Scuba Bootcamp, Bonaire, and Reframing
When I spoke with my new artist friend at the café and he talked about getting back to cartooning after 20 years. I was so struck by his hitting the reset button and having the courage just do it.
It made me think of a time I went on a scuba diving trip to the lovely island of Bonaire. Bonaire is one of the ABC islands in the Lesser Antilles near Venezuela. The other 2 islands are Aruba and Curacao. It is a beautiful island. Not much of a beach island. The shoreline is rocky or covered in conch shells.
Re-inventing?
I was asked recently if I was re-inventing myself. They had been reading my recent social media posts and articles and were thinking I am doing something different with my work. In one way yes, I am doing things a bit differently. In another, no. I’m still me.
I am re-inventing one piece of my work, yes.
One Perfect Lane Merge
One of my sons has been traveling quite a bit in the past months. As I mentioned in this in a prior post, I can get stressed or annoyed when I’m a passenger and there is traffic and construction - but it made me think of all the times I had a lane closed on me in my career and what did it feel like.
Early on in my career, I had a position, just above entry level, at a manufacturing company in the Boston area. It was a fun role. I was on a small HR team.
Lane Closures
As I was driving to a coffee meet up with a new friend, I saw the dreaded "Right Lane Closed Ahead" sign. It had the blinking lights and was attached to a pickup truck, the usual set up. The lane closed sign can bring all kinds of words from one's mouth. Maybe a few unpleasant ones, maybe a huff or a grunt. I tend to sigh…
Living An Intentional Life
Living with intentionality has always been a passion of mine. Why? Probably because I have failed at it so many times, or at least I feel like I have. And this is when I remind myself of my successes, not failures, and that how I feel about myself may not be the true facts.
For many years I would do my annual goal setting, especially while I was working in corporate and before my sons came along. I was a big-time goal setter and task list checker. I had my yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily planner. Most of the time I hit my goals. Other times I did not. At times, my mind would go to, “Why didn’t you complete that goal or even start it? You will never achieve anything.” Over time of saying this to myself enough, I gave up on setting any goals. I just did life day by day, week by week.
Grief @ Work
Have you ever had a co-worker pass away? Have you been in a workplace shooting, associated with it or had family or friends go through it? The trauma of workplace violence or the sudden death of a co-worker is real and can have tragic effects.