A Year of Gratitude - Day Twenty-four

Day 24 - New Friends & Colleagues

I have met some really cool people in the past couple months, and I really think the ability to network on this level is unique to Portland.  I’m lucky to be here.

And the weather has been spectacular!

I spent the evening with two HR professionals I met through networking.  Virginia and Jenny are two people I really admire, and I feel honored and humbled to be welcomed into friendship with them.  We met at Jenny’s house for a light dinner and we talked for nearly five hours about everything from our professional experiences to our personal stories.  It was a fantastic evening that I hope we can repeat.  I cannot adequately express the gratitude I feel to have them come into my life.

A Year of Gratitude - Day Twenty-three

Day 23 - Summer Sun & Raspberries 

Today was a gorgeous day.  I’m happy for those who were outside all day celebrating Independence Day - what a miracle to have such great weather on this holiday!  I was outside, too, doing things I needed to do (including fueling and washing my car).

I also had a quiet day - in fact, it has been a quiet weekend, which is exactly what I needed.  After the past few weeks and the drama contained in them, I just haven’t had the energy to argue with the voices in my head about relationships (or lack thereof), employment situations (or lack thereof), or any of the other topics on which I quietly and regularly judge myself.  No, I gave myself permission to rest today, and my mind was quiet, too.  ...For the most part.

One of the highlights of the day was among the most simple pleasures.  Dessert: French vanilla ice cream buried under fresh raspberries picked from my friend’s garden.  This is the flavor of summer.

Summer is my favorite season.  I can wear shorts and a T-shirt (or not), and be happy and comfortable driving with the top down.  My Miata offers the best in headroom on days like today, and I wouldn’t have any other car.  I washed it knowing that it will still be clean tomorrow.  

Summer means more time outside - longer days, smiling people, walks in nature....  I look forward to the “beaches” along the Columbia River reappearing as the water level recedes, allowing us to enjoy the summer sun a little more.  Maybe I’ll be able to take a road trip somewhere, and maybe see an old friend.  Or maybe I’ll find a new path to try when the mood strikes.

What a wonderful season summer is, and it brings me raspberries.  Life in this moment is good.

A Year of Gratitude - Day Twenty-two

Day 22 - Helping Others

I have a friend in San Francisco who is going through a really tough time, and he has brought me a little clarity about my own situation.

My friend is from Venezuela, and recently became a naturalized citizen.  We met five years ago at a street fair I attended in the South of Market area, and we have stayed in touch since.  He has worked hard to be a good citizen, earning his bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State in International Business.  Unfortunately, the economy tanked before he could get a job.  He has been unemployed for long enough he has literally no money left.  He goes hungry; he cleans buses to earn a Muni pass so he can get to his next interview.  He says he has no friends, and that his family is so homophobic that he hasn’t come out to any of them (though he thinks his sister knows; I think more than his sister knows, but I digress...).  He is afraid he will have to live with them if he can’t find a way to pay his rent.  His food stamps sometimes don’t buy enough food to last until the next check; who can blame him for not wanting to use food stamps in the first place, the way people can be so cruel....  He endures the most demeaning experiences just to survive.  

I have given him some coaching on interviewing and resume writing as he has asked for assistance.  I’m delighted to do what I can.

He talks about himself in the most defeatist terms, and as I try to help him see a better side of himself, two things occur to me: first, he is saying exactly the same things I have said about myself; I understand precisely what he is feeling.  Second, I wonder if I am helping him in part because these are things I don’t want to believe about myself, and if what he says about himself were true, would what I say about myself also be true?  The words of my BFF, Stephanie, come flying into my consciousness and I start to say to my friend the same thing Stephanie said to me.  I understand it from both sides.

I understand completely the frustration and anger he feels.  Although I have not yet gone hungry or cleaned buses to earn transportation, I KNOW the panic he deals with every day.  And there is nothing I can do but be as supportive as possible.

I have tried to introduce him to others I know in his vicinity who can help him expand his network.  But will he do his part?  We’ll see.  Still, in trying to help him, I feel better about my own situation, and for that I am grateful. 

