Recess in the Recession: Day Two

This time yesterday, I was pulling into the parking lot of my employer of 12 years. What a difference a day makes.

Though yesterday started with an unruly bang, a bit of a seismic shift for me and Nikole both, it actually turned out to be a reasonably good day. As we were getting ready for bed, Nikole remarked that it had been a shitty day -- we then spent a few moments talking about how it just started shitty.

What made the day good is entirely rooted around relationships. Thanks to the work I've done with leadership development and personal growth over five of the past 12 years, I've become a firmly pragmatic believer in the power of relationships, connections and community. More than a hundred emails dinged into my box yesterday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. They were thick with support, encouragement, leads, offers and love.

And Nikole and I were able to spend the better part of the day together with Thea, running errands and hanging out. We capped off the evening by the fireplace of our friends Tom and Judy -- drinking wine, playing with Thea and talking about work, their recent trip to Germany and the elections.

I came home to discover the hard drive on my computer had crashed. Thank God I back it up every couple of years, which is to say it looks like I've lost almost all of my data. Okay, so there were a couple of aspects about Wednesday that generally sucked.

This morning is off to a rolling start. I've got a previously scheduled get-to-know-you meeting with Jim Ukrop over in the Manchester district. I'll take the computer to Capital Mac and pray they can recover some data for me. And then its off to an editorial meeting with Richmond Magazine to discuss prospects. I've got a lead on a leadership development/training job to chase down, and an afternoon to spend with Thea while Nikole runs some errands of her own.

Tonight, I'll get my desk in order. Tomorrow, a leadership development conference at the University of Richmond and a few more meetings to discuss writing opportunities.

I'm sure at some point I'll become sullen, lazy and withdrawn if I continue to take the time and space to chase my passions, rekindle some dreams, connect more deeply with friends and family, and build a future that aligns with my strengths and my vision for myself and my community.

Or maybe it's the right time to practice what I've been preaching for the past five years.

Comments

[Carme Warren]

John, I feel soooo bad for you and all the others because of everything that is happening at Luck. I am just in disbelief...but believe me...something great will come out of this, I have no doubts about it! ...and if you don´t find anything that makes you happy, you will always have EUROPE....now is the time to look at ALL your options...the ones that you never thought about because you were in your confort zone, and the ones that would entitle doing something that you have always wanted to do but never had the will to do because was too crazy, or move to a place like Europe.....Endless possibilities!!!!

[angie]

you are the smartest person, biggest asset, all-around awesomest guy i know. your attitude is fantastic and i really do hope you get to practice what you've been preaching for so long. i wish you could freakin' coach some leadership over here. please keep me in the loop and know that a) i've got my ears to the ground, and b) i'm keeping tabs on you.