1,200 Hours
I woke up Monday morning unemployed. I had been let go from a position about four months ago. I rushed out to find a part time job to bring in more money – I wasn’t at a spot where I was ready to be without a paycheck. I’m still not, but the four months of seasonal work gave me a little financial breathing room. Now at the end of a seasonal project, I’ve been able to think about to do next.
I’m completing a graduate degree this semester at Marywood University; I expect to receive my degree in December. I’m looking for a full time position for after graduation. If the right spot is available, I’d be happy to start before then while I finish my studies. I’m looking for contract, freelance, part time, and independent work to carry through the next few months.
But I’m also looking to use this time to complete some personal projects. Yes, I’m looking for professional opportunities and writing papers and projects. I’ve also given myself seven weeks to tackle a to-do list of items that have nagged me for years. There will always be projects, but this is my personal sabbatical.
I’ve tracked my diet and exercise for a year and a half as I’ve worked to be healthier. I’ve gotten close to my target weight, but I picked up a few pounds during the summer. These seven weeks give me the opportunity to drop the final few pounds. They give me the chance to work on my complexion. To do a better job digitizing notes, files, and photos. To organize and back-up that data. To fill in some missing information on my family history and to compile and organize my wife’s genealogy. There are more traditional projects too – getting our house ready for winter and transitioning the local SAR chapter to a new set of officers.
I hope to use this space to track my progress and to spur myself onward. These seven weeks equate to about 1,200 hours. That isn’t much time to change habits, to complete long-simmering projects, and to start new trends. Time to get to work.
