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!  =)

Moving beyond emotions...

This past week was an emotional one for me.  Even though I didn't want it to, this year's "anniversary" of the wasband (my ex-husband) walking out hit me like a ton of bricks.  It's been seven years but this past week hit me emotionally as if he just walked out.  I don't know if it's because I attended my sister's wedding not that long ago or because she announced her pregnancy this past week or why it hit me so hard but it did.  I definitely don't want to take away from my sister's joy in her wedding or pregnancy announcement nor do I want to blame how I'm feeling on her.  I just need to work through how I'm feeling and get beyond it.

This upcoming week, I have three very long work days (we'll be open from 7 am - 6 pm since the kids are out of school) and I'll have to go into work for a little bit on Friday to sign off on staff paychecks.  I do get Thursday and most of Friday off so that break will be extremely helpful.  I have some travel upcoming (both for work training and vacation) so having some time to start tidying up the apartment and thinking about what I'm going to pack in two different suitcases will be wonderful. I think it would also be nice to take some time to relax and be lazy since I don't know how much down time I'll have in the next couple of weeks.

I am hoping to do one of my traditions on Friday that I started a couple of years ago - I take myself to the first daily showing of a movie that I want to see.  I began this because I have found that there are usually movies that I really want to see this time of year but I don't always want to see them in a crowded theatre.  If I go during the first showing on Black Friday, the theatre is usually pretty empty (even for movies that have just come out).  My plan for Friday will be to go to the movies and then head into work so I can sign off on paychecks since I'm sure my staff would appreciate getting paid on time.

I was pleasantly surprised by one of my staff members this past week - she knew that I would be working late (had to work on Friday from about 730 am - 800 pm; worked late to teach a CPR class) so she really pushed/encouraged me to take an hour out of the building for some "me" time.  I rarely take people up on that but on Friday I did.  While I was out of the building, I ran and got my flu shot (my arm is still sore) and I got a bite to eat.  Everyone seemed surprised that I left the building but it actually felt really good to do it - plus it showed me that nothing fell apart while I was gone.  This next week will be different since there will be kids in the building all day (during a "normal" day, we don't have kids in the building in the middle of the day in-between having part-day preschool and then picking up the elementary school kids for after school programming).  Maybe one of these days I'll really commit to taking time out of each day for myself since I make sure that everyone else gets that mental break in the middle of their day.

I know that I need to work on taking my own mental breaks but I find it difficult in the midst of trying to make sure everyone else gets the time that they need.  In my head, I know that I'm not going to be good to anyone if I push myself past my own breaking point but my heart tells me to put everyone else's needs before my own...  Something for me to work on along my quest.

Well my dear readers, I am going to bring this to a close for tonight in order to get prepared for my work week ahead.  I hope you are able to spend time with family/friends this week and take some time to think about what you're thankful for.  =)