Momma Said There'd Be Days Like This

By the time I got to work this morning I was leaning grumpy, and I knew it. As usual, for no particular reason. I had a meeting coming up with the boss at ten, and a return phone call to a disgruntled agent due first thing when I got to my desk. I also had to see if a glitchy computer program I'd begun last night had successfully run, or bombed out again. First I had to make a stop over in the Tax department to pick up some papers.

As I exited the department I noted how tangled up I was in fretting, stuck on some detail that seemed disproportionately large. Remembering my commitment to mental health, I pondered what I should do next to drag out of the doldrums.

Depending on your point of view, the rest of my day was either very lucky or blessed. I like to think that my self-awareness played a little part in setting things on the right course, because no sooner had I begun to ponder when an old friend from the Tax department passed me in the hall and we had a pleasant how-ya-been conversation. Those types of chats have always been good tonic for morning gloom, and I instantly felt an attitude shift as I marched to the office.

Someone else volunteered to handle the phone call to the agent.

There was a message on my machine telling me that Dena and I had been assigned to work together for the first time as election judges, a pleasant surprise.

Checked the computer program. It ran successfully.

I stopped into an impromptu meeting and made some unexpected contributions.

The boss was in a great mood when he stopped in. We had a major project dropped on us, and figured out how to solve it. He also mentioned that he had my annual performance review ready, and gave me a good one. Bonus!

Tackled a project to help prepare the company tax return. Done.

Read several pages of feedback on a 25 page manuscript that I'd written. Made the edits. Check.

A friend dropped by and asked for advice in dealing with a difficult person. My favorite part of the job! He went from head-hung to chipper by the time we were done.

Analyzed an issue about our employee group life insurance plan and reached agreement with our HR department.

Two of my direct reports came to me with questions, each of which was answered snappily.

Quitting time!!

What a rally. Sometimes tulips sprout from manure.