A friend was telling me about some horrors at her job the other day. High drama, hard work, lack of team support; it sounded pretty damn awful. And I felt badly for her. Sucks to be at a job that feels like an uphill battle where every day requires herculean efforts to keep your spirits up. Sucks to need to make a living so much that you compromise your life.
I know, cause I've been there before.
And then there's my new job. It's been a marathon run at a sprinters pace ever since I started - with a big anniversary fundraising Gala hooha immediately followed by a 70+ page arts-in-education book that I'm 'producing' - I'm working long hours and it's a massive juggle, and there's next-to-no-time to breathe. From the day I began it has felt like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.
But I'm also having a blast. I'm working with (and among) some wonderful people, doing stuff that I enjoy and am good at, for a cause that really means something to me. (and actually making a living too.) It's nice to feel so well used and valued, and nice not to have work be simply work. I've looked at life from both sides now, and I'll pick hard work with good people and a fulfilling vibe any old day.
And if I've gotta be at the office for long stretches, it doesn't hurt to have a nice view out my office window. Maybe I'm pushing the metaphor a bit with this, but there really is something to be said for what a long view provides. A parking lot and an apartment complex in the foreground, yes; but rolling hills and lots and lots of trees create a damn beautiful big picture. And having worked solo for as long as I did - and struggling to keep the biz viable and my spirits up - or at (a) job(s) that paid the bills but not much else (or, when i was younger, working jobs that i enjoyed but didn't pay the bills) ... well, I have an appreciation for this long-view place I'm in now. And it is good.
As for the non-metaphorical view of the view ... I took the uppermost shot on the right about 10 days ago ... and the other one just yesterday. (the sky and the light are different every day and the colors are changing so fast; it's just luscious to watch.)
The leaves are changing and that means winter's coming (damn), and my hours are long and the juggle's intense ... and still, there's an awful lot to enjoy looking out this window.
Deb, it's so great to read about how positive this job move has been for you. I'm really thrilled! I also sense a great deal of appreciation for this position, despite some of the challenges (long hours, crazy workload, etc.) ... guess that's one of the hidden benefits of struggling in other jobs/endeavors ... is that we're so much more appreciative of the good.
... and a window with that view is GOOD my dear. It's BETTER THAN GOOD ... especially now with all the fall colors! (I don't know if I personally could ever work somewhere without a window again.)
Enjoy!
Posted by: maria | November 01, 2006 at 12:08 PM
deb,
I'm so happy for you! You deserve this great job. You go girl! :-)
Posted by: MB | October 31, 2006 at 06:02 AM
The nice thing about that view with the snow coming (and I'm totally with you on the whole hating the snow thing), is that the white stuff will also make that view pretty amazing, I'm sure. And watching it come down will be nice from that vantage. Keep us posted!
Posted by: Will | October 30, 2006 at 10:14 PM