So what, my bliss involves a giant, radioactive octopus. Get over it!
There comes a point where you have to decide that you're either going to focus on good things happening to you or bad things happening to you. I understand that the peculiarties of my work situation at this point in time verge right into the realm of ridiculous. I don't hate my job. I don't hate my co-workers. Right now, though, factors beyond my control are making it much harder than it needs to be during a time of year that is already highly stressful for me.
When I got into work yesterday, I was confonted with a stack of stuff that had to be processed that day. It was a priority to the exclusion of everything else. As soon as I saw how much of it there was, I quickly came to the realization that that pile was going to be my entire day. I would not be able to return to my regular workspace, with its Cosmic Spear Loki perched next to Nedry the Tyrannosaurus Rex on the computer and Yosimite Sam keeping all of my pens, highlighters, and various other office supplies corraled. I took a deep breath and looked at the pile. It was probably going to require overtime.
Then, I looked at my MP3 player. That was the exact moment when I made the choice to be Czar of My Own Little Universe and turn my unique perspective onto the good things about the situation. I took another deep breath and said to myself, "You do not have to deal with the phones today because you cannot be in two places at once. There will be significantly less ass-chewing happening becuase the opportunity for someone to get at you to do so has just evaporated. You can now listen to as much music as you want and it doesn't matter what it is because you have headphones and they can't hear it." I plunked on my headphones and turned on the music without any need to brace myself for either reprimands or snide comments about my taste in music (it seems that Faith No More and Etta James are not allowed to occupy the same digital storage space, especially not when that space also includes Neal McCoy and Todd Snider. They have always cohabitated quite well in my little universe, but others remain skeptical. Jokes about having superpowers and being capable of herding both chickens and cats have not really helped them accept my assurances it can be done).
I ended my day signficantly happier than I was.
I also thought about writing. Today, I've submitted my next Geek Girl column, worked on a review, and worked on a piece to be submitted next month. I've also been accepted for publication in a local literary magazine.
More importantly, though, I am one of those people that believes that the Universe gives you signs when you're on the right track, sometimes they're subtle, but they happen. This morning, when I got up, I turned on my TV. Turner Classic Movies was running old "Green Hornet" serials. This is something that I enjoy, immensely. Even better, after that they showed "The Blob" starring Steve McQueen, followed by "It Came from Beneath The Sea", one of my favorite cheesy movies that involves octopi, and "Dr. Strangelove." I haven't had this much to watch on TV that I found truly enjoyable all in one huge whack since the last time Cartoon Network ran a Looney Tunes marathon. Oh bliss. And Joy. And loud, loud "Splee!"
When I got into work yesterday, I was confonted with a stack of stuff that had to be processed that day. It was a priority to the exclusion of everything else. As soon as I saw how much of it there was, I quickly came to the realization that that pile was going to be my entire day. I would not be able to return to my regular workspace, with its Cosmic Spear Loki perched next to Nedry the Tyrannosaurus Rex on the computer and Yosimite Sam keeping all of my pens, highlighters, and various other office supplies corraled. I took a deep breath and looked at the pile. It was probably going to require overtime.
Then, I looked at my MP3 player. That was the exact moment when I made the choice to be Czar of My Own Little Universe and turn my unique perspective onto the good things about the situation. I took another deep breath and said to myself, "You do not have to deal with the phones today because you cannot be in two places at once. There will be significantly less ass-chewing happening becuase the opportunity for someone to get at you to do so has just evaporated. You can now listen to as much music as you want and it doesn't matter what it is because you have headphones and they can't hear it." I plunked on my headphones and turned on the music without any need to brace myself for either reprimands or snide comments about my taste in music (it seems that Faith No More and Etta James are not allowed to occupy the same digital storage space, especially not when that space also includes Neal McCoy and Todd Snider. They have always cohabitated quite well in my little universe, but others remain skeptical. Jokes about having superpowers and being capable of herding both chickens and cats have not really helped them accept my assurances it can be done).
I ended my day signficantly happier than I was.
I also thought about writing. Today, I've submitted my next Geek Girl column, worked on a review, and worked on a piece to be submitted next month. I've also been accepted for publication in a local literary magazine.
More importantly, though, I am one of those people that believes that the Universe gives you signs when you're on the right track, sometimes they're subtle, but they happen. This morning, when I got up, I turned on my TV. Turner Classic Movies was running old "Green Hornet" serials. This is something that I enjoy, immensely. Even better, after that they showed "The Blob" starring Steve McQueen, followed by "It Came from Beneath The Sea", one of my favorite cheesy movies that involves octopi, and "Dr. Strangelove." I haven't had this much to watch on TV that I found truly enjoyable all in one huge whack since the last time Cartoon Network ran a Looney Tunes marathon. Oh bliss. And Joy. And loud, loud "Splee!"