And then it's all OK again

This week has been a very good week at work for me. I've been doing something I love to do (the layout of a 48-page magazine all by myself), and the sun's been shining.

My department is still waiting to hear the final outcome, but in the mean time, two co-workers went ahead and applied for other jobs in-house. That's when I realized that loyalty be damned - look out for number 1! So I applied for a job, too.

I'm going to spend the weekend re-learning how to write a resumé, because it's been ages since I last had to, and I've forgotten how.

But the very act of applying for a job did something: It proved to me that I could take action, it removed some inertia, and it created a desire to do even a job application well.

Today, my company threw a summer party. Over 500 employees in the employee cafeteria, treated to a buffet dinner and free bar (wine and beer), and a big band to dance to. And in the midst of wondering if anyone cares and do I really want to stay with this company comes the joy of being with co-workers, familiar and not so familiar, circulating, meeting new people, reconnecting with others, and generally reaffirming that this really is a nice place to spend the 20 years until retirement. Just find a way to be happy doing so. The fact that I could drink wine and my stomach didn't protest once also helped.

So on a warm summer's night, with clear blue skies above me and the sun not yet set, I find myself completely cheered and encouraged.