My African mantle

One of the many reasons I’m looking forward to my new job is the fresh start — the chance to set the pace for an organization, work hard, dig in my heels and really get to know a new arm of public health. I am fighting the feeling of being overwhelmed by this new challenge and am instead trying to focus on the happiness I find in learning, dedicating myself to a cause and feeling like my work matters.

Mozambican capulanas

One of the happiest times of my life was in college when I was running the student newspaper. I was taking a ridiculous course load and easily putting in 30-40 hours a week at the newspaper. Essentially I lived in the Com building and at one point even had my own key so I could come and go as I wanted. The joy came from feeling so dedicated to doing my very best. I felt like the newspaper that printed each week was a direct result of my leadership and the amount of effort I was or was not willing to put into the project. There were weeks when it was great and there were weeks when glaring typos made the front page headlines. Still, I loved being in the trenches and two of my closest college friends were right there digging next to me. I think the fact the three of us struggled together to make this newspaper work each week is part of the reason we are such good friends today.

Love these

I hope to find and create that type of joy in my new duties. In the meantime, I’m trying to tidy up things at my current desk and leave gracefully. This job has been very good to me during the last five years and I will remember my time here fondly.

Makes me want to eat more salad

New job, new energy, new resolve. I ran across this quote the other day that pumped up my spirits:

African nativity

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.
Watch your actions, they become your habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character.
It will become your destiny.”
— Rabbi Hillel

African Jesus

I’m watching my habits and making some important changes. I find focus is an all or nothing game. When I’m in the zone, I’m eating healthy, spending money wisely, spending time in prayer and keeping God first.

Stone angel from Nicaragua

But oh, how I wish these things were routine and not something I had push myself to accomplish each day. In the meantime, I’m celebrating the little victories and learning from my elders.

~K

Mortar and Pestle

* A few of my purchases from my summer travels: Nicaraguan pine basket, capulanas from Malawi and Mozambique, elephant salad tongs from Mozambique, Mozambican nativity, stone angel from Nicaragua, mortar and pestle from Moz.