Even though my work often brings "flow" to my life (e.g. the feeling of being totally absorbed in something that challenges me and that I enjoy doing), after a week of holiday in Zermatt sunshine, a little voice in my head shouted "No, I don't want to get up!" at 6:00 a.m. last Monday. And "No, I don't want to be in the office!" as I turned the corner to the street where I park. But in I walked. And within an hour, the week began flowing by as usual.
The good:
- I felt well-rested from a good break and worked at a reasonable pace all week. (I'll admit that the pace was speeding up by Friday.) Remembered that I can have a life in the evenings, not just on weekends
- We gained a new client project that could prove to be an important step for our team's growth
- Our team had fun together celebrating the contributions of an employee who is leaving us for full-time motherhood and study. Wonderful warm feeling of cameraderie when a team really enjoys an evening together. To be valued
- My colleague, Sandra, and I continued to build our common perspective about what we stand for in the training field. Important steps taken toward commitment
- The Professional Women's Group hosted an event with strong participation and many women staying to talk long after dinner ended. That's the goal of a network!
- After months of organizing and ordering and waiting, we have new phones in our office that should make being gracious with clients and efficient in working together much easier
The challenging:
- We have new phones in our office! See above. Because of a client meeting, only one employee was able to take the official training. When the meeting ended, I didn't even know what button to push to make out-going call. And when the phone rang, it was chaotic. The perils of new technology.
- It's a little tough right now to keep up with the client meetings and projects, allow enough time for the hiring process as we grow, and get all of the admin done with no admin support. I'm considering new options for prioritizing my time. Normally, that's one of my strengths. At the moment, it feels like it needs a little breakthrough thinking. I am optimistic as a new week begins
The real issue is that "life" set in: last week while I was out and again some days this week...every one of our public relations employees had the flu. A bad one here that really knocks you out. I seemed fortunately to have missed it while on holiday. But then at the end of the week, my "boyfriend/partner" broke his arm in a sledding accident in the mountains. Required surgery there and soon a second round here. He had been on a school trip as a counselor with 10-year-old children for the week. Off I went to meet him at the hospital. And there went my healthy schedule.
As he and I discussed, sometimes life tells you where you need to spend your time.
Eventually we learn to listen faster...and just go with the flow a little better. Because that's how it is and you do the best you can to deal with it.
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