Recharge

Yesterday I embraced on a much needed "run away me-venture" (a me adventure).  After working yet another 60 hour work week (plus dance & choir), I out of the blue took myself whale watching.  I'm not exactly sure how/why I draw strength from being out on the ocean but when I boat docked I felt recharged.  Maybe I was a pirate or a mermaid or a sea witch in a previous life...  =)

I am starting to realize that waiting to recharge my batteries until I'm completely running on empty is a bad thing.  I am also noticing that if I allow myself to completely run down, the charge isn't lasting as long; which also isn't a good thing.  I need to find some way to not let my batteries run as low or to completely empty because I know it's not good for me on many different levels - it's not good for my mental/emotional/spiritual/muchness health.  On the plus side, this upcoming week at work marks week 6 out of 8 of summer programming and I can go back to more "normal" work hours when it's all said and done.

This weekend I ended up having to bring some work home since I have annual staff evaluations due to the end of the week - ugh.  I don't know if I'm over thinking them or what but I always find writing them to be challenging.  Granted, last year was my first year having to write them but so far this year has not magically made them any easier to write.  Part of it may come from last year I didn't want to come across as too harsh (as a brand new manager) but this year I don't want to just give them the same performance rating if that's not the level of work they're producing.  I want to be honest but I also want to be fair.  Being a manager is hard...

On the plus side, I did make some progress along my managerial quest in dealing with one of my co-workers this past week.  He was trying to let me know that we (he and I) needed to pull someone into the the office for a conversation and we should present a united front in the conversation; but he didn't want to give me the details behind why the conversation needed to happen.  I told him that I wasn't going to agree to having a "we" conversation if I didn't have all of the details.  I also told him that I needed him to put the reasoning in an email for me to review and then I would make the final decision.  He came to me later in the week asking about the conversation and I reminded him that I still didn't have an email with the details; as of now, I still don't have said email.  Standing up for myself as the manager definitely felt good.

Today I took myself a little outside of my comfort zone and I went to an event at the dance studio.  One of the local dancers will be moving in about a month and they organized a belly dance costume sale & swap at the dance studio this afternoon.  Events like that are usually something I attend since there are very few dancers in this area who would sell things that would fit me.  One of my dance friends who's items would fit me was going to be selling things so I decided to go for a little bit.  I ended up heading to her corner of the studio where she told me she was actually holding a belt aside for me.  I bought the belt, a top and a costume from her.  She gave me a fabulous deal on it all and I told her that there were some other pieces I was eyeing if she didn't end up selling them today.  Even though I wasn't there long (and I was uncomfortable), I was glad I stopped by.

Well my dear readers, since I had my me-venture yesterday and I went dance shopping today, I should probably bring this to a close so I can spend more time writing staff evaluations.  I hope you have a spectacular week and that you do something to recharge your batteries!  =)