make a good transition into the next stage of my life

Here I am, more than a year out of school, and I’m still wrestling with this transition. It just hasn’t been easy, coming out into a messed-up economy, with so many things shifting around me.

I am going to be working at my out of town job for another year (through May) and am also teaching here in the Bay Area (one Hebrew class, one Intro class).

I need to market my storytelling more aggressively, and probably I should get busy marketing for lifecycle rituals, too.

Still lots to do, and I do not feel completely “transitioned,” if that is a word (and I know darn well it isn’t.)

be able to close this goal, after I finish prioritizing.

Truth is, while I do not feel like I’ve arrived anywhere “next stage-ish” I am in a new routine of sorts.

Hmmm.

the ones who know me, who’ve known me forever, can sometimes really help.

I had lunch last week with such a friend, and talked things through. Figured out what I need to do, and I’ve already started the wheels turning. Worked this past weekend, and felt MUCH better. (I love my work, have I mentioned that?)

I’m going to be fine. Just a little rocky getting from studenthood to real life. To be expected.

I thought I was doing really well with this, working on the No-on-8 campaign via Progressive Jewish Alliance, and with my part time job at a synagogue…

and then the holiday season ended, I’m visiting only once a month for a while, and Prop 8 passed. Getting down to writing on a disciplined schedule between visits to the synagogue has been rocky, given some family stuff.

I feel underemployed and restless, blue, and cranky. Maybe it’s just the transition of seasons. Maybe it’s because I really AM underemployed. Dunno.

Time to pull up my socks and get on with work. I’ll feel better if I keep myself working.

I have a cold, not cancer. I am underemployed, not UNemployed. I have a roof that doesn’t leak and people who love me. I’ll be OK.

once in a while, a very nice feeling. I am discovering that I love congregational work. (Although today I spent a chunk of the afternoon in nursing homes, and I still love that work too.)

I had one day last week that really summed it up: staff meeting, met with the cantor about the Friday service, answered various questions, tweaked sermon for the evening, taught a Haftarah HaShavua class, met with someone interested in conversion, wrote a couple of “thank you” notes, was called to a hospital emergency, held someone’s hand during a tragedy, visited other members in that hospital (since I was there already), dashed home, changed clothes, dashed back to synagogue for evening services, shmoozed afterwards, then got set up for the next round of classes & meetings the next day before I hobbled “home” to the motel to bed.

No wonder I’m online a lot less.

I’ve ben out of town, working, and while I have internet access, I’m so completely booked at those times that I’m just GONE. All I do is work and sleep, with meals and bathing at the appropriate times.

Now I’m back home and will prep for the next round, as well as work on California Marriage Equality. Lots happening in both areas, and I’m behind on the book.

So… I’m busy, I’m happy, I have work I love and I’m so tired that this is IT for me tonight!

which feels VERY good. Lots of work to do, all of it interesting and full of opportunities to grow.

Still getting used to my new hat. I’m “Rabbi Adar” at the shul now, and it still feels weird (but good.)

I am still a bit disorganized (not good) but working on it.

I’m not going to count this “done” yet but I’m well on my way.

with a CPA about being self-employed, since it seems that’s what I’m going to be doing for a while.

Interesting. I may have to dust off that project about cataloging the books after all—turns out that if I bought them in the last 6 years, and they are rabbi-tools, I can depreciate them. Wow.

I am going to think about Taj’s suggestion about interns. May be worth it to outsource that task.

I spent a bunch of time today planning my time for the next two months. There’s a lot to do: lesson plans, sermons, Torah portions to learn, meetings, all sorts of stuff.

But there was also a nice feeling underneath it all. I am now DOING what I have spent the last six years (really, all of my life) PREPARING to do. I’m in, up to my widdle neck.

It’s grand. Absolutely grand.

Eeek.

which I can’t talk about yet.

But I’m very, very excited.