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I come from a long line of practical women. Both my grandmothers were raised on farms in the country where there was little time for frivolity. While loving, my grandmothers’ approaches were no-nonsense and geared toward getting the job done, no matter what that entailed. This pragmatism was passed down to my aunts and mother and, ultimately, to my sister and me.
My dog Banjo was sick recently. It came on gradually, so the signs were subtle and, individually, seemingly not a big deal. But something just didn’t seem right. Erring on the side of caution, I called the vet (thank goodness they are open on Sunday!). Upon hearing all of Banjo’s symptoms, they suggested I immediately take him to an emergency vet hospital. As it turned out, my sweet pup had an intestinal blockage and was whisked into surgery within two hours. He then spent four days in the animal hospital before I could bring him home and needed another few weeks to get back to his former spunky self.
Yesterday was my dear friend Amy’s birthday. Since her special day is on the first, she has appropriated all of September as her birthday month, celebrating accordingly. Personally, I’ve never been a big birthday person, and acknowledging my own has become less and less important to me the older I’ve gotten. But Amy’s attitude of celebration has gotten me thinking about how we celebrate (or don’t) in the workplace. I’m not talking about balloons or cake or gifts – though those are all good things – but rather about acknowledgment, recognition, and appreciation for achievements in the (virtual or physical) office.
I’m going on vacation next week – YIPPEE! It’s not anywhere fancy, just the beach (though the North Carolina coast is pretty incredible), but this will be the first time I have taken off more than two continuous business days in a year. And I am pretty darn excited. Each year, a group of friends and I celebrate the end of summer with a weeklong beach vacation where all professional (and some personal) responsibilities are checked at the door. No work emails, no work calls, no work period.
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