Growing again

No, the weight hasn't shot up again. I'm learning and developing myself once more. The past few weeks have been quiet because I've been battling work, who decided that holding back my grade increase for 3 months would be a great way to help the budget (at least that's the only reason I can think of for it). So now, after having spent most of the past 6 months struggling to work despite needing painkillers and eye drops to get through the day, because I knew I was the only one there and the work needed to be done, so I soldiered on to do it, the accusation is in that I'm lacking a work ethic and they're using that to try and justify holding back my pay grading.

The old Crystal struggling to overcome the victim mentality would have complained a lot and tried to find someplace else to work. But this time, I got angry, and decided I wasn't going to take it lying down. I've now got union and several levels of management involved, and it went as far as Head office Industrial Relations, but I've got my grade coming through. The games stepped up a level, and it looks like I'm stepping up with it.

Of course that doesn't mean, if I got offered a better position somewhere else, where I wouldn't be getting the same sort of treatment as I've had here, I wouldn't take it. I would. But I'm not going to walk away and let them get away with it, and do it to the next unsuspecting person. I'm starting to understand why I'm one of only a handful left of my class of 3 years ago...

On the home front, I'm making progress with putting all my books away and getting my office set up as I'd like it. I'm keeping things a lot cleaner than I ever have, and taking more pride in my environment (and myself) and am doing a lot more exercise these days too. From not being able to run more than 2 steps without giving myself 2 black eyes, I'm now able to run across the carpark between my place and the bus stop and getting less and less winded doing it each day. I'm also getting up earlier and using the exercise machines and DVDs I have at home, and hope to arrange a machine swap with someone at work to trade my bike for her treadmill for 3 or 6 months to give us both a change. Fingers crossed she likes the idea. I'm not using the gym - the hours just don't suit the way I have to work, so I'll be dropping that and putting the money towards a treadmill of my own, if the swap idea doesn't work.

I'm also cooking a lot more, and a lot more healthily too. That book (at left) is incredible in giving you a perspective on what food really does once you take it in. Being on my own, cooking two recipes generally gives me most of my meals for the week, if they serve 4 (one recipe for lunch, another for dinner). 3 gives me a good variety. I did that last weekend, and this week was great in terms of not having to think what to eat and having something ready to go when I got home. No difference on the scales, but hey, when I spent 3 years at the same weight despite Sure Slim, Weight Watchers and several other programs, I figure that it's better to be a bit strategic and find the keys that will convince my body it doesn't want to be like the last 3 generations of my father's line, obese, but would enjoy being fit and svelte instead. One day...

So, this weekend is for me, and for planning out exactly where I want my career to go from here. My job is now, clearly, just a job, so I figure if I have a plan of where I want to get to, maybe the universe will find it a little bit easier to send it to me. That whole "careful what you ask for, you might get it" thing has to work asking for things you really DO want too, I figure, so I might as well use it. If any of you out there have my dream job coming up, or hear of it, please feel free to post a comment and let me know!?!

Til next time, keep smiling!

Crystal :)