work stress

Another 6-10” of snow is currently weaving yet one more intricate blanket over central Wisconsin. Its pristine beauty is turning our world into a winter wonderland but it’s heaviness is suffocating. I read an article recently about embracing the winter months as a time to create a comfortable cocoon and hibernate, but we’re not bugs and bears for Pete’s sake. We’re people!

Poor Mike is snow blowing for the second time this morning.

I feel stuck without anything really new to say. I’m quite frankly sick of myself and sick of social media…trying to paint the best picture, be positive, make myself look better than I really am, trying to get people to like me. Blah, blah, blah!

Honestly life still feels full of a crap-ton of lemons:

Work hasn’t picked up. No matter how many pep talks I give or receive, I doubt my decision to return to hair.
The second job I hoped for, was meant for someone else.
We still don’t have health insurance. (The affordable care act isn’t really affordable unless you don’t want to afford anything else.) Consequently, I worry about every ache, pain, and sniffle Mike gets.
I’m bored, lonely, and adrift.

Wait! … Here’s some Late Breaking News!

Literally, in the midst of this rant, my always encouraging, positive friend Barb has messaged me out of the blue asking when my next post was coming. Thank you, thank you Barb! Your message is just the refreshment I need in this exact moment. Thank you God for the gentle cuff across the head.

Here’s the reality. Despite focusing on the lemons (and the avalanche of snow-fall), I been drinking some pretty sweet lemonade. In the last several weeks:

I’ve seen new places
- I recently visited two restaurants I’ve always wanted to try. Both have been in business for over 40 years. One was a hit and one was a miss, but I was so excited and glad to have experienced both.
I’ve made new friends
- I spent five days in Arizona with my BFF and her parents. I didn’t know her parents well before this trip and now feel like I have two new friends.
- Through the salon, I’ve connected with some of Mike’s friends and co-workers. I’m not just thankful for their business, but the opportunity to better get to know the wonderful people Mike works and hangs out with.
I’ve developed new hobbies
- My at-home yoga practice is flourishing. I’ve completed Yoga with Adriene’s 30 day challenge, am working through her February calendar, and have been trying new vinyasas from the Yoga Journal.
- I joined a corn-hole / bag toss league with Mike. It’s given us the opportunity to spend time together, a reason to get out of the house, and encourages this introvert to socialize with Mike and his friends.
I’ve completed some stuff
- Two books
- A baby quilt top
- A set of cloth napkins
I’ve started a new tradition
- I’ve just sent out a stack of Valentines (the old-fashioned way) to my whole family. Going forward instead of bludgeoning everyone with a little more joy at Christmas, I’ll spread the love while the winter blues are at their peak.

So I’m canceling the pity party and apologize for wallowing. It’s crazy how easy it is to forget all the good when faced with a little bad. I have a warm house, plenty of food, a loving family, good friends, and a God who loves and has always cared for me.

If you’re drowning in lemons, I pray that there is peace and comfort waiting for you right around the corner. Remember God is good, he is faithful, and you are loved.

If life is currently treating you well, please share the goodness. We all need the reminder that snow melts, spring comes, and lemons can always be made into lemonade.

Happy Valentines Day!

I recently listened to “Essentialism. The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” by Greg McKeown on Audible. It reminded me that discerning what is absolutely essential, and eliminating everything that’s not, allows us to make the highest possible contribution toward the things that really matter.

I missed writing last week. Getting all the thoughts swirling around in my head out into the universe has been surprisingly therapeutic. It’s given me the clarity and direction I’ve been craving for a long time. It’s become essential to my sanity.

I didn’t write; however, because the last couple of weeks at work have been grueling.

Two weeks ago, we announced a department re-org. No one was losing their job, but the day we were to notify our affected team members, I scheduled one-on-ones in the only conference room I could find–in HR….

I haven’t been a manager for long, and this rookie move literally caused me three days of wasted time and headaches as I steadily got hammered with questions and concerns about why my team had been called to HR.

Hmm, because I couldn’t find any other place to meet with them?

This is not a mistake I’ll make again.

Last week was completely insane too. I finished up a class, facilitated a number of new purchases, kick started a new project, and was prepared to wrap up the quarter when my teammates and I were asked to present a department overview to our new CEO.

It felt like getting caught up in a tornado and being spit out mid spin. I ended the week completely dazed and confused.

Fortunately there’s a light at the end of this tunnel, and it happened to be a beautiful sunset outside of Tuscon AZ. You see, amidst all the re-org. drama, my very best friend invited me on an impromptu vacation in Arizona.

To get here though, I became slightly unhinged.

I scrambled like mad to put all my ducks in a row before leaving so I could be free to enjoy this week’s little piece of heaven. However, there was no possible way to do it all. I had to let some of it go.

I don’t have the opportunity to travel much outside of work. So, I could waste this precious time “angsting” about what I didn’t get done or invest it in a treasured friend and relish that we have no plans or pressure to do anything but lay by the pool and decide when to mix up the margaritas.

Work matters, but faith, family, and friendship matter more.

These “lip balms” keep the pressures of work and life from consuming us. Rest and relaxation are not luxuries, but essential for us to be our very best in every area of life.

Ultimately, the price of a little R&R is letting go.

This week I’m going to let go of what I didn’t get done in the last one. Instead, I’m going to delight in my friend and enjoy the Arizona sunsets. It’s essential!

Lip Balm & Lemonade

Lemonade in the Winter

The Price of a Little R&R