Isn't life interesting?
Late in December, I signed up for Jennifer Louden's virtual retreat, Finding Calm, Confidence & Contentment in Uncertain Times because of the remarkable work Jen had been sharing on her blog about dealing with fear. On January 1, I decided that one of my three words for the year would be connected. Who knew that a week later I'd be knee deep in fear and uncertainty and in desperate need of connections?
As soon as I got back to my desk after I got the word about my layoff on Wednesday, I contacted my very good friend and former colleague, P, who commiserated with me and then told me about a potential opening at her company.
The next day, I talked with a former boss, M, who talked me down from the freak-out ledge, reminded me of all the people I worked with at my former company who would be willing to help me out, and offered his own help far above and beyond the simple recommendation I wanted.
I applied for the job at P's company and have an interview scheduled for tomorrow. I know my background fits but I also know she made sure the hiring manager knew about me.
When I chose connected as one of my words in 2009 in what I thought was a fun, throwaway exercise, I never guessed I'd need those connections so soon. I chose it because I was feeling a little detached. Now I feel grateful because I still have amazing people who are in my corner.
I love the synchronicity of life - things showing up just when we need them. The retreat starts on Friday and runs through the following Monday. And no. I won't feel at all guilty about listening live from work. I had intended to take advantage of recordings but now ...
And the irony? Even though I am going to be laid off, my employer now wants me to work full-time until the end. Oh, I'm doing it. But can you believe it?
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There's still time to sign up for the virtual retreat at www.comfortretreats.com. I'm a huge fan of Jennifer Louden. You should be too.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
I Must Be Psychic or Utter, Blind Panic
So, remember a couple of posts ago when I talked about being afraid that I was going to be laid off? Yup. I'm going to be laid off.
I've been laid off twice before and, except for the utter, blind panic about money, it's actually not bad. I like having time off and both of the other times I ended up in a much better work situation after the layoff. Still.
Did I mention the utter, blind panic about money?
I've been laid off twice before and, except for the utter, blind panic about money, it's actually not bad. I like having time off and both of the other times I ended up in a much better work situation after the layoff. Still.
Did I mention the utter, blind panic about money?
Monday, January 5, 2009
Thematic Living
Life's been good and interesting this past couple of days. I've been riding T which makes me happy especially since I didn't have any pain while riding. While I was at the barn I talked with some riding buddies - actual face to face conversations. That makes me happy too.
I've also spent some time thinking about what I want to accomplish this year. Instead of setting resolutions that will fail, this year I decided to live around a theme of wellness. Kathy Freston talks about leaning into wellness in her book Quantum Wellness, Jenni Prokopy talks about being as well as possible (AWAP) on her ChronicBabe blog, and Laurie Edwards has a section called Reentry in her wonderful book, Life Disrupted. So that's it for me this year. I will reenter life by leaning into wellness and will do what I can to be as well as possible.
While I was doing my deep thinking, I remembered why I started this blog in the first place. I want to write more. So here's an actual SMART goal - I will post three times a week.
I've also spent some time thinking about what I want to accomplish this year. Instead of setting resolutions that will fail, this year I decided to live around a theme of wellness. Kathy Freston talks about leaning into wellness in her book Quantum Wellness, Jenni Prokopy talks about being as well as possible (AWAP) on her ChronicBabe blog, and Laurie Edwards has a section called Reentry in her wonderful book, Life Disrupted. So that's it for me this year. I will reenter life by leaning into wellness and will do what I can to be as well as possible.
While I was doing my deep thinking, I remembered why I started this blog in the first place. I want to write more. So here's an actual SMART goal - I will post three times a week.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Post-Exertional Malaise
Thank goodness December is over. I know that I should be saying Happy New Year and all that but I'm really, really glad to be done with last month so I'll stick with thank goodness December is over.
People with chronic fatigue know that if they do too much, they may be fine while they are overdoing but will feel like they got hit by a truck a few days later. The doctors and other experts call it post-exertional malaise. That's the official terminology but the splat after the truck more accurately sums up last month for me. I have post-exertional malaise of the body and spirit.
