I spent much of my drive home from work yesterday behind somebody who had a bumper sticker that read
"If you could ask God one question, what would it be?"
I spent the ride thinking about what was most important to me. And then I was home:P
I think my exact answer is not improtant and it will probably change over time. But I hope to come back here and read this post whenever I need to focus on the sometimes elusive bigger picture and what's important.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
So fast...
I asked Yusuf, "Will you stay in Chicago with us forever?"
"Yeah. Look...that's a big frog."
Very convincing:P
I wish I could freeze them both at this age for a little while longer.
"Yeah. Look...that's a big frog."
Very convincing:P
I wish I could freeze them both at this age for a little while longer.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Being important
I want to write down and capture how I've been feeling about my job change.
I still have the same thoughts as I did when I made the change and I still know in my heart of hearts I made the right move. I have more time with Zahra, Yusuf and Nooriya, a shorter commute, a less stressful job, I don't bring work home with me; basically I'm getting paid more to do less. Lots of stuff on the pro side; this is great, what more could I ask for?
I need to be realistic; I went from working for one corporation to working for another. I didn't start making the world better (or at least better off than in my other job). This is awesome though, I know it is. But I still have this nagging feeling I can't shake. I feel unimportant at work, I'm of little consequence. I used to be important. People used to ask for my opinion and my perspective on things. Now, I don't feel like I'm spending my workday usefully and I'm bored.
I still have the same thoughts as I did when I made the change and I still know in my heart of hearts I made the right move. I have more time with Zahra, Yusuf and Nooriya, a shorter commute, a less stressful job, I don't bring work home with me; basically I'm getting paid more to do less. Lots of stuff on the pro side; this is great, what more could I ask for?
I need to be realistic; I went from working for one corporation to working for another. I didn't start making the world better (or at least better off than in my other job). This is awesome though, I know it is. But I still have this nagging feeling I can't shake. I feel unimportant at work, I'm of little consequence. I used to be important. People used to ask for my opinion and my perspective on things. Now, I don't feel like I'm spending my workday usefully and I'm bored.
Monday, October 17, 2011
No phone, no lights, no motorcar; not a single luxury...
My phone broke last week, or more accuartely I broke it. Since then, I've been without a phone and now have a phone that pretty much only makes calls.
At the risk of sounding old and this post being a "I remember when gas was only ..." post. Here goes...I remember when phones were just phones. I even remember when phones were only connected to a wall. Oh what did I used to do in this wired, non-touch screen stone-age?:P
The past little while has been frustrating, a bit boring and refreshing at the same time. I realized I don't know how to drive anywhere new without a gps telling me turn by turn where to go, email is not that important and the internet is even less so. I'm sure I'll read this sometime later and roll my eyes.
It's also been refreshing to not use my phone to occupy every 'free' moment I have. It's been nice, in a way, that I haven't been able to take a picture of Yusuf and Nooriya, but had to remember what we were doing and how cute they are. It is wierdly awesome to have my mind wander about this or that and not attempting to be productive in some way all the time.
I have to be honest with myself, I am looking forward to getting another phone in a couple weeks and rejoining the 2011s. In the mean time, I'll try to enjoy being relatively less connected.
At the risk of sounding old and this post being a "I remember when gas was only ..." post. Here goes...I remember when phones were just phones. I even remember when phones were only connected to a wall. Oh what did I used to do in this wired, non-touch screen stone-age?:P
The past little while has been frustrating, a bit boring and refreshing at the same time. I realized I don't know how to drive anywhere new without a gps telling me turn by turn where to go, email is not that important and the internet is even less so. I'm sure I'll read this sometime later and roll my eyes.
It's also been refreshing to not use my phone to occupy every 'free' moment I have. It's been nice, in a way, that I haven't been able to take a picture of Yusuf and Nooriya, but had to remember what we were doing and how cute they are. It is wierdly awesome to have my mind wander about this or that and not attempting to be productive in some way all the time.
I have to be honest with myself, I am looking forward to getting another phone in a couple weeks and rejoining the 2011s. In the mean time, I'll try to enjoy being relatively less connected.