Okay, so perhaps not the best play on words with this post's title (there is a reason I am not employed as a writer or editor), but I must admit that five years into my career at Hallmark, I am reminded just how fortunate I have been. Considering how when I submitted my resume all those years ago, I never thought I would get a call back let alone a job, I have done pretty well. Fate, fortune, or something like that seems to have conspired in my favor, allowing me to move from an on-call position to a permanent, full-time job that allows me to work with some of the most intelligent, talented people I have ever met. They also happen to be some of the funniest and kindest, too. If I could, I would describe what it is I do, but I have learned from past experiences, trying to explain the strange alchemy of metadata, Excel spreadsheets, and Hallmark.com often results in my audience falling into a trance from which it is hard to rouse them. Best not ask for details, and just know that I have been reassured numerous times that whatever it is I do is working, and since nothing has imploded, exploded, or failed miserably, I will go along with this assessment.
But really, I do not want to talk about me or my specific job. Instead, I wanted to shine a light on my awesome co-workers who made me feel like what I do matters and, more importantly, that perhaps I matter. (Yes, my insecurities run that deep. I came into my current position completely overwhelmed, and it has taken me about two and a half years even to think that I have a grasp on what I am doing...and it has taken me almost as long to get to know my co-workers better. If I were to be honest, they still intimidate me a bit. Not in a bad way--it is more like the kind of awe one experience's when encountering someone who seems to know anything and everything...but I digress.) So, anyway, there was a little party to celebrate my anniversary. I had requested cupcakes and celebration that was to be low-key. I am not one for much attention, and I was freaking out even thinking about having to stand in front of the cupcakes as my manager Jen handed me the Crown pin and card. I kept telling myself that people were coming for cupcakes and cupcakes alone. Still, it was nice to see my friends from my old department as well as those from my current department gather round, chatting with one another. When the moment came, there was no speech, no embarrassing spotlight placed directly on me. Instead, Jen simply handed me an envelope with a completely different kind of surprise.
Inside there was a passport, filled with warm wishes and pictures of my travels with my co-workers superimposed onto some of my favorite memories. It was amazing. I stared at it in shock and found myself blinking back tears. Even now, I do not know if I have conveyed to my co-workers why this gift was so touching. It isn't just the fact that it is an awesome idea that does a good job to reflect my personal interests, but that they took the time to think of something so perfect and then took the time to mock it up, adding their personal touches wherever they could. That they would take the time to do this for ME is more than I can fathom. I am not used to having something like that done for me, (I can only think of one other time, and to this day I am embarrassed by how I reacted to that...but that can wait until another blog post) and since I had thought I had done everything possible to become one with the background while at work, that my friends at work still noticed blew me away. I meant it when I said that the best part of coming to work each day is my co-workers.
Throughout the day, I had several others congratulate me and tell me what a good job I do, some of whom I would never have thought noticed what I do. While I cannot vouch for the actual veracity of their statements (I try my best, I really do...but I cannot help but wonder what I can do better), I can say that it made me feel like I belonged. And, to be honest, that is often something I long for. Probably something we all long for. I just wish that I had been better able to capture what it meant to me in this post...sadly, this long rambling missive does a poor job conveying what I wish it could. I don't know why I have had this opportunity to work with the very best (tying in the title yet again), but I am grateful for the opportunity, and no matter where the next five years take me, these five years have meant a lot to me.
Showing posts with label co-workers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label co-workers. Show all posts
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Today Over Lunch...
How did you spend your lunch hour today? Were you, like me, obsessively checking the weather, waiting to see whether or not your city was going to be hit by a tornado? No? Thank goodness. Because, seriously, it isn't a whole lot of fun.
I was coming back to my desk after a meeting, intending to check my email and then perhaps take a brief walk to Crown Center or Union Station (all of which, conveniently, are linked by an indoor walkway to avoid the rainI knew had been predicted). I had already heard words swirling around about possible tornado sightings, but somehow I had convinced myself that it was just nervous chatter sparked from the devastating weather of the past few days. However, as I was about thirty feet from my desk, our security team got on the loud speaker, ordering everyone to their "safe location" immediately. Having no clue where this "safe location" really was, I hurried back to where my co-workers were gathering their things, preparing to head to the stairwell.
We hadn't move more than five feet when other people began streaming in hordes into the lounge area outside our cubicles. Turns out, we were already located in our safe location, which in some ways was convenient since at least I had my computer to pass the time. As our area filled with displaced employees, I tried hard to figure out what I should do. I admit feeling a sinking feeling in my stomach, worried that perhaps something horrible was about to happen but not really convinced of the severity of the situation. The benefit of being so far into the bowels of the building is the safety, but it certainly makes you feel like you are in a cave, unable to see what is coming your way. Granted, my actual observation of the weather conditions would have been of little value, but there is something about having to see to believe, and without visual confirmation, I was having trouble grasping just how serious it might be. (I also tend to mitigate the danger of certain situations...)
