answer my own question from my previous story:

If they poop ’em, will I scoop ’em?

Yes, if they poop ’em, I will most definitely scoop ’em.

I finished my first shift yesterday. It was a lot of physical work; my muscles are aching today. I finished just in time to come home, have a shower and get my son from daycare. I was so tired that I was in bed by 7:30 p.m. last night, but it felt good to be finally providing for my family again.

All jokes aside, this has also come with a very tough decision to make.

Up until now, I’ve always committed to posting one piece on Vocal per week, and that day was Wednesday, when I will now have to work. I would usually finish writing my piece, post it and then start reading everyone else’s stories.

I’m so tired guys, I just don’t think I can keep it all up, and sadly, something has to go. I’m running a Facebook page to try to promote my book. I’m trying to write a new book, but I haven’t had the energy to look at it in weeks.

Since I can’t turn down my paying job and disappoint all those dogs waiting to see me, I’m going to have to slow down on my writing for Vocal.

I’ll still be here; I can’t let go of Vocal that easily. But I’ll probably only be posting once a month now instead of once a week.

I might already be slowly working on my next piece.

I really hope I’m wrong and that, in a few weeks' time, I realise I can still juggle everything, but I’ve already been struggling to keep up with everything I had before I started working, so I just can’t see how it will all fit into my life at my current capacity.

I still dream of the day when I can write full-time, earn a living from it, and be happy.

So for now, with a slightly heavy heart, it’s not goodbye.

It’s see you sometimes.