Last October I participated in my first 5k walk/run. It was the Koman Race for the Cure. I ran only 1/2 mile and walked the rest of the way. Spring is coming and now it is time to start preparing for my next 5k in April. My goal this time is to run the whole race, however, I would be happy to be able to run 2 miles of the circuit.
Training has begun again. I'm using the Couch Potato to 5k Plan (modified). I will be walking only for the next two weeks. After that I will begin to run in 30 second increments. This will give my body time to adjust and help prevent my poor knees from protesting so much.
It's another step to one of my goals for 2008.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Choices, Careers and Hope
Chances are at some point in your life you will be working in a position that pays less than you want/deserve, that may not be on the up and up, that may be full of practices that clash with your ethics and that may not be financially solvent. It doesn't matter how or why you got there though. You can find a way out.
The first step is to not quit without having another job. For some reason employers will view you as a less desireable candidate if you are not working. What I suggest doing is starting a countdown. Each day you work is one day closer to your last day there. Keep this in mind and you can make it till you find a new job.
Next, update your resume and contact your references to let them know they will be getting calls about you.
Now you need to start the job hunt. Be realistic. Finding a good position takes a lot longer than finding any position. Take into consideration that job hunting is almost a full-time job in itself. Anything you can do to save time will be a benefit. Own a fax machine? Have a resume ready to fax at all times. If you do cover letters (you guys know I personally hate them and think they are a waste but play nice with the HR departments), have some typed up and saved on your computer, ready to print at a moment's notice.
Eventually you are going to be called for interviews so start saving up comp time, sick days, vacation days and personal days. You are going to need them.
Once you are offered a position you need to give notice. Be gracious in your notice but be prepared for snarky comments about it. For some reason employers in less than desireable businesses have an attitude of "you owe us no matter how wrong we've done you" and "you've blown everything out of proportion." So quitting is a major insult to these people. If you are able to give full notice (two weeks) just be prepared to gather your things as soon as the notice is turned in.
If you work in a "Right to Work" state then you are not required to give notice and the employer cannot give a bad reference if you quit with no notice. The law wasn't written for this purpose. It was written for the employer's benefit but the wording states that ANYONE can terminate at anytime without notice--that includes you.
If conditions are so bad you can't take going in any longer then take a look at some lower paying jobs as a TEMPORARY solution...fast food, retail, etc.
The most important thing is to not lose hope. Your job search may seem hopeless at times, especially if it drags on for months. Your situation is only temporary. You will find another job.
The first step is to not quit without having another job. For some reason employers will view you as a less desireable candidate if you are not working. What I suggest doing is starting a countdown. Each day you work is one day closer to your last day there. Keep this in mind and you can make it till you find a new job.
Next, update your resume and contact your references to let them know they will be getting calls about you.
Now you need to start the job hunt. Be realistic. Finding a good position takes a lot longer than finding any position. Take into consideration that job hunting is almost a full-time job in itself. Anything you can do to save time will be a benefit. Own a fax machine? Have a resume ready to fax at all times. If you do cover letters (you guys know I personally hate them and think they are a waste but play nice with the HR departments), have some typed up and saved on your computer, ready to print at a moment's notice.
Eventually you are going to be called for interviews so start saving up comp time, sick days, vacation days and personal days. You are going to need them.
Once you are offered a position you need to give notice. Be gracious in your notice but be prepared for snarky comments about it. For some reason employers in less than desireable businesses have an attitude of "you owe us no matter how wrong we've done you" and "you've blown everything out of proportion." So quitting is a major insult to these people. If you are able to give full notice (two weeks) just be prepared to gather your things as soon as the notice is turned in.
If you work in a "Right to Work" state then you are not required to give notice and the employer cannot give a bad reference if you quit with no notice. The law wasn't written for this purpose. It was written for the employer's benefit but the wording states that ANYONE can terminate at anytime without notice--that includes you.
If conditions are so bad you can't take going in any longer then take a look at some lower paying jobs as a TEMPORARY solution...fast food, retail, etc.
The most important thing is to not lose hope. Your job search may seem hopeless at times, especially if it drags on for months. Your situation is only temporary. You will find another job.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Goals Update
it is the second week of the new year. at this point i have found another job (temp to perm) and have a third interview on a job i have been working on for a couple of months. it is as if the negative energy of the former job was just that...negative energy. i feel both blessed and honored to be in the position i am in at the moment. i am also confused. i am faced with the very real possibility of chosing between two wonderful new positions that both offer exactly what i am looking for.
as part of respecting myself i have increased the amount of exercise from irregular to at least stretching daily. it is also about time to begin the couch to 5k program again. i half-attempted it last year and was able to achieve half of the program. the goal is to be able to run a full 5k this spring.
as part of growing my relationship i have agreed to work on quelling my road rage.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Ac-cen-tuate the Positive
As part of respecting myself (one of my goals for the new year) I am working towards a more positive outlook in general. The irony is that when one sets a goal to be positive life choses that exact moment to test you by throwing so many wrong things at you. This would be so much easier if life had a grown-up kindergarten program.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
2008 Goals, Dreams, and Whimsey
my goals for 2008:
*keep growing the love with the bf. we have a huge adjustment ahead of us at the end of feb when he moves in. two people in their mid-30s who've never had a live-in relationship before. it's a good thing we are compatible.
*find that elusive job that i know is waiting for me. all i want is a job that pays decent, has benefits and allows me to do theatre. oh wait, i do want something else, a job that pays on time and without the payroll check bouncing.
*buy the house. yeppers, teh bf and i have decided to make an offer on our home. keep your fingers crossed
*for my car to need no more than regular tune-ups and fluid changes for the next 12 months
*to respect myself. that means losing weight, exercising, learning to tell others no instead of yes, taking care of myself
*to win a major lottery or else the pch $5k/week for life sweepstakes (well somebody has to win)
*keep growing the love with the bf. we have a huge adjustment ahead of us at the end of feb when he moves in. two people in their mid-30s who've never had a live-in relationship before. it's a good thing we are compatible.
*find that elusive job that i know is waiting for me. all i want is a job that pays decent, has benefits and allows me to do theatre. oh wait, i do want something else, a job that pays on time and without the payroll check bouncing.
*buy the house. yeppers, teh bf and i have decided to make an offer on our home. keep your fingers crossed
*for my car to need no more than regular tune-ups and fluid changes for the next 12 months
*to respect myself. that means losing weight, exercising, learning to tell others no instead of yes, taking care of myself
*to win a major lottery or else the pch $5k/week for life sweepstakes (well somebody has to win)
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