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Yes, it's my birthday today -- but the important news is that I made a major breakthrough this past week.
Recently I wrote about sitting in my weekly meeting with my manager and getting upset that I was saying the same things again about my fears and frustrations about my project and my inability to manage it the way I needed to. I promised my manager that I would make the necessary changes to my attitude, and in fact, when I turned in my post-meeting list of action items for the week the first item was "Do or do not. There is no try."
And then I had the opportunity to engage one of my stakeholders in a critically important conversation in order to clear up some significant misunderstandings. I did it because it was abundantly clear that she and my mentor had a history of unpleasantness with each other, and were missing each other's points and taking offense in the email conversation. I, on the other hand, have a good relationship with each of them, so I picked up the phone and called the stakeholder and said, "Can we talk?"
And I got great results. The first real tangible, meaningful results that I feel I've contributed to the project.
Afterward I realized that I had just done what I had always dreamed of doing, always believed was some of my fundamental Work: that of being a communication conduit between people who do not get along, or speak different languages, or whatever. The whole point of my Journeys fantasies was to become a person ("the" person, actually) who was trusted, who could speak all languages and understand cultural differences, so that peace could be made.
And I did that at work last week. And felt more satisfaction than I've felt for a very long time.
This is a real part of me. It is a talent, just one I haven't had the chance to use very often.
And on the same level -- probably not coincidentally -- I had a sacred, archetypal experience with LM on Saturday night that validated an entirely different aspect of my private, personal writing: a way of being and relating that I had never actually experienced, nor known anyone who did, but which came from my gut and felt right, as if I was drawing on something true but unknown.
I am finally becoming the woman I have always wanted to be but never believed could actually exist in this world.
[But one who is still a day or so behind reading my friends list!]
Recently I wrote about sitting in my weekly meeting with my manager and getting upset that I was saying the same things again about my fears and frustrations about my project and my inability to manage it the way I needed to. I promised my manager that I would make the necessary changes to my attitude, and in fact, when I turned in my post-meeting list of action items for the week the first item was "Do or do not. There is no try."
And then I had the opportunity to engage one of my stakeholders in a critically important conversation in order to clear up some significant misunderstandings. I did it because it was abundantly clear that she and my mentor had a history of unpleasantness with each other, and were missing each other's points and taking offense in the email conversation. I, on the other hand, have a good relationship with each of them, so I picked up the phone and called the stakeholder and said, "Can we talk?"
And I got great results. The first real tangible, meaningful results that I feel I've contributed to the project.
Afterward I realized that I had just done what I had always dreamed of doing, always believed was some of my fundamental Work: that of being a communication conduit between people who do not get along, or speak different languages, or whatever. The whole point of my Journeys fantasies was to become a person ("the" person, actually) who was trusted, who could speak all languages and understand cultural differences, so that peace could be made.
And I did that at work last week. And felt more satisfaction than I've felt for a very long time.
This is a real part of me. It is a talent, just one I haven't had the chance to use very often.
And on the same level -- probably not coincidentally -- I had a sacred, archetypal experience with LM on Saturday night that validated an entirely different aspect of my private, personal writing: a way of being and relating that I had never actually experienced, nor known anyone who did, but which came from my gut and felt right, as if I was drawing on something true but unknown.
I am finally becoming the woman I have always wanted to be but never believed could actually exist in this world.
[But one who is still a day or so behind reading my friends list!]
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-14 02:25 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 12:03 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-14 03:30 pm (UTC)Have a happy one!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 12:04 am (UTC)It's so nice to actually see progress in things we've been working on, isn't it?
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 03:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-14 03:34 pm (UTC)And congratulations on taking a big step!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 12:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 12:05 am (UTC)Have a happy anniversary!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-14 04:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 12:06 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-14 05:25 pm (UTC)And, too? HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 12:06 am (UTC)LOVE the icon!!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-14 07:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 12:07 am (UTC)Anything you can do about the weather up here???
;-)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 12:24 am (UTC)Right now, the mundane forecast shows that things will start to clear up (but cool down a bit) over the next few days. There are a lot of things influencing my ability to focus and concentrate right now, but I'll certainly try to give it a little nudge. Just let me know what you want it to turn toward.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 01:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 02:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-14 08:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 12:07 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-14 09:06 pm (UTC)Happy birthday, Queen!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 12:08 am (UTC)Birthday greetings
Date: 2006-12-14 09:22 pm (UTC)Best wishes for a joyous natal day.
Love,
Katherine
Re: Birthday greetings
Date: 2006-12-15 12:09 am (UTC)Thank you, Katherine, for the birthday wishes and for the passage.
All these years of imagining being a peacemaker on an intergalactic scale, and I never put it in that context before.
Belated ...
Date: 2006-12-15 03:15 pm (UTC)Happy Birthday to You!
And I hope you have a wonderful birthday weekend!
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 05:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-15 07:03 pm (UTC)