It was hard for me to recover from my full-time work in November. I am still grateful for the chance to try because the extra money helped. Plus I needed to see if I could do it in case it becomes necessary in the future. I think I could. My work life balance would be nonexistent but...
We had lay-offs at work last month. Three people in my department and one other person who sat in my area were released. One of the people was N, my next-cube neighbor, who has appeared in this blog. I miss her and the others a lot. My work days are definitely darker without them. I'm still dealing with all the emotions that come with surviving a lay-off: anger at what happened, guilt for still having a job, and fear that I'll be next. The big wigs are still talking behind closed doors so I'm feeling vulnerable especially as my boss and her boss both want me to work full-time. And have mentioned that fact to me several times.
Trouble with my medications has left me feeling nauseated, unable to concentrate and slightly stoned (but not in a good way). The last time I saw my doctor I wasn't able to articulate how I felt so the adjustments she made were not successful. After talking with the case manager who talked with the doctor, I was able to change some things back to prior levels which means that while I no longer feel like I'm having a heart attack, I still feel drugged and slightly sick to my stomach. And slightly disheartened because I am so ready to feel well.
However, it is the new year so in order to get into the spirit I'll share bits from the blogs of two of my favorite writers.
Barbara Samuel picked up on a morning news show's three words bit. She asked readers to describe 2008 and 2009 in three words. My 2008 words are searching, unwell, and stuck. My 2009 words are healing, happy and connected. Try doing this. It's fun and since words have power, maybe it's the best kind of new year's intention setting.
Jenny Crusie listed her resolutions, the last of which was to not be negative. "It's not that the glass is half empty or half full," she writes, "it's that I'm so damn grateful to have a glass." Given all that's happened in 2008 and the challenges of 2009, I feel damn grateful to have a glass too.
Happy New Year.
People with chronic fatigue know that if they do too much, they may be fine while they are overdoing but will feel like they got hit by a truck a few days later. The doctors and other experts call it post-exertional malaise. That's the official terminology but the splat after the truck more accurately sums up last month for me. I have post-exertional malaise of the body and spirit.
It was hard for me to recover from my full-time work in November. I am still grateful for the chance to try because the extra money helped. Plus I needed to see if I could do it in case it becomes necessary in the future. I think I could. My work life balance would be nonexistent but...
We had lay-offs at work last month. Three people in my department and one other person who sat in my area were released. One of the people was N, my next-cube neighbor, who has appeared in this blog. I miss her and the others a lot. My work days are definitely darker without them. I'm still dealing with all the emotions that come with surviving a lay-off: anger at what happened, guilt for still having a job, and fear that I'll be next. The big wigs are still talking behind closed doors so I'm feeling vulnerable especially as my boss and her boss both want me to work full-time. And have mentioned that fact to me several times.
Trouble with my medications has left me feeling nauseated, unable to concentrate and slightly stoned (but not in a good way). The last time I saw my doctor I wasn't able to articulate how I felt so the adjustments she made were not successful. After talking with the case manager who talked with the doctor, I was able to change some things back to prior levels which means that while I no longer feel like I'm having a heart attack, I still feel drugged and slightly sick to my stomach. And slightly disheartened because I am so ready to feel well.
However, it is the new year so in order to get into the spirit I'll share bits from the blogs of two of my favorite writers.
Barbara Samuel picked up on a morning news show's three words bit. She asked readers to describe 2008 and 2009 in three words. My 2008 words are searching, unwell, and stuck. My 2009 words are healing, happy and connected. Try doing this. It's fun and since words have power, maybe it's the best kind of new year's intention setting.
Jenny Crusie listed her resolutions, the last of which was to not be negative. "It's not that the glass is half empty or half full," she writes, "it's that I'm so damn grateful to have a glass." Given all that's happened in 2008 and the challenges of 2009, I feel damn grateful to have a glass too.
Happy New Year.
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