Episode 29: Something Different

Recently, my schedule and a shift swap with a co-worker left me with a full 7 days away from work.

 

What better feeling is there than forgetting that I even have a job?

 

Time was spent hiking, writing, cooking, doing projects around the house...

 

I started to realize something... That in spite of the stresses and difficulties of this job, the PTO, the occasional stretches of days off, and the lack of "homework" may be worth it.

So I thought of some things I can change to make work a more sane experience:

 

1. Figure out the employee wi-fi and play my own playlist rather than the one local radio station that plays the same 40 songs over and over and over. Rocking out to tunes this week has already made a calm place at the center of a few storms.
 

2. Find ways to express individuality so that our uniform doesn't swallow me whole (like headbands and earrings). I'm amazed how much this has helped already.
 

3. Choose to be friendly to all co-workers and put all those past hurts in the past.
 

4. Remember that another person's anger or insecurity or rage is a problem they themselves need to deal with (just like I need to deal with mine). Their actions and words are not my problem. I will not make them my problem. This person and this person's issues are not my life. My life is in laughing with a co-worker, Netflix with Hubby, hiking through wild scenery, etc...
 

5. Always have a good breakfast before work. Being hungry makes me cranky...
 

6. Look at the menu ahead and get permission to pick up special ingredients or in the summer bring my own produce sometimes. Because it makes me feel good about what I'm doing... Aiming for excellence.
 

7. Most of all, forgive. Pray continually, give thanks, and choose joy (1 Thes. 5:16-18). This is so hard sometimes. It's a habit of mind I want to develop, to replace the habits of angst.

I make goals all the time. Some of them I laugh at a week later. I'm hoping I can make some of these stick, because I've decided to stop planning my escape and explore the possibilities of another option:  taking action to live fully right where I am.

 

Speaking of life, I've been breaking in my backpacking gear at home today, "hiking" around the house. Good times!