Today at work, I had a four hour training on dealing with change or more accurately, transitions. I won't say that that the training was terribly helpful, but it was interesting to see what "management" thinks we need to learn. Right now, dramatic things are changing in my office, and its not my favorite. The problem isn't the changes - I actually think they will be great for everyone involved, maybe more work. No the problem is that the things we are going to be using aren't ready yet. Its a struggle to figure out what we are supposed to be doing when the software we are supposed to be using isn't working yet. We'll get there, but we're not there yet.
In fact, I feel like the training was more applicable with my personal life rather than my job. In my personal life, I can take the steps necessary to let go of the past and embrace the future. I don't really have that same control with job.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Decisions, Decisions
Prior to my last post, I had been thinking about something for a bit, sort of a dream, but I thought it was out of my reach. That it was something that PB wasn't going to want, and I've asked too much of him the past couple of years to throw something else at him. A couple weeks ago, we went to a friend's wedding in Chicago and caught up with a bunch of people that I hadn't realized I missed. At the wedding, I talked about my dream with one of my friends and about how I couldn't put PB through all that. She asked me if I had asked him, and I realized that I had not. I just assumed he wouldn't agree to it or wouldn't support me making even more changes to his life. So, after my last blog post, I asked him. I told him what I was thinking, what I was dreaming, how I was feeling, and I was happily surprised that he wasn't against it. I'm constantly amazed my his faith in me, and his willingness to support me.
So, this week I took the first step. I filled out an application. Now, I have to wait. It will be a long waiting period - and it leaves me in limbo for a long time, but this finally feels right. It feels right in a great, jumping up and down excitment kind of way. It makes my heart glow. Perhaps its a step I should have taken several years ago, but now, after years of dreaming, I'm ready to try. I may fail. Most people fail, but that's alright. I'll never know if I don't try.
So, this week I took the first step. I filled out an application. Now, I have to wait. It will be a long waiting period - and it leaves me in limbo for a long time, but this finally feels right. It feels right in a great, jumping up and down excitment kind of way. It makes my heart glow. Perhaps its a step I should have taken several years ago, but now, after years of dreaming, I'm ready to try. I may fail. Most people fail, but that's alright. I'll never know if I don't try.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Shattered Dreams
Today for the first time in a while I looked at this blog. I read many, but not all, of my old posts. I can't help but feel how much I've changed. I look back on those past, hopeful posts and see a future that never was, a me I never became. While I see a reflection of my former self in those posts, they no longer fit the skin of the current me.
I know I've told some of you that I felt like a failure that my Chicago job didn't work out. I've come to realize that its more than that. I do like my current job, but I've begun to feel like I gave up on the dreams of the girl that I once was. I wanted to BE someone, to do something, to change something. Now, I'm much like the person that was my former-self's nightmare. I feel as though I let myself down. I took an easy, acceptable track instead of following the path less traveled. I wanted to be more than the person that I've become. I only wish I knew how to explain what I mean.
The girl I was, she was naive and full of infinite possibilities. Now, I feel like I've closed doors and built myself a box, a cage, really. The cage is nice, full of cozy nooks - very comfortable, but still a cage. I'm not going anywhere. I'm not changing the world.
But then, I think about what I do. Unlike my high paying, former hellhole of a job, I actually like what this job does. While I deal with people at a low point in their lives (let's be honest - its pretty bad if you are talking to me), I feel like I have the potential to really make a difference, to give someone hope when they have none, to influence a person's future choices, to help them see the possibility that their lives still hold. Its sad that I'm not seeing that for myself right now. The people I work with are good at what they do, passionate, and really the best of the best. I've heard it said more than once that I work at the best office for what I do in that nation. Still, its not enough for me. I'm not sure what will be. I have thoughts - but they would mean abandoning my cage, and I'm not ready to try that again. I just need to feel challenged again, but in a way that makes me feel like a success.
I'm beginning to feel like the hellhole stole something from me, not sure what. I think its a bit of my self-worth, and I hate that I let those assholes take it from me. I think its a bit of my self-respect and that makes me even angrier. I know its all of my physical fitness (why did I let that happen and why can't I get myself to fight to get that back?).
I know I've told some of you that I felt like a failure that my Chicago job didn't work out. I've come to realize that its more than that. I do like my current job, but I've begun to feel like I gave up on the dreams of the girl that I once was. I wanted to BE someone, to do something, to change something. Now, I'm much like the person that was my former-self's nightmare. I feel as though I let myself down. I took an easy, acceptable track instead of following the path less traveled. I wanted to be more than the person that I've become. I only wish I knew how to explain what I mean.
The girl I was, she was naive and full of infinite possibilities. Now, I feel like I've closed doors and built myself a box, a cage, really. The cage is nice, full of cozy nooks - very comfortable, but still a cage. I'm not going anywhere. I'm not changing the world.
But then, I think about what I do. Unlike my high paying, former hellhole of a job, I actually like what this job does. While I deal with people at a low point in their lives (let's be honest - its pretty bad if you are talking to me), I feel like I have the potential to really make a difference, to give someone hope when they have none, to influence a person's future choices, to help them see the possibility that their lives still hold. Its sad that I'm not seeing that for myself right now. The people I work with are good at what they do, passionate, and really the best of the best. I've heard it said more than once that I work at the best office for what I do in that nation. Still, its not enough for me. I'm not sure what will be. I have thoughts - but they would mean abandoning my cage, and I'm not ready to try that again. I just need to feel challenged again, but in a way that makes me feel like a success.
I'm beginning to feel like the hellhole stole something from me, not sure what. I think its a bit of my self-worth, and I hate that I let those assholes take it from me. I think its a bit of my self-respect and that makes me even angrier. I know its all of my physical fitness (why did I let that happen and why can't I get myself to fight to get that back?).
