Paperwork

Tonight, I was working on the paperwork for the South Plains Branch of the National Association of Social Workers Texas  continuing education luncheon series http://www.naswtx.org/default.asp?.  It is cumbersome and complex: reconciling sign in sheets and attendance verification forms.  I also review the evaluations and forward those on to the chair person so she can forward that information to the speaker.  And, I send the information about the people who paid for CEUs at the meeting to the person who submits that information and the money to the state office.

Well, to make matters more complex, Haiku thought she needed attention while I was doing this. She kept sitting on the forms, and crying for attention.  I held her, and that seemed to console her, but after she jumped off my lap, she would end up on the paperwork again.

I am reminded of Mack, my beloved dachshund terrier mix.  I would bring paperwork home to work on. After work, we usually went for a walk either in the neighborhood or at a local park . When we got home, sometimes Mack liked to be outside.  And if the weather was nice, I would join him.  But I often brought documentation to do at home.  He would let me work on the documentation for about an hour, and then he would become insistent on sitting on the paperwork. He was right. I did not need to bring that work home.  He convinced me to change from that job. 

I enjoyed that job, but realized, one holiday weekend, that I had become an "adrenaline junkie."  I had spent a long weekend on call, with very little on call activity.  But that Monday night, I received several calls, and my adrenaline kicked in.  I realized then that I needed to get out of that job, because I did not want to live on an adrenaline high. I recall discussing this with one of the doctors who did not want to see me leave the job. She told me she really liked the adrenaline high and it made it all worthwhile for her. I could not imagine.

I am forever grateful I got out of that job, and the adrenaline rush it repeatedly gave me.

My next job allowed me to watch the paint dry and the grass grow.  That was better, and as always, I gave my 100%. But it was not as challenging as it could have been.

Moving on to the prison provided me the right mix of challenge with out emergency. The prison job has paperwork, but nothing that I can bring home. What a blessing. I am so thankful that I have a job that does not allow me to bring paperwork home.