As I wait in a snowy airport in hopes of getting to DC today, there's time to look back at the last few months (well, years) of focusing on the latest deadline.
Usually, when scary deadlines approach, I can't do anything else. No family visits. Not much in the way of crafts. No other activities. If only I sacrifice enough, then I'll do well. Right?
Well, of course not. That's ridiculous (usually). And so I realized in the midst of this one. While I tried to get this report out the door, my parents came to visit, my friend Julie came to visit (read her latest, it's a hoot), I spent Halloween with friends, and you know what? We extended the deadline. Life came and went. And everyone is happy.
One moment in particular summed up my experience. I loved the little theaters so much that I decided to make a couple of them with an Albany theme for Historic Albany Foundation's yearly art auction.
See? That's the capitol building in the background.
The fundraiser rarely has whimsical, cute, cheap items. So, I figured, what the heck.
The evening was crowded, hot, and noisy. The kind of thing where, even when you know people, you can't talk to them. But the theaters sold well, the food was great (dumpling bar! risotto bar!). I figured that I could just read a book on my phone and survive.
Then one cousin texted me. And another. And pretty soon I was surrounded, spiritually, by many of the amazing women in my life. I wasn't alone at all.
I'm so grateful, today, for those spiritual connections with friends and family. Connections that give you perspective. Connections that buoy you up. Technology that allows you to know that there's life outside of work and stupid reports.
That report was turned in two weeks ago. Next big deadline is in February. Remind of this experience if I forget it in the next little while, ok?
Happy Thanksgiving!