work less, play more

Well I of course paid for taking off Monday, by having to work today (Saturday), but it doesn’t matter, because I just impulse purchased tickets for a Thursday-Monday beach trip for THIS WEEK. I may be doing too well on this goal! But to be fair I have two full-time jobs, working on my doctorate on the side, oh, and I live in a foreign culture, so I may have more stress that other people. . .Lombok (better than Bali)here I come!

Spent two whole days in a hotel at the end of my trip . . . shopped like a maniac, sat by the pool, had a cocktail. Came home and took a sick day on Monday (really was sick-food poisoning), so now I can’t get anymore rested, and the best part is that this is one of two weeks off of school this semester, so no school work to do too. Trying not to get all hyped-up again . . .

I’m a recovering workaholic . . .haven’t worked in years! I have traveled every week this month, and this week, I might actually turn my business trip into a weekend retreat, still procrastinating on it though, seems wrong to not do ANY work this weekend . . .

I have just been thinking about this year and I can honestly say that I would not want another like it. I have worked too much, there is no growth in any personal areas of my life. I miss relationships with people. I have been bemoaning the fact that I have to move back to the US in 2008 to finish my dissertation, really not looking forward to it, but as I evaluate, having relationships with Americans is going to be a major benefit. I miss teaching my students in the states, the relationships with other single people attending Bible studies that I have led, and just hanging out doing normal things. I hope I can squeeze that all in with the work that I have to do, but I need to change my attitude about work being all consuming. I am not as important as I make myself out to be in my head. I need to make room for me again and stop allowing myself to put work first! 2008, I am not letting you pass the way 2007 did! My plans:
1. Go to Cambodia before going to US
2. Get a job that pays but that I also enjoy and don’t get stressed doing
3. Enjoy relationships with people by getting re-involved in church activities and school activities
4. Go to Chicago with Kris this summer and make more plans for getaway weekends (maybe a winter trip someplace new with Carol or Kris)
5. Cultural activities again! Shows, plays, energy . . . maybe audition!
6. Make no more new work plans!
Hmm, this all sounds great, it gets me excited about life again! I love work, but it doesn’t love me back!

This has been a weird week, I’ve been forced to not work, which is not exactly the same as playing. I had some serious dental issues this week (painful), got two flat tires, and found a dead cat on my lawn (eeewww!) Anyhow, I used up all my play time in figuring out how to solve these little issues, so I guess I have earned the right to work . . .

I put this ‘thing’on my list because if something is not on my list I wont do it. My question is, if I cross it off my list, would it be more work or less?