work... keeping it fun...
One thing is clear to me already, I'm too
old to go chasing my ideal job of Blue Peter presenter....
So, this week marks the third week of my gradual
re-integration into the ranks of the gainfully (but not necessarily happily)
employed, I can't believe it's been that long already. I've been trying to keep
it fun, or as close to fun as is possible (which probably means occasional
periods of mild amusement at best) in line with my new 'relaxed' approach. The
guys I work with already think I'm slightly eccentric, especially with the
recent adventures with baked goodies. Today I think I did something that perhaps
I shouldn't have - security folk are not noted for their sense of humour but I
needed to have some fun - the eczema is not so fun today so when presented with
a bunch of routine electronic forms to complete (the usual yawn-inducing
security forms etc that go with the nature of the business) and noting a space
on one of them labelled "attach picture
here" (no, not a nice scenic landscape or
similar...) and not having a handy electronic snapshot there was only one thing
to do... a quick trawl of the clipart library for a smiley face followed by a
strategic cut and paste... and job done. Thinking about it now it seems such a
trivial thing but I have a niggling feeling that it will only be viewed with
chronic absence of humour on the receiving end. Ho hum, I'm not in the office
tomorrow so I'll just have to wait and see I
guess.
Yesterday I was presented with an
interesting question which forced me to consider my future... chatting with my
manager he asked me how I felt about being back in the office... from his point
of view it's clear he really wants me to stay as part of the team. I don't know
about this, I could have said a) what he wanted to hear, or b) what I really
thought or c) just sit on the fence. Being a coward I went for option c I'm
afraid and told him it was too soon to say as I'm working on a new program I
would have to reserve judgement until I've been at it a good few months. Of
course option a) would have meant telling him that every minute that passed I
was not in
the office was an unhappy minute and there was nowhere else I'd rather be. The
truth is b), I'm rational (just) enough to know that at some point it is
necessary to earn a crust just to be able to live my life and keep doing the
things I like doing, the question is whether I can accept that work is just a
thing you do 5 days a week so you can have a life on the weekend, or given that
life probably happens but once (I won't get into theological debates here...)
then ideally work needs to be an enjoyable, fulfilling activity that sees me
happily skipping off to the office every morning. Right now I'd rather be on my
bike somewhere on the road between Alaska and Tierra del Fuego, but I can't do
that until the medical problems are fixed... if ever, ironically medical
problems that can be said with almost 100% certainty to have been caused by too
much stress for too long at work. Can't bloody
win.
Anyway, no doubt one day I shall
experience an epiphany and all will become clear. One thing is clear to me
already though, I'm too old to go chasing my ideal job of Blue Peter presenter.
Shame, they get to do all sorts of fun things, not just building things with old
loo roll, and at least one of the team is invariably a sweetie...
:o)
Posted: Tue - April 17, 2007 at 05:30 PM