I have to acknowledge that with all of my worries about work which I wrote in the not so distant past, work really has been a main stress point in my life. There was an opportunity looming which I became aware of in June of 2016, and despite my anxieties that I wouldn't be offered the opportunity, I was offered a position doing something I am truly passionate about. Back in 2015 I went back school at the College of Southern Nevada majoring in Emergency Management Administration in order to prep myself for a position in that field at my company. At the time back in 2015, I did not get the promotion despite my best efforts. This added to my anxieties when the company decided to create another position in the same field of work. Work-wise, things worked out, and got a promotion the second time around. I must say the work-life balance is 200 times better than it was a year ago for me, and my boss is wonderful.
This upcoming school year, I transferred out of the College of Southern Nevada to finish my Bachelor's degree in Emergency Management at the State University of New York College of Technology at Canton. I'm 30 now, and balancing school can be difficult with a full-time job, but I am determined to finally finish. Getting an education and subsequently a degree was something my Dad felt very strongly about. Regardless of the career field I chose, I know he'd just want me to finish and to be doing something I really want to do. I really want to make good on this, and put everything I can into.
In previous entries I've also mentioned challenges with chronic pain and anxiety. Earlier this year I learned more conclusively that I have herniated discs in my neck and have develop arthritis. Now that I know what the definitive problem is, it makes dealing with it just a bit easier. It does get very challenging sometimes though when my neck "goes out," and I'm incapacitated from partaking in work, school, and/or leisure. I'm learning to cope and curb bad habits (especially with my posture). I think with more activity and awareness, I can at least prevent further degeneration of my neck joints.
--
Last night my husband, Phil, was very frustrated when he got home from work. I mentioned where I'm at with work right now because two years ago I was at the same breaking point with work he is at now. After 12 years of being together, I know that it's sometimes easier to help a loved one deal with their issues when you're not under mounds of stress yourself. Whenever there have been times when we're both very stressed and spread-thin, it's like a game of tug-o-war trying to get the other person to care about your cause over theirs.
Years ago when Phil and I first met, we used to take long walks around the UNR campus, and sometimes to Downtown Reno in order to talk out our frustrations with life. As we've grown older, this is something we had not done since our college days. We've always been on different schedules, or just been too tired/lazy to walk. In a moment of exasperation last night, Phil decided he wanted to take one of those kinds of walks, and I could use the exercise myself (one of things I've been told about arthritis is to keep being active and mobile, but not to the point of injury).
For a Las Vegas summer, last night's weather was sublime. There was a wonderful summer breeze flowing through the valley. We walked past some houses, and I let him vent out his frustrations until we came to a clearing where there was an empty desert lot. We stood there looking North and watched a lightning storm dance across the sky. I miss watching lightning; it's oddly calming for the both of us.
We ended up walking for 4 miles, and I while I hope it helped settle his soul, I know it helped soothe mine.
7:33 p.m. - 07-30-17