I have always thought of work as secondary to "my life." While I aim to do challenging and impactful work that I enjoy, I still think of work as a means to an end. Every day I most look forward to the moment I get home, put on sweats, turn on music, and start cooking with SB. It is those moments that keep me going day-to-day and make it all worthwhile. And no matter what my new job brings, I think that I will still feel this way about work.
That being said, full-time employment brings with it a deep connection to people and place. We separate the notion of "colleagues" from the notion of "friends," but for me, a few of my colleagues were close friends. They threw a surprise wedding shower for me and were part of our wedding day. They shared with me their perspectives on professional and personal matters, and taught me a lot about life by sharing their own experiences.
If you know me you likely know that it is hard for me to make new connections because I tend to stay in my shell. Those who I am able to make connections with become cherished friends. So, although I chose to leave my current position because of organizational restructuring, I am mourning the loss of sharing my day-to-day life with these friends. I can only hope that I will be able to develop such positive relationships again in my new work environment.
Can you guess what I did when I got home, feeling all of these mixed feelings and not really knowing what to do with myself? (SB is at his night class tonight, so I've got the place to myself.) Yep - I put on sweats, poured a glass of wine, turned on Louis Armstrong, and made a new recipe. This ritual is the great leveler of emotions - whether the day is excellent or crappy, I find such peace and contentment listening to jazz in my kitchen.
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| "Farmer salad" with shiitakes, snap peas, and chive vinaigrette (baby potatoes were called for but we were all out). Another good one from Isa Does It by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. |
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