Today I accepted an offer letter from Decision Software, a small company located in Landover that handles customer outreach for our clients. My official title is Marketing Specialist, which is the type of job I’ve wanted for a very long time. In 2001, my then-boss made us take professional personality tests, and my result was “plant.” That’s the person that takes all the information in meetings and synthesizes them into great ideas. It’s right up my alley, and it’s not like I won’t be doing technical work when it needs to be done. The company is so small that I might be pulled in many different directions, and no, I don’t mind cleaning the bathroom.
It’s things like this that constantly remind me things will get better, and continue to get better as I integrate all these new things I’m doing to become a better me. It will be great to have something to look forward to every day, hours so busy that I cannot possibly think about grief or depression or anything else except what’s right in front of me. I knew that I would reach this point, the one where it gets exciting.
I’m glad it’s here.
I may have to go back to University of Houston depending on how many classes Howard offers online. I haven’t been able to check that out yet- it’s only been a few hours since I got the news I am now employed. And if work doesn’t go with my school schedule, I’ll go to a seminary with an online cohort as well. Just because Howard has my $50 for the application fee doesn’t make me obligated to enroll for classes there. With distance education, all things are possible. I’m the one that’s supposed to be coming up with great ideas. Figuring out how to get school accomplished while I’m working is one of them. I know more about digital education than most people, because one of my first jobs involved running a computer lab specifically designed to teach professors how to turn classroom content into suitable web curriculum when it first debuted. When I was working at Marylhurst University, I attended a workshop on digital pedagogy and was blown away by how much it has progressed.
My aim is to live simply, just putting one foot in front of the other… walking away from the old Leslie to make room for an iteration that makes me proud to be me. I’m on my way, of course. Lots of people and things have helped me on my journey. But there is nothing so satisfying as having those good feelings remain; it’s when they sit on the couch and take their shoes off that you know you’re doing life right. Instead of being driven by the negative thoughts that dog your mind, you are constantly evolving into a person where the chaos reigns around you, just not inside you. You’re the eye of the hurricane, and not a part of it.
But peace takes shoe leather, one foot in front of the other.
Stories That Are All True 