One of those days

I don't normally do this, but today is just not going well. I want to write, but the history I would put down is tainted by the failures of today. So, I just thought I would share and hopefully shake my dissatisfaction at the same time.

I got to work today in a good mood. Yesterday was successful, got everything done I planned, and was still riding on that feeling. I had a good call with James, which helps the day go well too. At 8:30 by every measure I would look at I was set up to enjoy. At this point it is already a little hard to remember I felt that way.

Part of my routine is grabbing my calendar and planning my day. Between nine and three I have five meetings. Ok, need to cut down on my plans. This isn't a complete derailment, but it is really hard to feel productive after a day of meetings. I know they are my job. I know they actually set direction and are productive, but I still have that worker in me that wants to get things done. Perhaps my head will get right on this on day, but for now I'm still in the camp of not liking meetings.

So, a little deflated I move to my e-mail before my meeting. This first issue I see is a fairly large mistake made by one of my staff. The long and short of this is, I've been out of the loop while this has been going on, the employee has treated a pretty special circumstance with normal procedures, which come across as callous and ultimately we end up in a situation the company could be taken to court. Now, the risk is low, but now have an unhappy director and a confused employee and no time to really address either. I get up, talk to the both, but I have to end with this gap in every bodies expectations, which means I'll be back here.

So, at this point I start grasping. I see an e-mail that should hold good news, as you may have guessed, it doesn't. I've been working on a data quality initiative and this should be the one I meet the goal with. I'll add, just to give you a sense of why this might be good news, there is money linked to this report. The score not only doesn't go up, but it goes down. Down to the lowest level this year. Every effort I have put in, all of the little improvements, the projects, everything have shown fruitless. I'm scrambling now to determine why, but again across an overly booked day.

Now, I know everyone has days like this. I know I'm blessed to have gainful employment. I know in the light of tomorrow these things won't loom so large. But today, I just need a little reminder. Take a breath. Give it to God. Find joy in the sorrow.

(several minutes of no writing)

Ok. I'm done. This day is a day God has provided me, with friends and family that love me. He gives me challenges so I can learn, not start pity parties. I have friends in or just out of the hospital. My family is pretty healthy. I know families that have more bills than incomes. We aren't rich by any stretch, but we are well taken care of.

I dedicate the rest of my work day to bringing a little light into someone else's life. I will work as for the Lord. Surrendered. I will not let negativity hold on any more. Hold me to it.