I woke up at 6:38 am today.  My body did that all by itself.  I smiled.  I was excited for the day.  I thought about going to get some fruit in the employee dining room (EDR, one of the best benefits ever) and then heading to my new office.  OH WAIT!  It’s Sunday.  I don’t go to work today.  It was a sad moment and a happy one: sad to realize I wasn’t going to my new job but happy because I’m so excited about my job.  I went through orientation two days last week and tomorrow (the real Monday, not Sunday faking me out) I get to go to my office and start Public Relations.  I don’t really know what all that means, but I am SUPER excited.  I know it gets to use my writing and my management skills.  I know it feels like everything I’ve done up until now has prepared me for this.  I could NOT be happier or more excited.  I’m nervous and have a little self-doubt creeping in (the “am I good enough?” whispers are starting) but I remind myself I was carefully chosen from a LOT of applicants and tested well enough to land the job.  If I give it 100%, I’m certain I will be just fine.

It’s been 13 years since I had a “first day” at a new job.  And truthfully, I have been scolding myself for stalling those 13 years at the last place.  That does ZERO amount of good.  What’s done is done and perhaps every single moment was exactly as it was supposed to be to land me this opportunity.  Focusing on what I don’t know or haven’t used in a long, long time will be of no benefit.  Instead, I need to remain relaxed, open to new ideas, and just keep this gratitude flowing.  THAT will determine my attitude, which I know is infectious and about 90% of doing a good job.  I’ll have to make a note to drink half the usual amount of coffee tomorrow because if today is any indication, I will be plenty wired on my own.  In the words of my friend Dawn, I’m at 11 and I need to come down to 7.

You know what’s amazing?  Even the days I made triple the salary I’m starting at now, I was never this happy about going to work.  True story.  You *think* you work for that paycheck…until you land your dream job… at a great company… with great benefits…and a super boss.  NOW I know what it feels like to get up and feel blessed with work, not cursed.  So again, maybe those 13 years at the last job set me up to teach me the kinds of valuable lessons you just can’t understand until you go through it.  It creates so much appreciation for this new opportunity.  I’ve thanked the Universe at least ten times and I’ve only been out of a bed for a couple of hours.

Is life perfect?  Nope.  I got some things going on that I have to sort out and make peace with.  Am I going to let it overwhelm or occupy me?  NOT A CHANCE.  They will work themselves out.  Now, what to do on a Sunday Funday…