Happy Thanksgiving

Cartoon by Christopher DiPiazza

Key steps toward coming to peace with my cube

It's been almost 2 months since my first day at my new job.  Like any change, it's easy to focus on the steps you still have to learn, climb, and practice to feel settled rather than remembering where you've been and how far you've come.

So as an exercise in perspective and remembering, here are a few key milestones from the past 2 months beginning Day 1 of work -- Sept 30th.  Days are counted by working days, not calendar days.

Day 1: Got a temporary badge to enter the building by myself

Day 2: Officially covered by my own health insurance plan

Day 5: Found the liquid Coffeemate creamer and finally upgraded from the nasty powdered creamer I'd settled for all week

Day 7: Moved into my cubicle and decorated it with some artsy postcards so it felt a little more spirited

Day 11: Made my first health coaching call with a real participant

Day 15: First day on my real (non-training) schedule

Day 21: Personal best time on reading someone from West Virginia a health survey -- 18 minutes 20 seconds

Day 27: First day back on the job after passing the ACSM Physical Activity in Public Health Specialist certification exam, which was required within the first 3 months to keep my job.

Day 27: First Spanish call/coaching session

Day 30: First day working overtime for 1.5x pay  (some days I'm glad I'm not on salary anymore...)

Day 33: First 5/5 quality score on a randomly pulled call

Tomorrow: First paid holiday at this job

Ranch Reunion

After a while being back in Indianapolis, I decided to organize a camping trip/reunion with a few people from the ranch where I lived and worked for the past 2 years.  After two days and two nights in the Hoosier National Forest with some genuine, kind people from my most recent home, I'm dirty, exhausted, and so very content.

 Southern Indiana in the fall and the variety of deciduous trees are two of the things I've missed the most about the Midwest in the past 4 years living in Spain and Colorado.  We missed the best few weeks of colors, but mid-November has its own more spartan beauty.

When living in the middle of nowhere, sometimes I craved a city to help me feel more grounded.  Now that I'm in a city, I seek the outdoors and the middle of nowhere for balance.

I am thankful to always live near beauty and to know so many truly good people.

"There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot.  These essays are the delights and dilemmas of one who cannot."  -Aldo Leopold

13.1

Finished my second half marathon with my mom and sister
#bemonumental

Hip Happenings of Indy

From http://www.spiritandplace.org/Festival.aspx?access=Current.  Here's hoping I can make it to a few of the events!  Even if not, this is a nice reminder of why I decided to return to a more urban existence.

Where can you Risk Pursuing Your Passion, wade into Risky Waters, explore Scientific Heroism, and at the end of the day Get Rubbed the Right Way? At the 2013 Spirit & Place Festival, of course! 30+ events examine RISK through the eyes of women and teens, researchers and rabbis, artists and veterans, LGBTQs and Native Americans, small businesses and congregations, and more.
Hoosiers are not generally considered risk-takers. A recent essay on Indiana's history noted, "We are followers, not leaders; the state of vice-presidents, not presidents. Our motto is ... 'Good enough is good enough'." At the same time, our history is dotted with impressive contrary evidence, from the revitalization of downtown Indy and construction of a football stadium (without a team!) to hosting the 1987 Pan Am Games and the 2012 Super Bowl. What issues need strategic risk-taking? How can we surf the space between safety and danger in ways that stimulate community vitality? What risks can we take during Spirit & Place to galvanize change for pressing social concerns? Come find out!