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Its official
As of today, I have informed my employer and co-workers that my last day on the job will be March 26, 2010. This morning the bf also informed them that he was leaving. I think that next month will involve us traveling a bit. I'm thinking the Grand Canyon, Phoenix, San Diego, LA, and San Francisco. Maybe doing a bit of the Northwest. I'm nervous and excited.
Friday, March 05, 2010
To Buy or Not to Buy
This weekend I'm headed out to look at apartments and houses and condos. I'm in a weird place right now given the fuzziness with my job situation -- I kind of have a job, but not really. I'm debating about whether to buy or rent. Here's my options:
1) rent a nice 2-3 bedroom apartment (dishwasher, washer/dryer hookups, garage, central air) for about $750-$1000 in a fun/good area.
2) buy a 3 bedroom house in a good school district (but not really fun area) for $200,000-$250,000.
3) buy a 2 bedroom condo (maintenance fee of $150/month) in a good area that's close to the fun area for about $115,000.
I have enough money for a good downpayment on either of the purchasing options, and the tax credit seems like an awesome deal (especially for the condos), but I'm not sure I want to be locked into a condo and I'm not sure I'm financially in a position to purchase a house before the end of April.
So I guess I'll see what I see. Anyone have any thoughts?
1) rent a nice 2-3 bedroom apartment (dishwasher, washer/dryer hookups, garage, central air) for about $750-$1000 in a fun/good area.
2) buy a 3 bedroom house in a good school district (but not really fun area) for $200,000-$250,000.
3) buy a 2 bedroom condo (maintenance fee of $150/month) in a good area that's close to the fun area for about $115,000.
I have enough money for a good downpayment on either of the purchasing options, and the tax credit seems like an awesome deal (especially for the condos), but I'm not sure I want to be locked into a condo and I'm not sure I'm financially in a position to purchase a house before the end of April.
So I guess I'll see what I see. Anyone have any thoughts?
Thursday, March 04, 2010
I'm blind
Yesterday, I went to the eye doctor. Nothing terribly unusual there. I go once a year. I went to the same doctor I had gone to the year before. I knew that my vision had gotten worse.
As the title of this post indicates, I'm blind. My old perscription was a -9.0, and things had gotten pretty fuzzy (at least on the left side). When I told my doctor this, I got a 20 minute lecture on how I was too old for my eyes to still be growing (and getting worse), and that I wasn't really more blind that I had been before, and that she wasn't going to increase my perscription even though I wanted her to. I looked at her dubiously and told her, "Whatever, but you're fuzzy and you are sitting 2 feet from me." This launched her into another diatribe about how I wasn't gonna get a higher perscription out of her.
Then she did my vision test.
I walked out of there with a -9.5 lens in my right eye and a -10.0 in my left. She blamed my vision change on birth control. I blame it on practicing law.
As the title of this post indicates, I'm blind. My old perscription was a -9.0, and things had gotten pretty fuzzy (at least on the left side). When I told my doctor this, I got a 20 minute lecture on how I was too old for my eyes to still be growing (and getting worse), and that I wasn't really more blind that I had been before, and that she wasn't going to increase my perscription even though I wanted her to. I looked at her dubiously and told her, "Whatever, but you're fuzzy and you are sitting 2 feet from me." This launched her into another diatribe about how I wasn't gonna get a higher perscription out of her.
Then she did my vision test.
I walked out of there with a -9.5 lens in my right eye and a -10.0 in my left. She blamed my vision change on birth control. I blame it on practicing law.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Of drug tests and physicals
After a weekend of excitment (how times have changed when outlet mall shopping, a nice dinner, and a baby shower with old friends can be considered excitment), I came back to the real world of Chicago. Yesterday, I received a letter telling me the location of the medical facility for my physical as required for my potential future job.
This morning, I called to schedule my phyical, the phyical that is required before I can find out my start date or salary for potential future job. I thought - no big deal. But it is- next appointment date=APRIL 29. That's right, I'm left in limbo land for approximately 2 months. While I'm not terribly concerned about the physical, I am slightly worried. As you know, my elbow injury has left me with some limitations on my range of motion, and this has the potential to be a problem for potential future job. Also, apparently gall bladder disease can occasionally be a problem (and we all know that I no longer have a gall bladder).
This leaves me with a number of questions. Do I apply for other jobs (seems like a bad idea cause it might piss people off, including my references, since I already provisionally accepted potential future job)? What date do I decide for my last day at this one (oh I wish you were tomorrow finish date)? Should I go ahead and rent an apartment in the STL starting in April (my lease here ends at the end of March) or should I try to talk my landlord into an extra month?
On better news, I had my drug test today. That's a weird experience. They lock your purse in a cabinet, and your coat outside the door. No flushing or washing your hands until the person comes back.
This morning, I called to schedule my phyical, the phyical that is required before I can find out my start date or salary for potential future job. I thought - no big deal. But it is- next appointment date=APRIL 29. That's right, I'm left in limbo land for approximately 2 months. While I'm not terribly concerned about the physical, I am slightly worried. As you know, my elbow injury has left me with some limitations on my range of motion, and this has the potential to be a problem for potential future job. Also, apparently gall bladder disease can occasionally be a problem (and we all know that I no longer have a gall bladder).
This leaves me with a number of questions. Do I apply for other jobs (seems like a bad idea cause it might piss people off, including my references, since I already provisionally accepted potential future job)? What date do I decide for my last day at this one (oh I wish you were tomorrow finish date)? Should I go ahead and rent an apartment in the STL starting in April (my lease here ends at the end of March) or should I try to talk my landlord into an extra month?
On better news, I had my drug test today. That's a weird experience. They lock your purse in a cabinet, and your coat outside the door. No flushing or washing your hands until the person comes back.
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