Thursday, May 22, 2008

Happiness

When I started this blog two years ago, I was working at Netflix, 0.4 miles from my home, running their Ad Sales on the finance side of the house, and feeling completely empty. The boss was a micro manager and eventually the project fell through and I was axed.

I'm two years older and wiser. After much digging in what's left of my brains, I began to figure out a few things that didn't make me happy:

-- Having the bragging rights for working in a "cool" company was not my life time goal
-- Working for an accounting manager certainly put a big dent in my happiness, worse yet, it happened before and I had temporary memory loss at the sight of the big number on the offer letter
-- Participating in the Netflix initiation dance and act like a fool brings one's ego to a new low
-- While doubling my salary in one year was an accomplishment, it's important to remember I was seriously underpaid for many years and chasing a fatter pay check should not be a reason for changing jobs
-- Watching the company stock tumble and 5% of my salary disappear was very sad
-- Free soda and plenty of company gears does not make up the lost pay, tho I do appreciate the plastic utensils available everywhere except for Seagate
-- Leaving my child to be brought up by care givers feeds the ego but damps a mother's heart
-- Unfortunately, Jocelyn, adding my stash gives me a small satisfaction, for a short time (but that obviously didn't stop me from buying yarn)

Happiness

Happiness is coming downstairs on a Sunday morning and my husband gets up from the breakfast table, big grin on his face, saying "There is my family!" and plants a big kiss on my forehead.

Happiness is seeing my child all hot and sweaty from playing basketball.

Happiness is watching my child grow up all boy and reminding him a millionth time, "Scrub your neck!"

Happiness is to be able to focus and multi-task at the same time.

Happiness is getting comments on my blog, and watching the number of little hearts grow on Ravelry (being added as favorite by other Rav users).

Happiness is handing my Muir to Jocelyn and watching her go all misty.

Happiness is floored by Jocelyn's stash.

Happiness is to plan where I want to be in ten years.

Happiness is to look up the boss's boss's boss's home address on Zillow and go "I thought he was much better off than that!"

Happiness is to tell the boss " Screw you, I'm outta here!!"

So, my friends, leave a comment and make me happy :-)

12 comments:

Lynn said...

ah yes, corporate world. SO glad I'm not in it anymore! And micromanagers make me crazy!!! If you hire good people, then let them do their jobs w/o a microscope!!!

Enjoyed your happiness list. Very nice.

Fae said...

Sounds like you're thinking of quitting your current job? Join the retired crowd! We can knit and shop together!

Vivian said...

My wishful thinking, Fae. Retirement will be here, some day. In the mean time I will work on the multi-tasking :-)

Cactusneedles said...

Sounds like you found your 'happiness' (it's a great thing, isn't it?). Take care:)

Sarah said...

When we were sitting around talking the other night, it struck me that one thing we all have in common is solid relationships with our families. That really is happiness. And for me, happiness is also having you for a friend.

Jocelyn said...

Happiness isn't in adding to the stash -- it's knowing you can.

You're welcome anytime to visit the stash if it makes you happy. My daughter sometimes needs a wool fume fix and goes in there just for a whiff.

It's getting warm enough for a dye day...

Z said...

Happiness is a juicy blog post like this one.

Natalie Rush said...

What a great post!! Thanks for sharing!

Happiness is definitely "Happiness is to tell the boss ' Screw you, I'm outta here!!'" This is what I'm doing now!!

Thanks.

Diane said...

We spend so much time worrying about success at work and yet in the grand scheme of things it doesn't make us happy. Interesting to read your list and agree with so much of it.

Happiness to me is noticing that every time I see my dad he's wearing my handknit socks .... even thou he told me he didn't want me to make him any.

Lesley said...

We are a happy, lucky lot!
When you have family- you have everything.

Cris said...

Isn't it funny that happiness comes from the most simple things.

Karin said...

I'm here! I'm reading (finally), and I am commenting!

I wish you were my neighbor.