I can't believe my last post was BEFORE I started work!! All I can say is that I'm in no danger of this happening to me: In Web World of 24/7 Stress, Writers Blog Till They Drop !!
So work has been all consuming - I'm working with as a research analyst in a "mighty, mighty" union, one that is politically very strong and vibrant. It is an exciting place and my department and work is thought provoking... still it is a socialist organisation though...people make reference to "the enemies of the working class" with a straight face (and not as in quoting a Soviet movie or Dr. Zhivago), as well as often referring to being dedicated to the "struggle". In fact, my contract states that my job is more than just a job and is part of the struggle. Yes, they use that word in my contract!!!!!
Oh and one of my closest friends at work is a neo-marxist ...I know, a real live neo-marxist. Please don't ask me to explain what that means...I remember something from comparative literature theory about neo-marxists but mainly about how they analyze textual matter, in my class' case, modern European fiction and movies.
I should note here that my neo-marxist friend, watched "The Namesake" and was appalled at the class based didactics and assumptions. I watched The Namesake too and read only love and loss into the movie...as you can see, my own dedication to the struggle is somewhat weak, and I think I am suspect of being a bit of a capitalist.
Having said that, I really, really like the people I work with and respect them, especially my research buddies, as colleagues. These are some extremely bright people from Standford, Duke, Harvard, and Princeton, who have chosen to fight for a cause and make a difference in the world. I also like how our union is moving forward and being part of big change within the labor movement. In true irony though, globalization, that inherently capitalist beast, is making Marx's idea of a global labor struggle a reality.
Anyway, work is great and I'm becoming/feeling part of Los Angeles and CA more and more. I have other issues in my life, but I realized that maybe I'm just one of those people who always has to be in turmoil about something or constantly searching for something else.
But, I don't want to go into such blah details...I do want to write though about gratitude...
2008 has become a year of growth for me - internal spiritual growth and a serious time to envision my future. Yeah, I know, it is a little late, as I near 33 to suddenly realise I should be seriously envisioning a life path, when over 10 years ago my friend Joy first introduced me to the idea of creating my vision (and I, an even more flippant young-un, remember thinking that another ice cold beer was what I was really envisioning at that moment!)
One of my steps has been to keep a gratitude journal. At first, I had to really push myself to write down 7-10 things that I feel grateful about - and now I can't stop - on a daily level, I have a gazillion things to feel thankful for...even in the midst of being tired or feeling low.
I want to post one or two things that keep coming up in my gratitude list:
1. My friends - from harlaam, to cologne, to brussels, to london, to istanbul, to roanoke, to new york to tokyo - I've got some really amazing friends and I feel truly lucky about that!
2. My family - crazy and fabulous - and always there for me!
3. My mind and my emotions- and I don't mean intelligence or ability to feel, but just an attitude - to look forward, to read, to rationalize and to emotionalize my thoughts. I'd like to take credit for this, like I've achieved this, but so much of it is what one is born with and the gifts your parents give you...
4. My privileged background that has allowed me to travel the world, meet interesting people, experience places, foods, and music of great beauty and diversity and to still have a safe space to come home to.
5. My financial comfort - even at my lowest earning point (in Toronto), I have always had enough money in the bank and in my life never to struggle or have to make decisions between x and y - very rarely has the normal flow of my life been interrupted by money, and I know I am spoilt by this!!
I don't know where 2008 will lead me - I know that life is not static and as I move forward, new doors are being opened and new pathways illuminated, and I hope, that I have the strength of character and sense of self, to choose wisely and with passion.
I do want to write more...I forgot about this blog...or maybe it was just an overwhelming sense of having to write what I'm going through. It is in thanks to my friend S, in NY, that I've returned to the blogosphere. And god, it feels good:-)
So work has been all consuming - I'm working with as a research analyst in a "mighty, mighty" union, one that is politically very strong and vibrant. It is an exciting place and my department and work is thought provoking... still it is a socialist organisation though...people make reference to "the enemies of the working class" with a straight face (and not as in quoting a Soviet movie or Dr. Zhivago), as well as often referring to being dedicated to the "struggle". In fact, my contract states that my job is more than just a job and is part of the struggle. Yes, they use that word in my contract!!!!!
Oh and one of my closest friends at work is a neo-marxist ...I know, a real live neo-marxist. Please don't ask me to explain what that means...I remember something from comparative literature theory about neo-marxists but mainly about how they analyze textual matter, in my class' case, modern European fiction and movies.
I should note here that my neo-marxist friend, watched "The Namesake" and was appalled at the class based didactics and assumptions. I watched The Namesake too and read only love and loss into the movie...as you can see, my own dedication to the struggle is somewhat weak, and I think I am suspect of being a bit of a capitalist.
Having said that, I really, really like the people I work with and respect them, especially my research buddies, as colleagues. These are some extremely bright people from Standford, Duke, Harvard, and Princeton, who have chosen to fight for a cause and make a difference in the world. I also like how our union is moving forward and being part of big change within the labor movement. In true irony though, globalization, that inherently capitalist beast, is making Marx's idea of a global labor struggle a reality.
Anyway, work is great and I'm becoming/feeling part of Los Angeles and CA more and more. I have other issues in my life, but I realized that maybe I'm just one of those people who always has to be in turmoil about something or constantly searching for something else.
But, I don't want to go into such blah details...I do want to write though about gratitude...
2008 has become a year of growth for me - internal spiritual growth and a serious time to envision my future. Yeah, I know, it is a little late, as I near 33 to suddenly realise I should be seriously envisioning a life path, when over 10 years ago my friend Joy first introduced me to the idea of creating my vision (and I, an even more flippant young-un, remember thinking that another ice cold beer was what I was really envisioning at that moment!)
One of my steps has been to keep a gratitude journal. At first, I had to really push myself to write down 7-10 things that I feel grateful about - and now I can't stop - on a daily level, I have a gazillion things to feel thankful for...even in the midst of being tired or feeling low.
I want to post one or two things that keep coming up in my gratitude list:
1. My friends - from harlaam, to cologne, to brussels, to london, to istanbul, to roanoke, to new york to tokyo - I've got some really amazing friends and I feel truly lucky about that!
2. My family - crazy and fabulous - and always there for me!
3. My mind and my emotions- and I don't mean intelligence or ability to feel, but just an attitude - to look forward, to read, to rationalize and to emotionalize my thoughts. I'd like to take credit for this, like I've achieved this, but so much of it is what one is born with and the gifts your parents give you...
4. My privileged background that has allowed me to travel the world, meet interesting people, experience places, foods, and music of great beauty and diversity and to still have a safe space to come home to.
5. My financial comfort - even at my lowest earning point (in Toronto), I have always had enough money in the bank and in my life never to struggle or have to make decisions between x and y - very rarely has the normal flow of my life been interrupted by money, and I know I am spoilt by this!!
I don't know where 2008 will lead me - I know that life is not static and as I move forward, new doors are being opened and new pathways illuminated, and I hope, that I have the strength of character and sense of self, to choose wisely and with passion.
I do want to write more...I forgot about this blog...or maybe it was just an overwhelming sense of having to write what I'm going through. It is in thanks to my friend S, in NY, that I've returned to the blogosphere. And god, it feels good:-)
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