Morning Meditation

Good morning! Yesterday I purchased a new daily devotional. This past Friday, my coworker shared the daily passage with me as we have been chatting about our work and life stressors recently. I could see the calm and peace that the timely daily message gave her.

I haven't really shared much about my faith here, but am feeling moved to share today. I have pushed my faith aside in priority over the last few years. Whenever I make it a priority I always find a comfort and a sense of familiarity that brings me peace. Work (the social work connection!) has brought me so much stress recently that I am again turning to what I know for peace.

This brings me to today's devotional. "..When you feel anxious, know that you are focusing on the visible world and leaving Me out of the picture. The remedy is simple: Fix your eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen.. Each day is a precious gift from My Father. How ridiculous to grasp for future gifts when today's is set before you! Receive today's gift gratefully, unwrapping it tenderly and delving into its depths. As you savor this gift, you find Me."

This incorporates a familiar passage from 2 Corinthians 4. After reading the daily devotional I read the corresponding chapter in the Bible. What brings me more hope and comfort this morning is this, "Therefore do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16)."

What a blessing to be reminded that we are being renewed each day. This reminds me again to be present.

I hope you are able to turn to what brings you peace on this Sunday to find renewal before the hectic and crazy work begins again tomorrow.

Thanks for listening.

Honesty

So I'm just gonna say it.. I've been in a funk lately. I know it's the result of a lot of things going on, but I'm having a hard time shaking it! It's frustrating for me to be a social worker and in a counselor role and think "Dang I could use some counseling!" I know there is nothing wrong with asking for help and believe that some of the most effective counselors and social workers are in therapy themselves.. however.

As social workers we are called to help people and it can be annoying when we are the ones that need help and we can't fix it ourselves. The sometimes crazier thing is knowing what you should be doing and not doing it. Definitely a learning experience and one that provides some perspective into our client's lives... ya know that empathy thing.

Last week I led a group on attitudes and beliefs and it looked into irrational thinking and our internal critic. One of the discussion questions was something to the effect of "How would you tell someone else that their thinking on X topic was irrational?" Basically getting to the point that it is much easier for us to tell others how to fix something than for us to see the solution to our own problem - even if it is the same problem! Not mind blowing, or a new idea, certainly. The "plank in your own eye" bible verse comes to mind..

When my clients answer a question I sometimes follow up with "So - taking that a step further..." to gather more information and to help them connect the dots on what they've just identified. Asking my own self this, I find myself thinking.. 1) I've identified a problem. 2) I know many different solutions and techniques for said problem. 3) I'm choosing not to do any of these solutions. 4) Therefore I'm choosing to live with the problem and suffer.

Hmm. How about them apples!

One of my coworkers identifies this cycle in his groups - "I do this --> This Happens --> I suffer." And "I don't do this --> That doesn't happen --> I don't suffer."

To me the use of the word suffer is so thought provoking. I usually think of suffering in terms of someone who is dealing with a terrible amount that I can hardly fathom. To picture myself in this cycle and think that I may be getting in the way of my own happiness by not doing something more productive is.. well.. insanity.

And on that note I'm going to make myself do some yoga before the day is over. Cheers!

Growing Pains

Source

Before I started my new job I posted something on facebook about how I don't like being the new kid at work. A former coworker commented and shared "the growing pains only last so long." At the time I was encouraged and hopeful that it would be a smooth transition.

I have officially been at my job for a little over 2 months.. and as of my paycheck last Friday I have a whopping 4 hours of PTO to show for it!! The past 2 weeks have been quite the learning experience.

Two Mondays ago was absolutely terrible. It was all I could do to make it to my car at the end of the night and not cry! I'm serious!! On Monday and Tuesday I work 12-9pm to accommodate for clients that work during the day and need to come to groups at night. I had an evaluation at 3:00pm which lasted 2 hrs and 15 min instead of the scheduled 1.5 hrs. I was late for my 5:00 appointment and had to apologize to him and explain that despite his efforts of catching the bus to meet with me we would need to reschedule. Then I had to lead a 2 hr group at 5:30. I met with a client after group, and couldn't catch my breath until 8pm, still not having had dinner! AHHHH! Later in the week I spoke to my supervisor and we are rearranging my Mondays so I don't have that scheduled evaluation right before group so I at least have a chance to take my 1 hr lunch break!

