acknowledge my accomplishments

1. was the Oakland Athletic League 300m Hurdle Champion
2. graduated from high school in the top 4% of my class
3. actively participated in therapy to tackle my depression and anxiety from 17-21, 30-34 and for brief periods in between
4. graduated from college in 4 years while enduring suboptimal living conditions, skipping most of my classes freshman year, and working 30 hours a week
5. earned a teaching credential and masters degree in Education while teaching full time
6. quickly found a new job that allowed me to learn more about myself, life, and the human condition after deciding to leave teaching
7. have been gainfully employed since age 16
8. cultivated friendships that allowed me to learn more about myself and other people
9. attracted men who recognized my intelligence
10. gained the respect of people I respect
11. decided to actively work on believing that I am loveable and worthy of a healthy relationship
12. learned valuable life lessons from my siblings and other relatives

Nine of us who are new Family Reunification Child Welfare Workers meet every other Monday to talk about our work and get tips from a guy who had our job for five years and is now a supervisor in the training unit. One of the first things we do each time we meet is write something work-related we did the previous week that we are proud of. Then our fearless leader collects the slips of paper. And, at various points during our meet, a slip of paper is pulled, the person who wrote it shares their proud moment and everyone else says, “you know, we’re proud of you, too!”

Identify things I’m proud of is often difficult for me. If you asked me what I’ve accomplished in my life, I could give you a list. But, many of the things on the list are things that I take for granted, things I think I SHOULD have done.

So, my task is to identify something I am proud of at the end of each work day, starting today. If I wanted to be ambitious, I could try to list fifteen things, since I’ve already worked fifteen days. I’ll shoot for one and see what happens

1. I figured out how to check out a company car from two of our lots.
2. I figured out how to get gas from the company gas pump.
3. I drove four different company cars and returned them without incident.
4. I learned how to drive a Prius. (They’re different than the Civic Hybrids.)
5. I drove to the Berkeley Hills and the Oakland Hills for home visits even though I was a bit anxious about it.
6. I had lunch with new co-workers even though I was scared that I’d have nothing to say.
7. I met with three parents even though I was nervous.
8. I met with five of the kids on my caseload.
9. I entered all of my contact notes into our computer program.
10. I refrained from binging on my co-worker’s Halloween candy.
11. I asked questions even when I thought they would make me look stupid.
12. I went to work every day even though I really want a vacation.
13. I’m budgeting my money better, saving more, and paying off more debt after a $10,000 plus pay cut.