My name is Giyen - pronounced GEE-yen (which rhymes with pee-yin).  I am a 34 year-old single mum of a 14 year-old girl named Paige.  We live in the lovely city of Seattle, Washington where there are more dogs per capita than children and more bookstores per capita than anywhere else in the United States.  Paige and I have a sometimes contentious relationship due to the fact that she is a born litigator and likes to argue every angle until (a.) I mentally shut down, (b.) I bring out the ugly voice or (c.) I buckle under the pressure of her extreme cross-examination.  God, I love that child more than anything (but at this juncture I don't have a dog so things could change).

Sometime in late February 2008 I woke up after a few restless hours of sleep and made the decision to resign.  Instead of doing what most rational people do in this predicament - find another job and then quit - I ran to work, wrote my resignation that day and set it on my boss's chair before I turned chicken shit.  Aside from parenthood, this act is the most significant thing I have ever done in my adult life.  In fact, it is also the most selfish and rash decision I have ever made.  I can only sum up my actions by saying that it was the greatest demonstration of love I could ever fathom showing myself.  I deserve to be happy.

Instead of getting a real job, I now do freelance consulting.  I still chuckle to think that people pay me for my opinion on things, but I think I do a good job.  When I am not working, I am chronicling my journey in life in a blog called "Bacon Is My Enemy".  I find myself in unchartered territory here, learning how to be a happy person after years of being the contrary. I truly believe that if someone with as much emotional baggage as I have can break free and live a happy and authentic life, then just about anyone can do it.  It's hard work, but it's worth it. 

Just like the other 16 million bloggers out there I hope to make a living from writing and consulting.  I have a lot to learn but I am optimistic because I am having so much fun.