Winding down

My favorite time of the year is over. The period between Christmas and New Year’s is when I am off work. I don’t need to wake up to an alarm, I don’t need to go to work, and if I choose, I don’t need to shower or change clothes. It could be easy to conclude that what brings me the most joy is when I am not working and that I possibly have something against my place of employment or career choice. To run with that would be an oversimplification. The truth is I can enjoy two weeks off because I have a job, and I have peace of mind because I have money in the bank to spend on travel and leisure activities because of my career. The other truth is that I know that I will be getting paid while I am off as well. If I were just off work or unemployed, I would not be as joyful. I would be anxious, worried, and making every attempt possible to secure employment. It is easy to look at the upcoming Monday and back to work as a grind or to dread it. Instead, it is important to tell yourself the entire story and make connections around what stories you are presenting to yourself. Our careers and jobs bring great stress, disappointment, and challenging situations. It is easy to enjoy the time we have away. It is also important to take the time to reflect on the opportunities we have to serve others, work towards goals, gain new skills, and build relationships through community.