strange but good...

well, the day started simply enough... woke up at 6am, sat around drinking coffee and writing in my notebook for an hour, hopped in the shower, got dressed, and headed off to work. after clocking in and reading the note that had been left for me (detailing a project that had been handed off to me in spite of declining the promotion i was offered last week that working on this project would have been a requirement of), i'd decided i'd had my fill of being completely railroaded by corporate management. shortly after being hired, i realized that my particular skill set was being exploited more often than not - meaning i was not hired to do the jobs i was doing and i wasn't being paid accordingly either. today, it reached a point of such utter ridiculousness that i faced a pretty daunting ethical dilemma: stay and willfully, knowingly allow myself to be exploited further or leave and forfeit the financial security i've enjoyed for the past several months. not a comfortable situation to find oneself in.

i decided to make a call to a person higher up the chain in the corporate structure and explain what has been going on since the time of my hire and that i had declined the promotion i was offered just to find myself scheduled to do that exact job. i knew to expect the typical corporate double-talk but i didn't expect to be insulted over and over again by this person.

the result was that i ended up calling this person out on their rude and misguided perceptions of who i am, that the company has acted unethically, and that my expectation at that point was to receive the fair financial compensation that follows the job function i was currently performing. logical, right? well, logic has no place in corporate greed as evidenced by the current economic crisis we find ourselves in.

though this person then began to apologize for the things they had said, i was nevertheless told that it's my responsibility to do what i'm told to do, without question, and that they will pay me whatever they feel like paying me. that was the wrong answer and i quit on the spot. i was honestly shocked that this person would rather let a worthwhile and competent employee walk out the door rather than pay a few bucks more an hour. stunned, angered, but also extremely relieved to be done with this.

a few days ago, i posted a blog about the benefits of being a worker-bee. i still believe that there is a benefit to answering to a boss, maintaining a schedule, and being in an environment where a person can hone the practice of humility... but i would never suggest that a person allow themselves to be used, taken advantage of, or exploited by anyone for any reason. i will not operate from a position of fear, and though the art business is a risky one, i'd rather work day and night to make ends meet than be forced to cow tow to an unethical, abusive entity. no thanks.

when i got home, there was an email waiting for me from white columns. i held my breath. some months ago, i had applied for inclusion in their curated artist registry and their response had finally arrived. i was more than nervous to open the email because last year i'd opened a rejection. well, not today friends! YAY!!!! i am so happy and thankful and, when i think about all the positive changes and opportunities that have come my way lately, i'm really starting to think that right now is the right time to really make the biggest push i can to get my work out in to the world. i am no stranger to struggle and i am eager to pay my dues because when it comes right down to it, art is the most important thing in the world... it is the best that we can offer each other and i am endlessly proud of the fact that i have been given the opportunity to take part in the discourse.

the day was a strange one, full of unexpected turns and difficult decisions, but also some equally unexpected recognition and reward.

there are honest people out there and i'm glad to search them out and eliminate those who are not from my life. i am glad to do what it takes to be honorable, respectable, and ethical. i have no regrets about what happened today - i came home, put on some coffee, and got right to work on the new embroidered territories piece. i've been working for 6 hours on it and am ready for 6 more.