In addition to that crazy Monday schedule, I had to kick 2 people out of group that night! 1 person was sleeping and one person was texting, and those are 2 automatic things that will get you kicked out! So that was exciting.. Then that Thursday during group I had to kick someone out because they looked high! All new experiences. Thursday evening two weeks ago I decided to stay an hour late to get caught up on things (Monday really messed up my week big time!) and left work and my car stopped working on my way home!! Thankfully my husband wasn't working that night and was able to come keep me company (and provide a warm car! brr!!) while we waited for the AAA tow truck. I found out this past Tuesday that my car needs a new engine and the cost will be over what my car is worth! SO! We are car shopping!

THEN this past Thursday I found out something that should have been included in my work process that I hadn't been doing. Sadly it was checking with insurance for pre-certification and approval! Well it was missed the entire time that I had been meeting with my client, so there is the potential that our agency will have to lose that $1,000+ because of this mistake. Dang.

Based on the format of the orientation process I knew that I would learn from mistakes... but goodness. That  was an expensive mistake to learn!!! I filled out an appeal and faxed 45 pages to the insurance company last Friday, so I'm still crossing my fingers for a positive outcome.. but I'm still written up! Oy.

So that - in a nutshell - has been my two weeks. I'm trying to stay positive and think forward to when another 2 months have gone by and how much more I will know.. but that is going to take some patience and perhaps a little perseverance!

It has been interesting to learn about my coworkers and their boundaries. Some coworkers always take their 1 hr lunch break, a lot work through lunch, and others come in before their shift and get caught up on work. I'm trying to find the balance that works for me. Since I can't leave early if I work through lunch like at my last job (bummer!) I have to decide if it's more beneficial to me to have an hour where I don't do work things, or eat and work through lunch so I'm not as far behind. Sadly our location is a little out of town, so I can't just get up and go to Target on lunch or run necessary errands. If we were closer to things I'd be more inclined to leave and clear my mind. So far (apart from crazy days when I don't get to eat until I'm home) I've found that it reduces my stress to get things done during lunch so I don't have as much hanging over my head. Once I have a full case load I may welcome the break!

Thanks for reading if you made it this far! What are some of your work boundaries?

Random Fall Pics

Recent phone pics.

-Calendar @ Work - picture from last Halloween

-Two weekends ago a family member visited us in Iowa! We went to a hot air balloon glow but there were only a few balloons and it was going to be a few more hours before it all happened so we left before the glow, but it was neat to see this one up close!

-Halloween wreath on our door

-First bonfire of the season in our backyard 

-I made this sign for my door at work.. trying to practice some self care. Now if I could just stop doing work on lunch it would be awesome!

-Pretty "lego flowers" 

-Pumpkins @ the farmers market!

-"Caution: Contents very hot and extremely delicious!"

Hope you are having a good week!

Mindfulness

Yesterday at work I had some down time and was able to read through my work emails - you know those emails that are forwards from your boss from different organizations that have really good information but are so lengthy that you put them aside until later? Yup.

This particular excerpt is from "Tips and Topics" and seems particularly relevant:

"Remember when you started a new job, questioning your competence?  Am I doing the right thing?  The more you stressed about achieving the right outcome, the less you were present in the moment to actually notice what you were doing.  The result?  Getting tangled up, more anxious, only proving to yourself your level of incompetence.  As a practice, Mindfulness changes your view of a mistake- it's a new discovery, not something to beat yourself up with.   You have learned something about yourself;  that learning guides you to do something differently next time.  So stay present and notice in the moment what you are doing or thinking.  Make new discoveries!"

I feel like lately I question my competence on a daily basis! What a wonderful reminder to be present and learn from these "new discoveries". On this Tuesday may you embrace the learning and stay present in your daily work whether you have been at your job for 4 weeks or 4 years.

Time Management and My Fall Wishlist!

 I'm back!  I have not forgotten SWC!  Thank for picking up my slack, Tina :)  My workload has tripled and I have been working from home trying to catch up on documentation.  A co-worker told me to stop immediately because it will start to take over my life, hence no blogging.  Is anyone else guilty of chronically working at home?  I thought I had set good boundaries, but I guess I am still working on it. We had staff development on Thursday and were discussing ways to help with time management.  One co-worker shared this amazing idea called "Power Hour."  It is when you take an hour out of your day and finish everything you need to.  You do this by shutting your door, getting out of your email, putting your phone on do not disturb and putting your cell on silent.  I may put a sign on my door as well.  Is this not the most brilliant idea?!  Do y'all do this?  Am I the last one to know about this little nugget of joy?  I was off on Friday and am starting tomorrow.  Things tend to come up in this type of work, but I feel like I can accomplish this goal.  I think this is a tip that can work with any profession.  Try it out and let me know what you think!