I called home to make sure my grandmother was aware of what was going on outside, I said a little prayer asking for protection for friends, family, and all those in the path of these storms, and then I had nothing else to do but worry and wait. There wasn't much to gather from the tv stations' web sites, and having the added comfort of being surrounded by co-workers (one thing I did know as the security announcement began to resound was that I certainly did not want to be alone...I wanted to be around people), I did what I do best--I worked. It was a bit half-hearted, but focusing on emails and requests made it possible to ignore the gnawing in my stomach. It got me through the half hour or so we were under a tornado warning, and when the news reported that some damage had occurred but no reports of any deaths, I sighed a breath of relief. I felt a little on edge the rest of the afternoon, but needlessly so. The rest of the day has been quiet, and tomorrow looks like a brighter day.
There have been too many tragedies in the past few days to be ready for another onslaught of casualties. Many of us are still reeling from the devastation of Joplin, only a few hours south of KC. The response from the people in this area to provide relief and support has been astonishing--blood centers have reached capacity, tons of supplies being donated, people providing their skills and expertise--and it serves as a wonderful reminder of human kindness and resiliency. But, in times where it seems like one thing after another, we reach a point of exhaustion, and for some reason, I feel we (as a society) are nearing that point. Thank goodness our resolve wasn't put further to the test today. While I would like to believe that no matter what happens, I and those around me would find a way to press on, I admit that I don't mind not having to prove that point through personal experience. But, for those who are living this as a reality, I will do what I can to make it easier, and pray that they find relief and comfort during this challenging time.
I was coming back to my desk after a meeting, intending to check my email and then perhaps take a brief walk to Crown Center or Union Station (all of which, conveniently, are linked by an indoor walkway to avoid the rainI knew had been predicted). I had already heard words swirling around about possible tornado sightings, but somehow I had convinced myself that it was just nervous chatter sparked from the devastating weather of the past few days. However, as I was about thirty feet from my desk, our security team got on the loud speaker, ordering everyone to their "safe location" immediately. Having no clue where this "safe location" really was, I hurried back to where my co-workers were gathering their things, preparing to head to the stairwell.
We hadn't move more than five feet when other people began streaming in hordes into the lounge area outside our cubicles. Turns out, we were already located in our safe location, which in some ways was convenient since at least I had my computer to pass the time. As our area filled with displaced employees, I tried hard to figure out what I should do. I admit feeling a sinking feeling in my stomach, worried that perhaps something horrible was about to happen but not really convinced of the severity of the situation. The benefit of being so far into the bowels of the building is the safety, but it certainly makes you feel like you are in a cave, unable to see what is coming your way. Granted, my actual observation of the weather conditions would have been of little value, but there is something about having to see to believe, and without visual confirmation, I was having trouble grasping just how serious it might be. (I also tend to mitigate the danger of certain situations...)
I called home to make sure my grandmother was aware of what was going on outside, I said a little prayer asking for protection for friends, family, and all those in the path of these storms, and then I had nothing else to do but worry and wait. There wasn't much to gather from the tv stations' web sites, and having the added comfort of being surrounded by co-workers (one thing I did know as the security announcement began to resound was that I certainly did not want to be alone...I wanted to be around people), I did what I do best--I worked. It was a bit half-hearted, but focusing on emails and requests made it possible to ignore the gnawing in my stomach. It got me through the half hour or so we were under a tornado warning, and when the news reported that some damage had occurred but no reports of any deaths, I sighed a breath of relief. I felt a little on edge the rest of the afternoon, but needlessly so. The rest of the day has been quiet, and tomorrow looks like a brighter day.
There have been too many tragedies in the past few days to be ready for another onslaught of casualties. Many of us are still reeling from the devastation of Joplin, only a few hours south of KC. The response from the people in this area to provide relief and support has been astonishing--blood centers have reached capacity, tons of supplies being donated, people providing their skills and expertise--and it serves as a wonderful reminder of human kindness and resiliency. But, in times where it seems like one thing after another, we reach a point of exhaustion, and for some reason, I feel we (as a society) are nearing that point. Thank goodness our resolve wasn't put further to the test today. While I would like to believe that no matter what happens, I and those around me would find a way to press on, I admit that I don't mind not having to prove that point through personal experience. But, for those who are living this as a reality, I will do what I can to make it easier, and pray that they find relief and comfort during this challenging time.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Happy Hour
I am not a social person. I am the kind of person who, after work, skips changing into casual clothing in favor of donning pajamas. (Unless I plan to go for a walk...then I might go ahead and put on jeans and a t-shirt since I haven't quite reached the level of eccentricity where I feel comfortable roaming the city streets in my robe.) So, this makes it all the more remarkable that last night I willingly...nay gladly...joined a group of co-workers for some after hours socializing.
