My boyfriend says I’m never on time. (Well, really he says, “WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS RUNNING LATE?!”) But me, I like to say I’m chronically optimistic. Kind of like vertically challenged? Yeah, I’m that, too…
But seriously, today is a perfect example of my chronic optimism. See, I woke up 10 minutes earlier than usual so that I would be 10 minutes earlier to work. Makes sense, right? Only, while I was taking Riley on his morning walk, we ran into our neighbor and his dog, and we got to talking. (About how another dog bit off a chunk of my neighbor’s dog’s ear!!)
Chit and chat and this and that, and suddenly my extra 10 minutes are gone.
But it’s okay. I’m only 3 minutes late to work, no big deal. I get settled in, take care of some to-dos, and catch up on emails and such. This gives me 30 minutes before our Monday morning meetings, so I figure that’s 30 minutes I can write. And oh, how much I could write in 30 minutes!
Except that clients called, a delivery came, and I had to reread the stuff I wrote last night before I could get on the right track of how to move forward. Next thing I know it’s 10 AM and time to go to the conference room!
But no worries. After a late lunch, I run an errand and am back at my desk by 2 PM. That gives me plenty of time to write before the work day is over.
Until some files need updating, and a new employee needs orienting, and a service guy comes to see if he can help us with something, so my boss and I have to walk him around the whole building, asking and answering questions. Tick tock tick tock OMFG it’s 5 o’clock?!
I commute home, take care of the dog, eat dinner, wash dishes. Now it’s 6:20 PM, which leaves me 15 minutes to go to the bathroom, freshen my makeup, and oh yeah, BLOG, before I head out to my writing group. I’ll be there from 7 PM until 9 PM. Or 9:30 PM. Or heck, maybe 10?
But it’s all gravy. I can still write tonight before bed.
Right?
14 responses to “Chronically optimistic”
I definitely thing you’re chronically optimistic if you think you can get any writing done at work. It’s the same with my kids. I never *plan* on getting any writing done. Sometimes it happens, and then I feel like I just got away with something very clever, managing to squeeze that in. I never go into a situation where I know I’m responsible for my kids and think, “I’m going to get some writing done.” So if you go into work with that thought, yes, very optimistic.
I say it again. You are your father’s daughter. :)
Right ;-)
And really, sleep is so overrated, don’t you think? Why rest when you can write?
Seriously, though, that optimism is wonderful, and something that’s so very important in this whole writing process. Isn’t it amazing how a positive attitude can impact everything?
Well you work part-time so you have those extra days off to catch up, right? ;)
Sonja-
Haha, methinks by “optimistic” you might actually mean “delusional”… :P
Trisha-
Am I the only one? (Also, I’m not NEARLY as bad as Dad!)
Shari-
As if to prove your point, it’s midnight and I’m up writing. ;) And yes, attitude is everything.
Aisha-
Nope, I’ve been working 5 days a week (about 35 hrs) for several months now.
Great post! Oh man, do I know that feeling. There’s such a difference for me between the time I think I have to write versus the time I actually write. I don’t mind being busy, I guess I wish I could find more time in the day.
No matter how early or late I wake up every day, I’m always running behind. Why? Same with getting home from work-I’ll stand there talking for an hour before going to work and then walk home.
I hear you girl!
Please continue to be chronically optimistic–if not, it would be devastating to the population. (that’s one of those sentences that sounds better in my head). Glad you found some time to write…my writing time has definitely been pushed back to after the kids are in bed.
I am optimistic that you will be able to write at work today. :)
Jon-
“I don’t mind being busy, I guess I wish I could find more time in the day.”
Precisely.
Girl from the Ghetto-
Hehe, I guess we’ll never learn… :P
Sarah-
Yes, ma’am!
Ooooh I feel ya. On one hand having a 48h Friday was pretty awesome. On the other hand, I didn’t get anything done either and I was exhausted. Maybe more hours in a day isn’t really a good thing…
New employee?!? Hopefully not as awesome as you are or I was!
Les-
LOL 48hr Friday, wow. Well if there’s any day worth doubling, it’s a Friday! But yeah, point taken.
Margot-
Pssh, who could ever be? (But hehe they seem cool enough.)
Yeah that is funny how similar the posts are. Just shows that great minds possibly run in the same direction. I love the title ‘Chronically Optimistic’. Stay optimistic – someone has to. Did you get the writing done that you wanted to before bed?
Actually yes!