So this is my first weekend of being work-free and it feels great.  I have been back playing on pinterest and awaiting the arrival of fall.  Many of the blogs I regularly ready have created fall wish lists and I thought I would follow.  Some are more practical than others, it's a wish list, right!? Here it is:

1.Monogram necklace- This necklace (to me) is the new version of the "Carrie" necklace that SJP wore during SATC.  Also I'm a lover of a monogram.  When I pinned it in pinterest I labeled it "Always need another monogram."

2. Lace top-  It will be a nice fall addition to the wardrobe. 

3. Gingham button-up shirt-  I love the way it can be layered.

4. Red Pants- Ask anyone- I have been hunting for them for months.  I can't find any that fit or are somewhat casual, oh and that don't break the bank.  I can also wear them to Alabama Football games!  

5. Women's Angelfish Slip-On Boat Shoe in Leopard- I have loved these since they came out last year.  I have a secret love of Leopard print.  My phone cover is purple leopard print, which says it all.  I will probably ask the husband for these during holiday time :)

6. Remington T-Studio Pearl Ceramic Curling Wand- Target had this on sale for $21.99 last week and I indulged yesterday, before the sale was over.  I wasn't going to, but it got awesome reviews on amazon.  I'm going to practice on myself today so I can wear my hair wavy to work tomorrow. Pics to come when I can perfect the curls!

7.  The Louis Vuitton Speedy 30-  I assume I will not get this anytime soon!  My grandmother had a Louis exactly like this when I was growing up and I just see this purse as a classic and timeless piece.  Sadly my grandmother's Louis has disappeared :(  I should put this on my long-term wish list!

8.  OPI- You Don't Know Jacques- I have lusted over this interesting neutral polish for a whole year.  Why?  My local Ulta runs out within 3 days of getting the shipment.  I was so wanting this polish that I was going to buy it on Amazon.  I decided to give Ulta one more chance and low and behold there was one left!  Yay, I crossed 2 off my list!

What's on your fall wish list??

Self Care in a Toxic World!!!

The name of the game is taking care of yourself, because you are going to live long enough to wish you had.
~ Grace Mirabella

So most of you are probably wondering where in the world have I been??? Well for starters I have moved back to the good ole' south. While I loved my time in D.C., I realized that at the end of the day I am just not cut out for the big city :)  I was fortunate to be able to return to my previous internship and am a counselor for Bradford Health Services.  Bradford Health Services provides all of the substance abuse treatment for Tuscaloosa County Drug Court so I guess my unoffical title would be "drug court counselor." While I love my job and am thrilled to be back in the south, change can be very very hard!
While I was in D.C., I was typically working an average of 50-60 hours a week.   I don't know if any of you struggle with setting healthy boundaries, but I will be the first to admit that I am working on creating a healthy worklife on a daily basis.  I could say that it was the stress of my job in DC that caused me to work so much, but now I find myself working crazy hours at my new job which results in me forgetting to take care of the most important person.... JULIE!

We learn about the importance of self care in school, but what does that really mean??? Well I figured it was only appropriate for my first blog back to try and explore some ideas of what we can do to take care of ourselves in this toxic toxic world...

  Self Care is about giving yourself the gift of wellness. In this life we only have one body, and how we treat this temple reflects on our overall happiness and well being, not to mention our life span and immediate health. Using products that are made from natural materials, exercising regularly, and taking time off to relax and de-stress are all ways in which we can care for ourselves and ensure that our temple is clean, strong, and worthy of receiving all the blessings that come with a healthy mind, body and spirit.

*Yoga:  Within the past year I have developed an obsession with yoga.  If I can do it ANYONE can!  I am extremely uncoordinated and super ADD, but find that yoga helps in a number of ways. 

Yoga includes breathing, meditation, and exercises, called postures or poses, that stretch the body. You can do yoga to help you relax.

The goals of yoga include improved physical and mental health, as well as "oneness" with a higher being, the self, or some form of higher awareness.