It was a simple affair, a means to celebrate the birthdays of two co-workers. We had planned to hit Brio, an Italian place, but it seemed like the rest of Kansas City had the same idea. With a remarkable lack of fuss, we quickly decided on an alternative location and settled at our table for an evening of conversation and camaraderie. For most everyone else, this would probably seem typical, even boring, but in many ways, I was fascinated. While the conversations were some of your typical banter among a group of young professionals (ok, maybe not so much...but again, not having much to compare it to, for all I know discussing dance-offs, past romantic conquests and each other's children with an amazing number of insults flying back and forth and a decent amount of gossip thrown in is the norm), it felt like I was indulging in something more.
My strong need for solitude often prevents me from seeing much beyond the walls I have built to protect myself from intrusion. I am very selective about who I allow in, and even from them, I hold things back. If I let people get too close, I fear I will be vulnerable to future hurt later on...yes, even by co-workers. Better to be impervious and never let anyone get close than experience pain later on. Silly, I know, but nowhere near as ridiculous as the realization that here were six people whom I have seen every day for the past three months (even longer, really, but only in the past three months have we sat together so closely), and my knowledge about them, their lives, their families, etc. was seriously lacking.
One of the reasons I agreed to come out last night was to learn more about these people for whom I have a great deal of respect. Perhaps I thought a glass of beer may help break through some of the mortar (yes, one beer is all it takes any more to loosen me up a bit) and quash my natural shyness enough to let my guard down. While the beer did have a strange soporific effect, I cannot say that at the end of the night, I was best friends with all of them, planning future happy hours for weeks to come. I can say, though, that as I listened to the conversations, I definitely achieved my goal of learning more about each of them (some details I could have lived without ever hearing...), adding the shades of depth I had been ignoring. Amazing how much more interesting people are when you no longer view them as flat characterizations.
I also felt a slight spark of passion for work reignite. As cheesy as it sounds, if I can connect with the people I work with, I am more inclined to stick around doing something that doesn't always fulfill me a while longer. At the very least, it makes the day pass more quickly when you can participate in all the barbs flying back and forth over the cubicle walls. And right now, finding these kinds of connections are pretty important to maintaining sanity.
How do you connect with others? Are you like me, loath to connect with others out of fear or shyness, so you keep it to a minimum or are you someone compelled to learn anything and everything about someone within the first five minutes of meeting them?
It was a simple affair, a means to celebrate the birthdays of two co-workers. We had planned to hit Brio, an Italian place, but it seemed like the rest of Kansas City had the same idea. With a remarkable lack of fuss, we quickly decided on an alternative location and settled at our table for an evening of conversation and camaraderie. For most everyone else, this would probably seem typical, even boring, but in many ways, I was fascinated. While the conversations were some of your typical banter among a group of young professionals (ok, maybe not so much...but again, not having much to compare it to, for all I know discussing dance-offs, past romantic conquests and each other's children with an amazing number of insults flying back and forth and a decent amount of gossip thrown in is the norm), it felt like I was indulging in something more.
My strong need for solitude often prevents me from seeing much beyond the walls I have built to protect myself from intrusion. I am very selective about who I allow in, and even from them, I hold things back. If I let people get too close, I fear I will be vulnerable to future hurt later on...yes, even by co-workers. Better to be impervious and never let anyone get close than experience pain later on. Silly, I know, but nowhere near as ridiculous as the realization that here were six people whom I have seen every day for the past three months (even longer, really, but only in the past three months have we sat together so closely), and my knowledge about them, their lives, their families, etc. was seriously lacking.
One of the reasons I agreed to come out last night was to learn more about these people for whom I have a great deal of respect. Perhaps I thought a glass of beer may help break through some of the mortar (yes, one beer is all it takes any more to loosen me up a bit) and quash my natural shyness enough to let my guard down. While the beer did have a strange soporific effect, I cannot say that at the end of the night, I was best friends with all of them, planning future happy hours for weeks to come. I can say, though, that as I listened to the conversations, I definitely achieved my goal of learning more about each of them (some details I could have lived without ever hearing...), adding the shades of depth I had been ignoring. Amazing how much more interesting people are when you no longer view them as flat characterizations.
I also felt a slight spark of passion for work reignite. As cheesy as it sounds, if I can connect with the people I work with, I am more inclined to stick around doing something that doesn't always fulfill me a while longer. At the very least, it makes the day pass more quickly when you can participate in all the barbs flying back and forth over the cubicle walls. And right now, finding these kinds of connections are pretty important to maintaining sanity.
How do you connect with others? Are you like me, loath to connect with others out of fear or shyness, so you keep it to a minimum or are you someone compelled to learn anything and everything about someone within the first five minutes of meeting them?
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