Back from vacation!

And it's pretty late to go into any depth right now but I am finally back in the normal groove once again. I'd still rather be on vacation, truth be told, but I'm glad to be back for other reasons. Life does need to move forward every once in a while, I suppose.

Road-trips are fun!

So... I am on the road and havin' fun. I get to relax and sleep in and see family and friends a lot for the next week... I might be erratic in my posting frequency during this time. Oh, well... good times!

Oh, how soon the sweet vacation cometh.

Which is definitely not going to be long enough but I certainly intend to make the best of it nonetheless. I have many ideas about things I can do and enjoy along the way... I will be happy(and surprised) if I even do half of them. Vacation will already be swell enough simply through the act of vacating, anyway.

Unexpected loss.

Is there something about unexpected loss that makes it more painful or disturbing? As if some kind of preparation can soften the blow, so to speak? I am not sure, really, but I am nonetheless quite taken out of my emotional calm by this sort of thing. My prayers should definitely run deeper as a result.

Minor adjustments.

Not because I wouldn't like major adjustments... but more because those ones don't really stick without the minor ones along the way anyway. So, I'm glad to have made a tiny bit of progress today. The extra sleep seemed useful. All kinds of pleasant.

Skipping some of my nap seems to have helped.

Because I am fairly ready for bed now... which is a good thing. I usually power right through this time of night as a reckless anti-sleeper without a cause or purpose for doing so. Now, my purpose is clear. Get sleeping as soon as possible. Dreams are a good thing to enjoy. Life is a better place when you are rested.

Exhaustion can motivate.

I know I don't like being so run down so I am actually somehow aware of this right now and am actually seeking to avoid it. This is kind of a new thing for me. I doubt it will happen all that frequently but I'm glad to be aware of it right now. Baby steps, I guess. Exhausted baby steps.

Sleep: the ever elusive.

I wonder if I am subconsciously rebellious toward sleep? It seems that I tend to sabotage my own efforts to regulate my sleeping patterns almost every single day. Like I kind of stumble around from one waking moment to the next in a daze, basically incapable of any positive course correction. I know, of course, that it isn't technically impossible but it seems pretty confusing to me why I would still be having such a challenge overcoming it despite all the challenges it begets by its very nature.

The necessity of sleep.

I am really starting to realize how important regular sleep is to the quality of my life. It's influence descends down from the sky all the way to the very roots of my being... in an almost literal way. In short, I am way past my bed time and I need to stop doing this... yet, like an addict, I seem to be unable to translate this realization into reality. Pshhh. Better luck, tomorrow!

Rockin' the socks.

I really enjoy performing. It's fun to unleash energy all over people's faces... that they hopefully enjoy. I don't even remember when it happened but there came a point where being nervous basically disappeared as well. And humor is always the funnest ingredient... but definitely the one I need to work on the most. Loves me some a' that!

Wheels still in motion.

Now that I've had almost a week of semi-relaxed work pace outside of my regular job at UPS I feel like my perspective is starting to adjust. I basically feel like I still don't have enough time to get most of the good things done but I also feel like it can be done, nonetheless. Sort of a weird conundrum, I know, but feelings and logical statements have not often been very comfortable bedfellows, in my opinion.

The long shooting days can be tough.

8am to 11pm... that's a long day. I did get a lunch break somewhere in the middle of that, and it's not like I was constantly engaged in the work, but I was at least partially involved with what was happening for pretty much that entire time. The physical elements of the job were fairly demanding but the mental elements were nearly as demanding and much more of an energy drain than I would have expected.

The work was quite rewarding, however, and I hope it was a fruitful effort for all those involved. I really look forward to seeing what comes of it all. Should be grand fun indeed!

Work is an ever-changing experience.

There can certainly seem to be all kinds of repetitious and familiar things happening at work from day to day... but I tend to think that is more of a myth than one might think. It's sort of like communication - it can never be exactly the same twice. Mostly, I would say, because the process of work should not only be productive toward achieving the goal of whatever the work is... but because that process will also change the person doing the work in some way. Ideally it becomes easier. Or maybe I just hope that it will become easier for me.

Depth of character.

I think it is sometimes hard to detect. One reason for this might be the greater goodness a person carries that only manifests in their reaction to adversity. Another reason, I would guess, could be the greater goodness that is tied to a person's deeper passions for something in the future. The things they want to do that are not immediately accessible to them. The goals and desires of his or her heart. It is as I learn these things about a person that I truly learn to appreciate them beyond what I thought I could.

The relaxing days.

And they seem to be somewhat few and far between. Some of that is simply perspective and some of it is how I handle my challenges in the first place. And, if I slow things down a little, I can enjoy many more of them than I already do, for sure. A new personal goal, perhaps? An old personal goal? Ha.

What are you doing still awake?

This is the question I really need to be better at asking myself... like, four hours ago. Either that or I really need to get a different job... like, four hours ago. Good thing I was actually doing a job like thing similar to what I actually want to do in the future... like, four hours ago. And, I've basically been smiling ever since... like, four hours ago... at least... probably more.

The exciting creative process!

I finally started reading the rad book I was given during my portfolio review. What a rad book! No holds barred, it just goes right for the advertising jugular! And even though it mostly focuses on the advertising perspective, it translates quite well into the other creative areas of life. I am quite grateful for the kind portfolio reviewer who gave it to me in the first place.

Trudging through the trials.

I feel like I have been making progress in some ways in life. I also feel like it is somewhat hollow progress given how light the victories feel lately. A victory is a victory but when other things take an unnecessary hit it kind of makes me wonder. No worries, though... I'm happy with any kind of progress anyway.