A Year of Gratitude - Day Twenty-one

Day 21 - Time Off

I did very little today, and it felt wonderful.  I slept in late.  I had a late breakfast (consisting basically of coffee and a banana).  I relaxed.    

The weather could not have been nicer, and I had the top down on my car as I drove to the gym, to the glass studio, to get a bite to eat, and back to my temporary home.

I had fresh asparagus with dinner that spent a total of two minutes between being cut from the plant and being cooked (briefly, of course) - I have never cut my own asparagus before today.  I rather envy Paul & Jim their garden as much - maybe more - than their home.  What an incredible place.  (In reality, I don’t envy them, but I am certainly happy for them.)

This has been a vacation of sorts for me - my time off from job hunting, studying, life - and the only reason I’ll be glad that they return home tomorrow is to see them again.  I will miss this sense of calm.

A Year of Gratitude - Day Twenty

Day 20 - Peace

I can't believe tomorrow will be the end of the third week of this blog.  It doesn't feel like I've been doing it that long (though I admit I'm running out of ideas already, which says more about my lack of creativity than a dearth of possible topics).

At the moment, I am housesitting for my friends Paul and Jim.  First, I’m gratified to know they would entrust their beautiful home to my care, easy as that may be.  Secondly, although it’s not necessarily “in the country,” it sure feels like it.  It’s a sizable house (at least compared to most of the apartments I’ve had in the past) and the quiet here is remarkable.  It's surrounded by a large yard, behind which is an enormous garden they share with a few of the neighbors.  It's a wonderful home.

I am grateful to them for asking me to stay here while they’re away on vacation.  I feel my whole being relaxing.  The peace here is incredible.  Thank you, Paul and Jim, for my mini-vacation.

A Year of Gratitude - Day Nineteen

Day 19 - Reminders

On this 19th day of my blog, I had a pretty light day.  

I had a one-time coaching session with a new client (pro bono) in the morning, and I thoroughly enjoyed her energy.  She has targeted a specific company she absolutely wants to work for.  Unfortunately she has a neurological issue that prevents her from standing for long periods or lifting anything substantial, and this company customarily requires all new hires to rotate through all jobs including those where standing and lifting are required before they reach their position of specialty.  While the EEOC requires companies to make reasonable accommodations for those with any disability, I don’t know what this company’s practices are.  

And yet, as I was talking to her about it, I suggested she look at her health issue as a strength instead of a liability.  The company may be benefited in a few ways by hiring someone with her issues; she can bring it to the table with this in mind.  Use it as a trump card of sorts.  Her whole attitude seemed to shift and she credited my passion for coaching.  It wasn’t me - it’s the fact that she knows what she’s doing and is a delightful person.  She was seeing only what she was displaying.  I had the honor of being the mirror.

I’ve also been asked to sit on the board of the Portland Leadership Forum by one of the most connected men in Portland, Cleon Cox.  I know him through his Job Seekers Support Group that meets on Fridays.  I met with Cleon and another leadership trainer, Dick Warn who is also new to this board.  We planned out what the next forum meeting will be (an open question-and-answer forum and Dick and I will be the panelists).  What struck me afterward was how far I’ve come in the last three months in terms of networking and attitude.

I got these two opportunities to remind myself why I do what I do, and why I love it so much.  Somehow, this is all going to come together.  Not sure how yet, but somehow, and hopefully soon.

A Year of Gratitude - Day Eighteen

Day 18 - Residuals

Once again, I have let this go three days.  I really need to be better about this.  I hope I can keep it up for the whole year.  We’ll see....

On Wednesday, I was enjoying the lingering happiness from having passed my certification exam.  The residual energy carried me through the whole day.  I had a wonderful lunch with a friend and colleague, then a coaching session with a wonderful client, and in the evening, shared a cocktail with Paul & Jim when I picked up the key to their place for housesitting this weekend.  

I am surrounded by good people, and I’m grateful that my continued good mood allowed me to truly enjoy the energy of my friends, colleagues and clients.