Tuesday, November 3, 2009

embrace change



one of the things i've always liked about fall is that it is a time of change. childhood septembers brought new shoes, new clothes and new school supplies. a return to college in the fall reunited me with friends and presented new academic challenges. both of my children were born in the fall, the very best kind of change ever. and, of course, there's the most beautiful changing of seasons here in the midwest. 

during my career i've always delighted in changes at work which are often accompanied by new responsibilities, new office space and of course new office supplies. the company i work for is under new ownership with a new ceo. changes are under way. two consultants are interviewing our entire marketing staff (myself included) to determine what is working and what is not. it's a bit like having a role in the "office space" movie where they bring in 2 consultants (aka the bobs since they are both named bob) to decide who will be kept and who will be let go. in other words, it's all rather surreal.

although i'm a bit worried like all my co-workers are, i find a bit of peacefulness deep inside me. the decision is out of my hands. there's nothing else i can do but wait and see. i lost a job i adored in april 2008, survived it and moved on with my life. if it's the worst thing that ever happens to me, then i truly am blessed.

one of the many things i love about my life as a 50-something woman is the fact that i no longer tie my overall sense of self or accomplishment to my day job. i am a hard-working, dependable employee who does her best. but the job does not even come close to defining who i am as a person. and i like that feeling of being so much more!! it is liberating!

so bring on the changes! i will embrace them and then at the end of each day i will embrace the more of me -- the playful poet, the creative sojourner, the hopeful artist -- the real me.

10 comments:

PrairiePeasant said...

A very reassuring post. My workplace may be undergoing some major changes in the near future, and I too don't feel too much stress about it. Sometimes I tell myself I should be more concerned, but why invite worry if it's not already there?

RNSANE said...

This was a very positive post, Julie. I lost my forensic nursing job of 21 years when the city and county of San Francisco suffered $80 million in budget cuts to the Dept of Public Health - in Feb of this year. With a mobility handicap
( which didn't interfere at all with that work - collecting sexual assault evidence, interviewing children, etc ), I wasn't able to move to ICU or CCU ( areas where there were openings ) so I retired. I am still forlorn, after 44 years as an RN. My income has dropped $100,000/year with retirement and I still haven't accepted it all. I know I am better off than so many people in this world but I still cry and miss my work and hate struggling to make ends meet.

Blogging has helped occupy my time and I do know I am blessed in many ways. Sometimes I just need reminding.

beth said...

I haven't been here for a long time and am just now catching up....your photos and words made me happy..thank you !

Shannon said...

*smiles and nods* YES!

Mary said...

Yes! Isn't it wonderful when we embrace the fact that who we are is different than what we do? Sometimes it is hard to separate the two. I am learning to do so. I'm liking my 50's too!! :)

Thanks for the reminder!

Have a great day!

Kelly Warren said...

So very true julie. Everything works out the way it should in the end. Your positive outlook and spirit will get you through. I like your mention of embracing "the more of me". I think that part of us is who we truly are. Interestingly enough, I wrote a job-related post on my blog on Monday!

Almost Precious said...

Great perspective in photo and ideas. Sometimes the best thing we can do is just wait and see what tomorrow will bring. Fretting over things that haven't happened and may or may not happen will not change the outcome of what will be. As it has always been said; "When God closes a door, he always opens a window", so we must just wait and see which direction he wants us to travel. ;)

Cindy said...

as a worrier, i realize it does no positive good, but it's hard to lose that tendency. my mom was that way. you have such a great attitude and are so right. we decide how to define ourselves and work is just one aspect often out of our control. hope it all works out for the best for you, julie. either way, i know you will shine. xo, c

Mary Wadsworth said...

Julie thanks for sharing this you helped me look at life in a new way.
Change is natural.

Thanks,
Mary

ELK said...

julie just wanted to let you know how I relate to this post...my life is not my day job!!