Click on this link to find a yoga studio or instructor near you!  I promise you won't regret it!
www.yogafinder.com/
* Also here's a fun fact.... If you live in Birmingham, Al they have started offering Yoga at Railroad Park.  I am dieing to try it! If you've been to Railroad Park you know how awesome it is, but can you imagine being able to do Yoga there?? Doesn't that sound fabulous?  Here's where you can find more information www.railroadpark.org/calendar.php

Now I leave you with an article that was published in Health Magazine by the lovely Mariska Hargitay. 

Mariska Hargitay's Self-Care Tips

Television and film star Mariska Hargitay shares tips for healthy eating and living.

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No matter how busy you get, making time to care for yourself—mind, body, and spirit—is a must. Here are a few of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actress Mariska Hargitay secrets.

Take time for TLC. Set aside an hour a week for a mini “spa day.” (And don’t spend the time beating yourself up about how you don’t make time for yourself. TLC, remember?) Take a warm bath, light a beautiful candle. A little indulgence will go a long way.

Eat well. It’s about a balanced diet. And for me, it’s also about a little extra dark chocolate. They call it “the healthy chocolate.” No, seriously. A girl’s gotta leave room for chocolate, right?


Listen to your body. Make sure you’re finding the right balance of work, exercise, rest, and play.


Discover your creative self. Start a journal, paint a picture, grab your camera. And the best part is, you don’t even have to show any of it to anybody. Creative expression feeds your spirit, not some person looking over your shoulder telling you to paint faster.


Find your passion. I’m passionate about the Joyful Heart Foundation. The hearts we open, and the incredible people we encounter—these are the roots of inspiration for me.


Close your eyes and breathe. In the midst of the chaos, there’s a calm, healthy, and joyful self in there that may just need a little air.


Laugh. There’s just nothing better for the soul.

 It feels good to be back down south and back home to my roots! Now if I can only follow my own self care advice.... Have a fabulous holiday weekend!

Mani, Pedi and Me

I had a couple GLORIOUS days off last week and deemed these days "Claire-Only Days."  I decided that I wanted to relax and pamper myself.  I finally used my mani and pedi groupon, which I had been looking forward to! I was relaxed to the max...ahhhh!  I walked in and was asked if I wanted to upgrade for $5 to a Shellac manicure.  Immediately, I thought of Tina's post about her good experience with her manicure.  I'm only 5 days into my manicure and am loving it so far.  It is possible that Tina and I may have gotten the same color, I guess that's why we are friends with good taste :) 

I feel so revived after my days off.  I realized how much I do for others and sometimes forget myself.  I feel selfish when I focus on my needs.  After going to work this year with a fever and an extreme allergic reaction (puffy face and all) and attempting to work (but being sent home) I've really been thinking about my actions.  It's ok to be "selfish" sometimes.  As a social worker, how can you help others when you can't help yourself?  If I don't take care of myself, I will probably burn out in the next few years.  I love my job and do not want that to happen.  We have our yearly reviews coming up and I will be using this dilemma as something I need to work on next year.  Shouldn't be too hard, right?  I have sick days, I should use them when I'm sick...this is logical thinking, I think I can do it!  We all have our things we are working on to be better people and better social workers, what are you working on?

In other news:

Wyatt Update:
15 weeks
15 lbs
The sweetest puppy that I miss terribly during work, but when I get home his nub is wagging and booty is shakin'!  It makes everything that happened in the day OK!

Weekend unwind

Good morning social workers and friends of social workers!!

These past 2 weeks have been rather hectic for me at work! I would like to blame the full moon for part of it. And the other part - well, my supervisor tells me after some time my clients will start to "flare up" at the same time. Does this have any similarity to women menstruating at the same time? cause that's what it reminds me of. And that's strange. Whatever it is, we've had a lot of flare ups!!

This brings me to my next thought: this is in fact a social work blog. And while we're pretty wonderful at covering all topics, there has been little focus on what started it all - our passion for social work!!

So folks, when you've had a stressful week whether it's because you are a social worker, or any human being that has stress, how do you unwind?

Personally, if I can have a "free" Saturday morning, that makes me feel golden. Sleeping in until 8:00, slowly drinking my coffee while blogging, with food network on in the background makes me feel like a normal person again!

We all have stress and in order to survive this profession (or life) we need to take some time and become..normal again.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!