Tales From The Travels

My life has been quite full since about the beginning of December. Christmas, the start of the new semester, scientific papers, legal fight, sailing training, household projects, official duties, and more have all added up to keep me completely occupied. But, I made a couple of my famous to-do lists and just checked off things as I got them done.

Now, I’ve managed to work through all of these major items. I completed my tax returns yesterday and that was the last one. I completed my sailing training this last week and am now just waiting for my summer assignment. Most importantly, I submitted a significant scientific paper that I’ve been working on for the last two years. This was a major effort and required a huge amount of studying and researching, and restudying and re-researching. But, it is now being reviewed by peers and I am waiting for their comments. My teaching requirements are, as usual, demanding, but the semester is going amazingly smoothly. Being a single-dad with a teenager has had its expected moments this spring, but we muddle through somehow.

I tell you this because, despite all of the intense demands and heavy workload, I have had very little stress. I have been very much at ease with the demands on me and have really enjoyed myself. I have my girlfriend, Diane, to thank for much of that. Somehow, we have kept this long-distance relationship going and have just celebrated our first year together. She has been a comfort and a joy. Everyone needs someone like that in their lives. If you don’t, find someone.

I also have been involved in things I enjoy doing. Mondays are not days I dread and I do not spend my week counting the days until the weekend. I love my job and I love where I work. Teaching at the Naval Academy has been the best job I’ve ever had. I not only get to teach dedicated students, but I am in a very supportive atmosphere. They give me time to do research and freedom to teach my classes. And, the exchange between faculty is great. People routinely share papers they have submitted, give talks on their research, and invite other faculty to meet with outside guests when they are on campus. This last week I got to meet with NASA’s director of Mars exploration. This week, I will be meeting with the director of astronomy funding from the National Science Foundation. While it may not sound like much to many people, for someone like me, its better than fine chocolate. And, that’s the moral. Enjoy your work and bring in extra things to keep it interesting. Enjoying what you do does more than add five days to your week. If you have to spend all of your off-time recovering from how much you hate your job, then you really don’t have any off-time, just recovery time. As much as I love what I do, I can switch gears on weekends and holidays and do something else without a feeling of relief that I’m not at work, or dread about it ending.

Another thing that has helped is that I put fun things on my to-do list. Diane loves this. In among the chores are ‘go to the movies’ or ‘read a book’ or ‘play a video game’ or something similar. Taking a break from the work keeps me fresh and actually makes me more productive than if I had just kept working straight through.

I always take time for myself. I love to take bubble baths, especially by candlelight. Add a glass of wine and I’m in hog heaven. I eat well and I get a good night’s sleep. I exercise. I keep my house clean and neat. I spend time talking to my son (Its even better when he talks to me, too. Teenagers!). I take walks on the local nature trails. Sometimes by myself, but also when Diane is in town (about once a month). I feel I’m worth taking care of, even worth pampering, and I enjoy doing it. A little fine dining every now and then, a better bottle of wine, a little fine chocolate, a good dessert. It also makes it easy to pamper the people in my life, which makes them even more pleasant to be with.

I try to be truthful with myself. And, I always feel grateful for the things I have.

Now, I have one of those rare periods where there are no major tasks to be done. The to-do list has everything marked off. I can sit and just enjoy. Or not, if that’s what I want to do. I know a new to-do list will be coming, so I want to enjoy this interlude while I can. I’ve been sitting in my study with a good book this morning and I think I’ll do some work in the garden this afternoon. What a great pleasure both of those are.

Life is good. But, its even better when you plan it that way.