For the last few months, I have been keeping more to paper and pen entries than typing. Sometimes it is way more cathartic. I have been doing an immense amount of research and reading. The goal has stayed the same: to improve my quality of life. I enjoyed a vacation where I didn't do a whole lot but did do projects around the house. I survived a workshop adventure in the States. Oh, and got to hang out with my brother and family. Overall, not bad :)
The day I returned back to work was like walking in a negative brick wall. The place suffocated me and I just wanted to cry and run away. The saddest part is that I wasn't the only one with that feeling upon returning. I know that my job affords me opportunities that may not be easily had at other places. I have talked with what could be the otherside of the fence, and the grass was definitely not greener. It did give me a certain appreciation for my workplace. So the management here needs some tweaking and it will happen over the next 6 months with hiring a new director. From there, who knows what other impacts will happen. I resolved to turn my own frown upside down. I am the maker of my own happiness. Yes, there are outside influences but they do not directly affect my day-to-day work. That's all me, baby. I got on board with a new productivity system, Getting Things Done, and found a wicked app for my iPhone to help me be more productive, Remember the Milk. I feel like I have a way better grasp of my day-to-day workings and planning. I actually feel more relaxed knowing that it's there for me. I'm in the process of reading "Don't sweat the small stuff..." and gaining fantastic advice from there. Last week was awesome. Even though I physically wasn't feeling well most of the week (recovering from the weekend, I suspect), it was a really good work week. It did finally take it's toll Friday though and I ended up going home after the morning break due to unrelenting headache-turning-into-migraine, nausea and pain that had me near tears. But that's okay. I took it in stride and went home to recover and get better.
In my personal life, I think some of what I am doing at work stemmed from some changes. I have completely revamped my budget and starting a new system soon. Almost done my new wallet to help me manage everything :) My outlook is slowly flexing and changing. More positive and compassionate. Sometimes we have the option to choose between positive and negative. Whenever I can choose to be positive, I go that route. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the positive or to be positive when you feel like you are being dragged down. And that's okay too. As they say, "and this too shall pass".
And lastly, my diet has undergone a "revamp" as well. Trying something new with more healthy food recipes and a lot of cooking from scratch. I did find a way to work around it through by pre-chopping up all my veggies so during the week I just have to throw it all together. Today I am fortunate that I even have left-overs to look forward to having at lunch time. Every Saturday morning is my market morning to go get my veggies. I also go to the gym before the market :) It makes for a full morning through with walking downtown, 20 min or so doing circuit and stretching at the gym, and wander around the market to get produce. Then this past weekend, I also walked down to the mall to go to the grocery store and to run some errands. It is tiring. I do wish that the buses were still running. I was smart this time and have budgeted for a cab to do my Saturday errands. Then I get home and have a list of chores to do. What gets done, gets done. I need my relax time. It is absolutely necessary.
With every experience comes a learning curve of some sort. This has taken me a long time to get here and damn glad I am finally catching on and able to apply what I have learned. I am looking forward to future learning experiences and applying them.
To happy health :)
Cheers
