Number!

It's a small thing, but I finally got my permanent volunteer number on the hotline today.

I guess I'm.... official...? Graduated? Accepted as staying? No Longer a Newbie?

It takes several months before they figure out of you're going to stay or not.

A lot of people leave.

I had no idea beforehand- I just showed up for my shift and suddenly I had my number.

For the most part I like the hotline and I don't mind going there and the time commitment.

It gets me out of my own head in a way that I really need sometimes.  Other things get me out of my head too, but the hotline does it in a particular kind of way that is hard to describe, on a different level, and I didn't even realize that until recently. Its a balance I need somehow.

Anyhow, I have my official number and have made it through the Newbie Months.

Being new on the hotline is very, very difficult and extremely weird and scary but it did get a lot better.

It's the kind of thing you have to get used to and then it's fine.  But it does take a while.

I'm glad I stuck it out.