8:31am Arizona, in the office. My daughter is in eighth grade. The week before last were parent/teacher conferences for the first quarter. She is doing well in school. However she has a tendency to zone out and doodle on her assignments. This happens in a more than one class so it isn’t subject related. She would rather be creating something than be bored. as a parent it was my duty to tell her the importance of paying attention, I think I even told her to suck it up and get through the school year. But is that good advice? Here I am in the same situation. I am bored at work, the things I do don’t interest me and I am escaping by creating something. Is this human nature? Or is it a sign I am wasting my time on things that I shouldn’t? Do you ever get to do what you truly want?
Category: Work
Tuesday
5:51am Tuesday morning, Arizona, apartment. Yesterday was exhausting. I drank too much beer Sunday and was feeling it the moment I got up. I wasn’t sick, I just felt tired. And depressed. I went home for lunch and took a nap. That seemed to help. When I got back I had a meeting with my new boss. She wants to be helpful but it looks like it will be more of the same. We will be able to hire more staff, something that has been on hold the past two months while the sale goes through. That will be nice. She told me she will be in and out of the office the next three weeks along with others. That seems unnecessary and a little excessive but I welcome the attention after months of being ignored. Anyway, I feel better today and look forward to a productive day.
Success?
7:25am Sunday morning. On my walk I felt anxious. The reason I felt that way is because I have had so many opportunities to succeed; jobs, businesses, writing. Yet I have not found sustainable results. The question I ask is; am I a failure? I suppose it depends on what I mean by “success.” If I am measuring it by possessions and numbers in my bank account then the answer is “yes.”But beyond those measures do I really feel I failed? Perhaps I have unrealistic expectations. The road to success is not easy, nor constant. I lived life the way I wanted to live it. Honoring the goals I deemed important. Sure, not everything has gone smooth, I have had challenges. But I am not going to change, I can’t change. I don’t want to change. This is who I am and who I will be until the bitter end. (That made me think of a song) “if you need a shoulder, or if you need a friend. I’ll be here standing, until the bitter end..” Rocket Queen by Guns and Roses-/. What I am saying is I like who I am. Some results suck. Like changing jobs every year,being away from my daughter, being in debt, not communicating with the WIL. But those are consequences of life lived. I am still moving forward. I will reach for new goals while trying to get back to those I love, connect with those I lost and honoring commitments I already made.
Jobs
2:01pm. There are two jobs in San Diego county I could apply for. There was one in Orange County I did apply for but didn’t give much effort to get. What I am saying is there are opportunities to return to Southern California. Yet I am hesitant. I miss my daughter and I want to be close to her. But there are bad memories. Was I really happy there? Was I in a good place? last I remember I was tens of thousands of dollars in debt and just laid off from a my ninth job in nine years- a job I had all of three months. Forgive me if I am not eager to jump back in.
Friday
6:42am Friday. My old boss reached out to me earlier this week. I haven’t seen her for years. Haven’t talked to her very much lately. She moved to Washington state. We got along well, even earned our mba’s together. She texted me and said she might be coming to Phoenix in December/January. It would be good to see her. I felt happy when I heard from her. I haven’t felt happiness for a while. I am tired of feeling mopey!
Jobs
6:14am Arizona, home. I realize I don’t like sales jobs. I don’t apply for them any more. I don’t like operations jobs either. Yet I am enticed by the money they pay and the challenge of getting a job. I need to be disciplined and have stability. Be a chaplain and find my thrills some other way than getting jobs I don’t like.
Rhythm
9:57am Monday, at work l. The week has a rhythm. Sunday at 2pm energy drops low and contours to go down throughout the evening. Monday morning is still low. Then there is a slight perk up as the day begins and evening comes. I survived the first day. But that energy is short lived. Tuesday comes like a second Monday. Wednesday feels heavy but picks up after lunch. By Wednesday evening I can see the finish line. Thursday is filled with anticipation. Friday is wonderful. Saturday is a time of enjoyment and Sunday morning is peaceful. Then it all starts again. I look to read the most on Sunday evening. I want commiseration.
New
8:30am Friday, in the office. I hurried into the office this morning to check my email. I was expecting a notice from corporate. Talent acquisition had extended offers to a number of candidates. It was imperative we get them on board. The news was good. “Candidate accepted offer; start date in two weeks.” I felt happy. Now I can begin planning for a more certain future.
Frustrating
8:24am Thursday. The calls come in first thing in the morning. Angry family members, disappointed referral sources. They have expectations for service and they cannot be met. There is not enough staff. We have stopped bringing on clients and the census is going down but it is still too much for those that are trying to provide care.
New boss
6:49am Wednesday. The new bosses are coming to the office today. They will arrive at 10 and leave by noon. It is an informal meeting before the acquisition closes next month. I don’t have many expectations. They didn’t choose me and I didn’t choose them. These relationships seldom work out. I will keep an open mind.
While laying in bed I thought about the importance of staying in the present. When I focus on the moment at hand I am happy. If I plan too far ahead or spend too much time thinking about the past I get sad. I don’t like being sad. I am taking time off next week to spend time in California with my daughter. That is as far as I will look ahead. Nothing else is guaranteed.
I dreamt about the WIL last night. I was an usher at a church. She walked in with her husband. Her and I didn’t talk but her husband stayed behind. He got close to me and tried to intimidate me. I kept it casual and asked how the three boys were doing. He told me the one was in the hospital. I was alarmed and asked for more details but now I can’t recall what he said. I am not sure what to make of the dream.