Embracing Scarlett...

This past week, I got two days off of work for Thanksgiving and I enjoyed spending some time recharging.  One of the things that helped recharge me was something that I came across on TV - the movie Gone with the Wind.  Scarlett was recharged from the red earth of Tara and by Rhett (even though neither one of them wanted to admit it).  Even though most people are put off by or even downright hate Scarlett, I wish I had more of her strength.  When she was faced with the hardest of adversities over and over, she never gave up, she persevered and she didn't change for anyone - those things, in my book, are something to aspire to not scoff at.

On Thanksgiving I got to FaceTime with my family and it was almost like I was part of the insanity... I mean festivities... in person.  There were three little boys running around the house, family gathered around the large table of food (wish I could've been there to help eat it!), a dog chasing after the boys, and the fun/noise/chaos/festivities was so much that they didn't hear me calling on FaceTime at first so I had to call on the phone (which they also almost missed).  I am so very excited that I have the opportunity to join the chaos in person in just under two weeks!!!

Like Scarlett (from Gone with the Wind), I am recharged from spending time with my family.  Yes, we are a loud and crazy bunch but I love spending time with all of them and I miss them when I'm not there.  I'm trying not to allow what my staff is saying to bring down my excitement.  A week from tomorrow, I leave for a week long training out of town, will be home for about 8 hours, and then I leave for my trip home (I'll be gone from work until after the first of the year since I'll be on training, on vacation and then the building will be closed).  People at work are asking me what they're going to do and I know that in this upcoming week I need to do a better job at turning it back to them and tell them that I know that they can do their jobs without me there and I have every faith in them.

One of the things that I'm hoping will help me at work is I'm supposed to take part in a webinar this week on Delegating.  I have always struggled with this concept; not because my staff isn't capable but I don't want to overwhelm/burden them with things that I could do myself.  The training that I'll be attending next week will also help me (I hope) - it's a training for new Managers.  Yes, I've been a manager for almost two years but I'm really hoping to use this training to help me in the long run.  I know that whenever you go from the "front lines" of a job to management (which I did), there is an adjustment period and then you have the opportunity to make the job your own - I think I have reached that changing point and am ready to learn how to take that next step.  I know that going to the training isn't ideal timing with my vacation trip but I can't move when the training is - you go when they tell you to go with my job.  Maybe I'll just channel Rhett Butler when my staff complain to me about it - "Frankly, my dear, I don't...." oh, wait - that would probably get me fired so I better not....

Well, my dear readers, I think I'm going to bring this to a close for the evening (even if it is a little bit of a short post) so I can get ready for the week ahead.  Since I'm going to be busy and have two trips to bet ready for, it would probably be helpful for me to create a "to do" list for the week.  But then again, maybe I'll think about that tomorrow (along with Scarlett).....  Have a great week!  =)