This may well be my mantra for the next few weeks. Watch for the blur as I pass through time and space at high speed...
I look at my diary for work between now and mid-March and short of developing some superpowers - teleportation or time-control would be great for starters - I am not sure how I am going to keep up and achieve all that I have to achieve. I have leave due to start towards the end of March, which I am very much looking forward to, but time telescopes towards that point quite frighteningly. A huge project that went dormant last year has suddenly been revived, far sooner than was anticipated and I am now committed to several other things already, which had me skating fairly rapidly anyway, and which I cannot abandon at this stage. So I have to absorb the new, move faster, work harder.
I would like to take responsibility for all of this and say that it was just bad planning or time mismanagement on my part. That at least would allow me to rearrange and manage myself out of it. But no, these are commitments that have largely been made on my behalf. I had a difficult conversation yesterday with my boss and he agreed that the expectation was a little unrealistic (err, you think?) and said that he would have a look at it. In the meantime, he'd appreciate it if I "did what I could". Given the short time scales and the importance of the projects and lack of alternative resources, that really just means "do whatever it takes to get it done". Luckily I don't have children, or a partner, or (apparently) a need to stop for food or sleep...
I should not complain. In the global economy of the moment, I am lucky to have a job, let alone one that is surely not going to be disappearing any time soon. I am fortunate to be in this position and I am very conscious of this. Also, working harder and longer means less time to browse bookshops or online or even be inclined to spend, so my frugal is fun campaign gains unexpected support.
I have also enquired about taking advantage of long leave options available to us and am now planning a sabbatical in 2011 (I can take up to a year but am thinking 6 months is probably more realistic), during which time I intend to spend some weeks, if not months, volunteering on a turtle, dolphin or starfish conservation project or the like, somewhere warm and remote, so that I can wake up and go to sleep every day to the sight, sound and smell of the sea. I also anticipate spending some of it trying out something else workwise, and all of it re-evaluating what I want in the next phase of my life before I make any major changes. After that, who knows... perhaps a new role, perhaps not. Perhaps a new home, perhaps not. Perhaps a new country, perhaps not. That's the point of the exercise: to regain the perspective that I have completely lost about where I am, where I want to be and what I want to be doing there. It's time. And I need time and distance to achieve it.
And in pursuit of this goal, anything in the short term is manageable. Surely.
So this is what I will be telling myself over the next few weeks, while chanting my mantra: Move quickly, keep smiling. Move quickly, keep smiling.
I might need reminding of this from time to time my friends. I might need reminding...
In the meantime, I hope you have a smiley day, wherever you are and whatever you are up to!
♥
.jpg)
.jpg)
17 comments:
I love this mantra...I may adopt it.
sending lots of positive vibes your way. Hope your project moves quickly while you keep smiling.
one love.
You can do it I know you can! And a sabbatical-sounds like a good idea-I have been thinking I would like one of those but am not sure what the options are and what I would do with it though!
Faster than a speeding bullet!Leaping over turnstiles in a single bound! Of course they woud ask you to do the impossible because they know that you are capable of it.
We all need one of you- For instance, in your whirl could you please drop by and whirl around here,I am still living on the cot!If you need something done ask a busy person, right? I am sure that is what your boss is thinking. Here's another mantra for you "No thank you, don't think so, cheers"
Please take care- warm baths and chocolate and tea and toast and maybe sneak in some mind numbing entertainment...spending a year with turtles, sea rushing in one ear and out the other, sounds perfect for your get away from it all. That would do it!
Sounds like you are still on for PT end of march- exciting!
Focus on the positive words of this post: a leave, a sabbatical, volunteer work, the sea...
Don't forget to breathe!
Good for you for speaking up to your boss, if you can look forward to a wonderful sabbatical, it may make it a little easier to get through the next few months.
Mmm... interesting. On the one hand you want to take time out and evaluate, but before doing that, you're expected to do the impossible. What a contrast.
The sabbatical sounds great. Right up your street I should think. I just hope that you will be able to continue with your blogging when you do it.
Have yourself a smiley week.
This sounds fascinating, all of it. I'm curious as to your job not having known you long at all. Well, by "known you," I mean in the blogging realm. I'm quite excited about your sabbatical and support you wholeheartedly. Keep the image of turtles and sea in your mind at all times!
I am selfishly glad that you took a moment to send out a post. Best wishes on your juggling act. Keep that sabbatical in sight and take some advice from Linda Sue.
a 6 month sabbatical! do you see me going green with envy? how i wish i had that luxury :)
as for somewhere warm volunteering on a conservation project - think maldives ;)
take care . i understand the rushing . but stop often for a break . my blog mantra this day
Speed and sensuality .... Your photos are simply the best!
Agneta, the swedish one
Keep that sabbatical out there like a carrot.
Take good care of yourself during this busy time.
dear one, i just love your sabbatical travel/animal imaginings...i'm so curious then about what your work is! (if you'd share). in addition to this amazing plan/hope, i hear you about still locating joy/smiling in the now. i relate to this often, as life can richly move like a bullet train...but it is still us who are on board..and our hearts ARE something to smile about! sending a warm smile to yours.
A 6 month sabbatical sounds wonderful Kenda. Waking up to the sound of the sea and doing something that feeds your soul. You need to do this for yourself.
In the mean time I hope you've stocked up on Vit B Complex to help you through the next few weeks.
I felt my back start to tense up while I was reading. And I'm not even in your shoes! Don't neglect yourself in the midst of all these projects.
you are amazing! and the sabbatical (!!!) is just around the corner.
Time and distance. We do that sometimes to get perspective or to overcome or to heal. I love that you're looking into getting some time and distance. I'm sure it will be a world of good and I can't wait to see what it unearths for you. In the meantime, like you said, move quickly and keep smiling. You are a wonderful human being. :)
Post a Comment