Back before my cancer days, I was a little energizer bunny. \u00a0I love what I do for a living, and I do it well and often. \u00a0I worked late, I worked weekends, I worked at home. \u00a0If I didn’t get carsick, I probably would have worked there too. \u00a0I took everything to heart. Every catastrophe, every fire that had to be put out, every stress that came to bear, all came to roost on my very capable and strong shoulders. \u00a0I woke up in the middle of the night chewing on problems of the day before. \u00a0I jumped into every mess feet first, and wrangled that monster until it was untangled and beautifully clean.<\/p>\n
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When I first began to think about going back to work after I finished treatment, I was both excited and concerned. \u00a0I had been off for a year while I had surgeries and treatments. \u00a0I was ready to re-join the world of the living. \u00a0But I was nervous about how difficult it might be to maintain enough strength to be the employee that I had always been. \u00a0That was important to me.<\/p>\n
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When I went for my first interview, I began having panic attacks. \u00a0I decided that perhaps I wasn’t ready for my re-introduction to society. \u00a0For the next six months, I waffled between the desire to work, and the urge to crawl back into my blanket fort where I was safe. \u00a0But at long last, the day arrived. \u00a0I fell into the perfect situation, just what I had been looking for.<\/p>\n
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I soon discovered that stress was running rampant through my co-workers. \u00a0There were many to choose from, deadlines, system changes, staffing turnover. \u00a0Or as anyone in the corporate world will understand, just another day at the office. \u00a0I worried that I would get sucked back into the mayhem. \u00a0Two things that are quite bad for you after cancer are stress and fatigue. \u00a0They weaken the immune system, which can encourage the growth of more cancer. \u00a0I know I need to control the stress in my life.<\/p>\n
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It turns out that I needn’t have worried. \u00a0I have a new-found operating philosophy, a mantra so to speak.<\/p>\n
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I just don’t care.<\/p>\n
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This isn’t to say that I don’t enjoy what I do, or that I do a sketchy job. \u00a0On the contrary, my standards for my work are as high as ever. \u00a0But it’s a waste of my time to be drawn into emotional garbage over work. \u00a0Crisis at the office? \u00a0I’m there for you. \u00a0Let’s analyze the problem, brainstorm the solutions, and make it happen. \u00a0Get me some coffee and set me loose. \u00a0But I’m not going to waste any of that time gnashing my teeth, \u00a0being angry at anyone, or worrying about meeting deadlines. \u00a0I’m just going to work as hard and efficiently as I can to complete the job. \u00a0 But the other half of the equation is that I am learning to be more realistic about what I can actually accomplish. \u00a0I may produce miracles, but I am much more methodical about getting there.<\/p>\n
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I won’t lie to you and say that I am in a constant state of zen everyday. \u00a0But I am much more at peace, and I feel more calm and comfortable confronting challenges. \u00a0 Cancer didn’t break me, and neither will my career. \u00a0This may be the most important life lesson I’ve learned to date.<\/p>\n
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Even energizer bunnies need to re-charge now and them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"