Cleared my desk...

…well almost. Had a chunk of time this afternoon, so set about tackling some of the tasks that normally creep up on me over the month e.g. clearing out my inbox, balancing my accounts, patient notes and letters (they normally build up over the week). Definitely a case of delayed gratification; sacrificing the present for a better future (namely this weekend). I am now in a better position to be able to focus on this evening. I will probably end up doing a few tasks around the house before going to see a friend of mine.
I hope to take leave from the office in the near future-part of my ‘downtime’ program- and relax. Too late this year did I remember a promise to myself in August last year, that I would take some time off in July. I am paying the price with a slightly overworked body and a dose of allergies to boot. So, now that I have cleared my desk, I can look forward to shutting the office out of my mind for a few days and just ‘blob-out’ and recover.

Off the Floor

Had to withdraw from a dance competition today. Should be dancing tonight, but am having a repeat of the allergic reactions that put me in hospital last year-an experience I do not care to repeat. It is disappointing to see all the hard work go to waste, especially as competitions in Zimbabwe are few (the next one is in 2 months time). There will be other competitions. No-one accused life of being fair. There is a bigger picture at stake, and I need to focus on it. I could dance tonight, but history has shown that it is not wise, I had to walk off the floor mid-dance last year because I was unable to breath. Sacrificing one competition is a small price to pay for a faster recovery, avoiding hospital bills and being able to accomplish everything else that I need to do in a particulrly busy month. I have an orthpaedic surgeon out from the uk this month and will be busy in the hospital, as well as trying to juggle all my other responsibilities. So I guess I'll get over it-eventually.

I've found it.

I found it! No, not the answer to life; as you may recall, I mentioned in a previous post about 'suddenly' moments. I rediscovered the source this evening. It came in a newsletter called 'The Writer's Workshop'. The letter is written by Diane Scimonce who is the president of Peapod Publishing. The relevant article is found at this link, or you can subscribe to the newsletter at her site. I like to always give credit where credit is due, and she was responsible for that bit of revelation.

It is worth honouring others who have impacted you positively, especially if they are unaware of it. We seem to have lost the art of thanking people, either through a note, email or verbal message. My encouragment is that, this week, find someone who has done something, no matter how small, and thank them for it. You may be surprised at the result.

At the End of a Day

It has been a beautiful day, despite a pretty horrific night. I will spare the details, but I was unwell yesterday evening. Was a bit better this morning and after an extended lie-in, decided to make breakfast. Small dilemma-we had no electricity, being in the middle of an extended power outage. So, cousin and I decided to go scout the 'opposition' and went an had a meal at one of the other coffee shops in town. I had a rather pleasant muffin (nothing too taxing on the stomach plesae), while Kyle tried something a bit more substantial. We then decided to go coffee-shop crawling, and in between shopping moved on to another two(one wsa closed so I suppose it doesn't really count as two). After dropping him at hockey, I had planned to stop by the office and catch up on some computer work. This I have dutifully done and have the pleasure of having completed the second draft of my book(see excerpt in previous post). Finally I have a document I think that I can show a publisher. It may get torn to shreds but that's the risk you take. I already have a basic outline for another book(hopefully part of a trilogy), and will see what comes of it. There is a lovely sunset outside and I am going to enjoy it for a moment before phoning up a friend to make plans for the evening. Despite the afternoon's efforts I am feeling relaxed and content.

On the Way.

Well, well. This is my 50th post! I have managed to keep going for 4 months and reached what may be considered a landmark number. Is it really though? Is this post more important than any of the previous posts merely due to its numerical ranking. Once it is published, is not the next post the most important-the one that I need to write in order to keep the site alive?

I have found a passion for writing, and this blog allows me a creative outlet for what I write. Judging from the number of blogs on the net, I am not alone. One of the great things about writing like this is that you are generaly free to write what you will-there are few limitations to what you can put down and if no-else likes it, then tough. I have learnt a few skills along the way: have picked up a basic understanding of HTML (for the uninitiated, the media language used to creat web sites), have improved some of my spelling and grammar (no don't look), and have a bettter appreciation of what makes a great site.

Where this blog will go, I am not sure. There is still much to say, and many different ways to say it. So, I'll keep writing-just watch this space.

A Dying Breed?

Are the professions dying out? Have been speaking to a few of young adults this last week. What struck me was the fact that most of them do not regard themselves as a particular profession (even though many, including myself have a professional degree). Rather, they possess a unique collection of skills that they use to fulfil various posts and functions. If you ask them what they do, the description is not merely one of ‘accountant” or ‘personal-assistant’ but rather a brief sentence that details what they see as there skills or purpose. I’m not sure if this phenomenon is limited to Zimbabwe and has been created by the situation here, or if it is a broader trend related to this generation. While there is security in a fixed career structure, on a personal level I find the concept rather stifling-if I work for so many years, I can move up to another level if I pass my assessment-no thanks. But, admittedly that’s just me; or so I thought until I started talking with these people.

In a FastCompany article, Po Bronson states
“People don't succeed by migrating to a "hot" industry (one word: dotcom) or by adopting a particular career-guiding mantra (remember "horizontal careers"?). They thrive by focusing on the question of who they really are -- and connecting that to work that they truly love (and, in so doing, unleashing a productive and creative power that they never imagined).” and “There are far too many smart, educated, talented people operating at quarter speed, unsure of their place in the world, contributing far too little to the productive engine of modern civilization.”
Read the full article, and let me know what you think?

So, You've had a bad day.

I love that song by Daniel Powter, the music video is even better(Check out the lyrics or his web site). Got home last night to find that my delightful cousin, and potential bane of my days, had finished all the milk. Woke up this morning to a power cut-no hot breakfast and a rapidly cooling bath. Arrived at work to the universality of power shortages, although it has now returned and I can sip on that much needed coffee. Today is a day that I need strength and energy-between the practice and the coffee shop-I will only finish at 11 tonight without much of a break. So I had a bad start, so what. I can choose to mope, or I can make decisions that will benefit my experience today. I have already got some breakfast from a shop just down from work. I have purposed to take it easy and not get too stressed while treating, and have planned a couple of mini-breaks during the day. So I’m going to have an amazing day (and night), how about you?