Four years ago on Christmas Day, I created my LiveJournal. Directed here by [livejournal.com profile] orangcone, I've made this my little spot in cyberspace. I'll admit, depending on how lonely/depressed I am, my posting varies widely. While I'm always swearing that this will change, I'm not sure that it ever will. That doesn't mean my intentions are not to post more frequently, it's just that for me, until I get something into my "routine" it will only occur haphazzardly.

This is the time of the year when I reflect on the year that was and plan for the year that is to be. New Years Eve will be very special for me, as I will be going away to stay in the mountains for a few days, joined by a few of my close friends. It wasn't possible to invite everyone this year, and the holidays are always awash with myriads of social opportunities. I am blessed by all of my friends, those who could join me, and those who could not.

Recently, unexpected job opportunities have forced me to think about what I value most in life. My co-workers think I am crazy because I have always put my job first and my personal life second. They can't comprehend that those were the values that I was raised with, and that what you do, and how you contribute to society are the most important thing in life. It wasn't until recently that I realized that the reason my father believed that was because he was always a desparately unhappy man at home, and that his work lifted him up far above the verbal "beat-downs" my mother inflicted upon him every day. Yet he adored her, and won't say a bad word about her, even though I can clearly remember the affairs, the separations and the fights. He just denies it ever happened and calls me a liar. While I am happy we have renewed our relationship since my mother's death (I mean, who wouldn't be, he's been showering me with guilt money ever since), it's a very painful reminder of why I severed all contacts 20+ years ago, in order to spare myself from ongoing emotional abuse.

I don't really feel like I've gotten any farther than any of my co-workers by putting my company first, so I'm going to stop. I'm tired of being taken for granted on the job, tired of being expected to perform to standards that are twice as high as everyone else. Tired of being told that my personal appearance is the only thing that's "holding my career back." Fuck you. How I dress and how much I weigh have nothing, I repeat nothing, to do with how I perform my job. I talk to customers on the phone... they can't see me, they don't know what I look like, and the fact that I have been invited to visit some of them in their own homes scattered across the country says that they value me as a person, which is more than I can say of my employers. What I do, and how I perform my job has everything to do with the bond that I have developed with my customers over the last seven years. I genuinely care about them because most of them are in suck-ass jobs that are even worse than mine because they don't get paid anywhere near what they're worth. (At least I'm a well-paid slave to the corporate mentality).

Bottom line, 2005 is going to be for me. I've still got another 100 lbs. to lose. That's still a daunting task, no matter if I've already lost 150. I stalled out in 2004 due to stress. But I've got to get it under control again. Going to the gym will be essential as well, I've got to start building more muscle mass to rev up my metabolism more. Plus, I think working out will help to keep stress under control. Friends move to the top of my list for 2005. I don't feel like I know any of them as well as I would like, and I've been horribly disorganized about birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. I like to entertain, and I like to spoil people. It's just part of who I am, I suppose.

This is probably just the first of several parts today. You know how it is with me sometimes, feast or famine.

Ciao for now.

From: [identity profile] recalcitrant.livejournal.com


How fucking dare they talk about your appearnace! i have such a distaste for companies and corporates and management it isn't funny.

2005 is going to be a great year :-)

BTW i keep forgetting to tell you. after your post about your really cool vaccum cleaner i was on the net looking to see if it was avail in oz and how much. they don't seem to have that model here...but sooooooo funny...the next morning my housemate tells me he was dreaming of this super duper vaccum cleaner! i nearly dropped my drink and said to him about your livejournal entry and how i was looking at vaccum shops here to read up on it.

From: [identity profile] jennlyle.livejournal.com


Ditto on the appearance part and one other piece. If you are in complete compliance with the company's dress and hygeine code, then you may have reason for an issue with the company based on discrimination. Granted, the lawsuit route won't win you any friends while you're there. However, if you can get that statement documented and then should things turn sour (such as being passed up for promotion or needing to find work elsewhere), with that documented folks in HR and legal may be more generous with any benefits or severance packages.

Make 2005 the best that you can!

From: [identity profile] tinuvial.livejournal.com

No lawsuit...


Trust me, if they had said anything overt, I'd be out the door. My company is very "lawsuit averse" - so they're very careful about what is actually said. It hasn't been anyone in my direct management chain, it's been my "mentor" - she keeps trying to get me to change how I dress, etc., talking about people's "impressions" etc. I'm just tired that it's all anyone can say about how for me to "achieve." It's OK, I still plan to finish my book, go on Oprah and be famous. :)

From: [identity profile] jennlyle.livejournal.com

Re: No lawsuit...


That's a good enough resolution... especially the Oprah and famous parts =)

From: [identity profile] tinuvial.livejournal.com

Vacuum...


I love my vacuum. Too bad they don't have them over there yet. Eerie though, that your roommate is dreaming about them! I'm really going to make an effort to post more in the next year. It was good to hear from you Nat!

From: [identity profile] scottopic.livejournal.com


Good for you on all of this.
And, as you've shown repeatedly, you're more than up for the task.

From: [identity profile] tinuvial.livejournal.com

Thank you...


Now that you and Phaedra are back in town, we need to get together for Dim Sum one of these Sundays. Maybe I'll try to get a bunch of folks together after the New Year.

From: [identity profile] georgechance.livejournal.com


Well, if you put yourself first, without truly stinting your employment, both will benefit. But I really think you need to do more for YOU...as to appearence, screw them your heart is the biggest thing about you.

From: [identity profile] georgechance.livejournal.com

Re: *hugs*


It is always there, I am just usually a bit more quiet then this...been all kinds of chatty on your LJ last couple of days *griN*
adrienmundi: (Default)

From: [personal profile] adrienmundi


Life is important, but it should be life on your terms. If that ends up being more heavily geared to work than lots of people think it should, because you want it that way, don't let anyone tell you it's bad. The deal is that it (whatever "it" may be) needs to be on your terms, answerable only to you. Don't budge on that.

From: [identity profile] tinuvial.livejournal.com

Thanks


I agree with you. I've never let anyone sway me from being my workaholic self... it's just that I'm coming to question why I'm loke that, and if it's really worth it, because no one seems to appreciate it.
.

Profile

tinuvial: (Default)
tinuvial

Most Popular Tags

Powered by Dreamwidth Studios

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags