Categories: work, friends, food
Date: 22 July 2009 12:48:02
But first: thank you all for your comments on the post below -- I have responded to them individually there. I feel so humbled by your sharing and the love and concern here, and blessed to be here and know you all, whether virtually or in person: and for those I only know virtually currently, I pray one day we can meet.
And thank you to all, whether you commented or not, for any prayers or thoughts. I also spoke to two colleagues at work, one briefly and one in some depth, and e-mailed the former colleague and dear friend I had dinner with last week, and, together with the wondrous advice given here, I decided to, for now, reject the offer I was given for the Masters programme. When I had decided it felt like an enormous weight had been lifted off my shoulders [as it did when I posted the post below last night: amazing what vocalising thoughts can do], and life seemed that little bit brighter: even struggles at work seemed not as bad. I think I was putting enormous pressure on myself in terms of this course -- and it had not even started yet! And when I hit the "Reject this offer" button 30 or so minutes ago another weight seemed to lift. So I am very content with the decision made. Who knows what the next 6 months in particular will bring: but I am looking forward to it.
Tonight was the "Christmas in July" dinner put on by the Macarthur Chamber of Commerce. I will say, to me, it was not as much Christmas in July as a dinner with speeches, but I had a great night nevertheless. It served to remind me of the great people in my company -- I do not work with any of those present, as they were all from our main [motorway] office and I see them rarely, but when we do catch-up [at Christmas Parties or a Picnic Days] I have a great time. Laughter and just all-round fun conversation was the order of the evening: as it always is. And it was all the more fun having the lovely Singing Semele come along and get to see, and catch up a little with, her. Semele: you appeared to be having a reasonably good time -- I hope and pray you did. And am so glad you came along: great to see you. [And I did a quick Google when I got home to see what a Chamber of Commerce actually was: having no idea!]
A very nice dinner, and dessert; and some reasonably entertaining moments from the floor [and some cringe-worthy ones too: but any function has those!] The main talk of the night was by a psychologist on fear: he had a tale to tell [hospitalised in Honduras; flown back to Australia for treatment...] of previous events, and had some interesting questions to raise with us on fear and how it can be a positive. I am not sure I agreed with everything: but I did take away something. He also had an "experiment" where he connected 2 volunteers to a machine which monitored sweat, and hence fear: the big test was him bringing out a non-venemous python -- but the woman connected at the time handled that very well. I would've fainted; poisionous or not! I think, due to us being a rather loud table, I missed the point of this exercise: perhaps it was to demonstrate some key, and perhaps irrational, fears.
Also on work, I went to an OH&S Workshop this morning -- and as part of it we looked at Work-Life Balance and what drives us, drains us and rests us. That part spoke to me the most given current thoughts. And, thanks be to God, it was perfect timing: if I had have done the course when I was supposed to [before I left for Istanbul/Georgia: this was a catch-up session for those who missed their scheduled course] I really do not think I would have been able to get out of it what I think I did. Blogging has been wonderful in helping to solidify and identify thoughts, and writing down today what drives, drains and rests me, as well as what areas I wanted improvement in in life, was another exceptionally useful exercise. I have another questionnaire to fill in: hope to look at it over the weekend. As well as OH&S issues such as polices, lifting, and ergonomics, Healthy Eating and Exercise were covered in a non-confronting and non-judgemental way [he was a great presenter], and probably spoke to me as did the Work-Life Balance topic.
All in all a most wondrous day: all thanks and praise be to God.