Reprioritizing.

As anyone who is brainstorming and taking note of content to discuss in a forum such as this would, I decided to look back at some old (yet recent) journal entries of mine for inspiration. Full transparency, I did not plan on including this in my set of expositions, but thought it was too relevant to dismiss. Recommendation: try journaling, you may surprise yourself with how your mindset changes/or doesn’t through time. My early COVID-19 pandemic self was just scratching the surface of the ideas that came over the past year.

I wonder if any of you feel/felt the same…

March 27, 2020:

Due to the current global COVID-19 pandemic we’ve been forced to work from home until further notice. As business slows down due to the impact of the virus on the economy, I’ve had a lot more free time to sit back and do some of the activities I enjoy most. I spend every morning making a French press coffee for myself and a hot tea for Sienna, then having a light breakfast, reading the Morning Brew, and sending any needed update work emails for the day. Then, if things are particularly slow, I could wind up having a good portion of the day to work on shoes, do some reading, listen to music while gardening on the deck, etc. and man is it awesome! This has currently been going on for a full 2 weeks now. The weather is breaking and Sienna and I have been able to spend time outside reading, working, and writing; it has been lovely. Taking advantage of this time has given me a chance to think about how happy I have been spending my time on the things I love most with the person I love most. Naturally, I can't help but now think about my current work situation and how I have been falling out of touch with it, not feeling fulfilled by it. Not out of response to the company’s actions, but simply because I wish I could be doing more. I spend 10 hours every weekday (sometimes more) working a job that doesn't bring me joy, with/for people who seem to value my time far, far less than I do. What if I was able to spend more time on the things I love, organize my day according to my desires, or do something more suited to my interests? Instead, pre-COVID, I came home from work feeling burdened by having to cook and clean, and didn’t want to do anything but chill. During this time working remotely, I am excited about cooking, AND CLEANING, and I dive into my hobbies in my free time rather than just scroll through Instagram in my cubicle. It is way more fulfilling to have so much more control of my time. How much more valuable is the flexibility that comes from working remotely than my compensation package? What is the most valuable earthly thing to me in this life, particularly as it pertains to my career? My time? My salary? My status/title? These are questions I now ask myself every day. So, where do we go from here? I’ve been brainstorming and imagining a life where Sienna’s business ventures take off, or I find an opportunity that allows for remote work or is at least more fulfilling, or I chase my shoe business ideas and never look back! I don't know what the future holds, but what I now know about myself is that I’d prefer if my passions drove my life rather than my commute time. I can’t help but feel that I can get a job anywhere, money can always be made, but I can never get time back once it is spent….

Quick life update: I found a dream career opportunity that is the perfect blend for me to carry out my skills and interests, as well as align my job with my passion and support the growth of a company whose mission is to meet an unmet need in service to others. Reading back this entry makes me feel like it has been a long time coming, but I am thankful for the growth that has come through that time, and can’t wait to get started in my new role!

My challenge for this one is simple: take some time to evaluate the things that matter most to you. Once you identify those things, begin thinking about ways you can better integrate them, or better prioritize them, in your life. I know first hand how daunting this can be when you may feel stuck or unmotivated, but addressing the issue and taking active steps will help you get to where you are going or desire to be.

Hope you enjoyed the week end read,

Dionisio III