The best things in life are free
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I wrote a while ago about a cracking book called “You Really Are Rich, You Just Don’t Know it” which is a tongue in cheek view of life and placing a value on the free things that we have that are good in our lives. I was thinking about it this morning coming into work and telling myself that under all of this pressure there are good things to remember.
My sense is that this year is going to be harder than last year, not because things are going to get significantly worse economically, but because it is more of the same. A couple of years back I set out to climb the three biggest mountains in the UK in 24 hours. The third was the smallest, but by God was it the hardest. But that is what you would expect right? And the same thing goes for work. We only have a certain amount of energy and resilience.
You only have to look at the number of HR bloggers out there struggling. I read a post yesterday by Charlie at HR Fishbowl about the difficulty of balancing his current business demands with the maintenance of his blog and it really resonated with me. On the same day one of my team came to see me because they “didn’t have time to breathe” and felt like they should “be asleep all of the time”. Could I help? I tried, but probably sucked because, well…….I feel the same.
Last night my wife asked if I wanted to go out this Thursday. When I replied I did, she asked me what I wanted to do. And I had no capacity to take on anything else. My feeble response was something along the lines of, “I don’t care as long as I don’t have to plan or organise it”. Something good, just felt like a task.
Why am I writing this? Well partly as catharsis and partly because I am sure there are other people experiencing similar feelings. We have been here before and we all got out the other end. And you can be sure we will be here again at another point in our careers. But it doesn’t hurt to remember that there are good things going on in our lives all of the time, if we’d just let them in.
UPDATE: And one of those really good things is that I have just realised that a year ago this very day, I posted my first entry on the blog that became My Hell is Other People. Happy Birthday to me! I’m feeling all uplifted!
My Hell is Other People 
Yay – I share a birthday with your blog. Happy birthday to us!
Happy blogirthday!
My husband is so burned out. His group has lost two positions, but has not lost work. He just learned that one guy is taking the summer off. (His company allows sabbaticals.) His boss, who is going on maternity leave in two weeks, promises that my husband will not have to pick up the colleague’s work, even though when the colleague goes on vacation, that is what happens. Her plan is for A customer service rep – ONE – to handle the colleague’s work. I don’t know who is supposed to do the CSR’s work.
So. More of the same here, only I see an iceberg on the horizon.
Happy blog birthday! It’s been an enjoyable and educational year, keep up the great work.
This is a great reminder that some things are still good despite the seemingly bad stuff that piles up. Chin up and Happy Blog Birthday!
Happy blog birthday 🙂 Yes, I would consider us your readers one of those things that make you richer :p….as I would consider this blog being one of those things to me as well.
Thank you.
Happy first bithday to you, HRD!
Thank you for writing… and, no… I won’t get all corny this time…
*hugs*
I am uber-burned out at work! Which unfortunately leads me to being burned out everywhere else too – once that sense of balance/control is gone, it knows no boundaries. The other unfortunate consequence is that I have to get to the mental space “it’s just a job”, so I can stop trying to do the impossible of striving to get all the work done, on time, efficiently, completely, etc. So good luck all, I hope we all climb out of this hole soon.
Sending you much birthday happiness from California…I really enjoy reading your posts – many thanks for all you do!
@BJH – Happy Birthday!
@The Gold Digger – I don’t know your husband, but every time you write about him, it makes me worry. Such prolonged stress and pressure is ultimately inhumane.
@Puf – Thanks Puf, I hope things are working out for you?
@Teresahrgirl – In amongst the shite is a shining diamond……
@Karen – I do, the comments that I receive make my day. Thank you all.
@Lena – I’ll get the tissues…..
@G-dog _ I’m sorry to hear that you fing yourself in that place. There is a level of compartmentalisation that I think needs to be found to stop yourself going mad. There are only a limited number of hours in a day and days in the week. Sometimes, it will just “have to do” rather than be perfect. Keep on going!
@mkeefer – Thanks. Can you send some sun this way too?
Things are going. I wish they were going faster, but at least there is a lot of activity. I have two interviews today that I’m very excited ab0ut, and I hope go well.
first of all, thanks for the HR Fishbowl mention. it’s weird, a bunch of bloggers seem to be feeling the same way these days…maybe it’s just the late winter dulldrums. as i’ve grown older, i’ve gotten really good at letting go of things i just don’t need to be responsbile for any more. the crowing achievement was letting my wife submit our taxes this year without my having even reviewed them. the more of that crap i can let go of, the more meaningful stuff i can hold on to. again, happy birthday and keep it coming…
@Puf – Fingers crossed that something comes through for you pretty soon.
@Charlie – I’m hoping the IRS aren’t banging on your door in the months to come (not that I am sure your wife isn’t completely competent!)
Thanks, HRD. We actually decided that he is going to take next summer off. Even though it’s over a year away, it is helping knowing that he is going to have a 3 or 4 month sabbatical.
@The Gold Digger – Sounds like a great plan.