Working 9 to 5

{Art: by me}

I've hinted at it, but I don't think I ever fully shared the big leap that I took about month ago: taking on a new position at work. Going for an opportunity that pretty much came out of nowhere, I moved into a totally different part of the business, started from scratch, and knowingly took on a lot more responsibility than I've ever had before. Oh, and bought more suits.

I knew it would be a lot of change. I just didn't know how much. 

My job, and the entire way I think about work, has long been a source of confusion and turmoil for me. I don't doubt at all that I'm still knee-deep in Quarter-Life Crisis, wondering if this is the right path for me, and never fully happy with where my life is right now. I took this new position on a gut feeling, and while I know it was the right decision to make (I'm making a difference, I'm more fulfilled, and I'm learning more than I could have ever hoped), it doesn't make the late nights or stressful weekends any easier. 

It's become a matter of self-preservation to try to figure out a work-life balance, and if this job is teaching me anything, it's first and foremost leading me to make the most of the non-work hours. Hit the "off" switch on work email, read lots of books, eat delicious brunches and soak up sun. Because my job is a big part of my life, but it's not all of it. And until I find the "perfect" solution (because it won't happen overnight), I'm going to do my best to get darned near close to it. 

Are you lucky enough to be in love with your job?

On My Bookshelf: Outlander

Embarrassing not-so-secret: when I'm interested in a movie, TV series, or book, I tend to go all the way. As a fifth grader, the top drawer of my dresser was stuffed with Star Wars paperbacks. When  Veronica Mars was on the air, I read every good fanfiction I could get my hands on. And when Mindy and Danny's unresolved sexual tension reached an all-time high on The Mindy Project, I gushed over GIFs capturing their special moments.

So it's no surprise that when I finally picked up a book that had been recommended to me by a friend, intrigued by the promise of time travel and romance and the gosh darn Scottish Highlands, it wasn't long before I was hooked. Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon, is the first in a series that began over twenty years ago, and is still going strong. The first book centers around an English woman, Claire, who inadvertently travels back in time from the 1940s to the 1740s, and falls headfirst into the Scottish Highlands. I'll admit, it took a little while for me to get into the book, but it didn't take long before I was reading it obsessively, every second I had the chance. (It didn't hurt that things got steamy between Claire and a- well, I don't want to give anything away!)

I just finished the second book, and have the third one on hold at the library. It's a good thing I have to wait between books, or else I would be tearing through them at great detriment to things like, uh, work. The series has been around for a while, so there's a good chance you've already heard of it. But if you haven't, and you have an interest in great writing, history, and hunky love interests (who doesn't?), you should consider giving this book a try.

Have you read any good books lately?

At Weekend's End

{Art: by me}

Weekends are funny things.

They can be both wonderful and frustrating at the same time. I have a bad habit of letting the last few hours of a weekend get to me. No matter how productive I've been, how much fun I've had, how much I've savored and relished each moment of the days, I can't seem to help being in a funky mood once the Sunday-afternoon downtime kicks in.

Suddenly, every second I'm on the couch becomes an audible tick on the clock, counting down to Monday morning and the return to "real life". I'm paralyzed by a storm cloud of panic about every aspect of my life and whether I'm making the most out of every moment of it.

(Oh hi, quarter-life crisis. I see you're still here.)

If you're reading this hoping I've found a solution, I haven't. Since my What am I doing with my life? dilemma isn't going to fix itself overnight, I'm resigned to the fact that one of its side effects - my Sunday night ennui - is going to be recurring for a while. So I have to go with the next best thing: not beating myself up over it.  Whatever I'm doing - going for a walk, catching up on Netflix, munching on a peanut butter cup or two, writing a blog post - it is what it is. It's the weekend.

Do you find yourself with the Sunday night blues? What do you do?

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope everyone is having the best holiday weekend. Mine has been restful and relaxing - I finally got off my crutches on Friday. (Oh yeah. Did I mention I was on crutches for over a week? I was. It was terrible. And I thank heaven for my man, who never complained about helping me with every little thing, all the time.) So, finally able to get around, I have spent most of the weekend catching up on laundry and running errands, and loving every minute of it.

PBS is re-airing last night's Memorial Day Concert all day today, which I've been catching bits of, until it gets too emotional for me to stand. But however you choose to do it, take at least a moment today to think of our veterans and those serving.

How are you celebrating Memorial Day?