Yesterday morning I was ready to quit my job... but I actually had a good day there. I took my phone into all meetings with me since I missed a call from my son (who is now in Afghanistan) last week and I would not care to do that again. Since I had my phone with me and it was on silent, I surreptitiously took photos. When I got home and looked at the photos, I realized how much I love some of those people and how much fun we have. I talked with one of my favorite psychiatrists about how angry I have been about work and he commiserated with me. But he said that the workgroups I am chairing are productive and fun. There are four of them right now, and although I feel like they are killing me as far as workload, they actually are fun, and we are getting stuff done - stuff that needs to get done. So, what more could you ask of a job?
Can you guess where I learned how to chair a meeting?
Yep. Right in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous.
If you could learn to handle the crazy lunatics who attended the meetings I used to go to, you could handle just about anything. I would throw people out who were sleeping - I know we don't do that now, but I did. We had a lot of homeless folks there for the donuts and a warm place to sleep - they could sleep in the club, they didn't need to be in the meeting. I would manage the "court slip" people by telling them up front to get their slips signed and then they could leave because we didn't want anyone there against their will. I once had a guy (court ordered) who threatened to start shooting people - because the "promises" hadn't come true for him - I have never referred to them as "promises" since that day. I enlisted the help of the men and got the guy calmed down. aye, carumba - I could go on and on... oh, the good old days.
It was good experience.
So today I will sit with a bunch of social workers, psychiatrists, RNs, etc., and I bet I won't have to throw a one of them out of the room for sleeping! Awesome!
Sobriety has been bery, bery good to me.
Thank you God!
6 comments:
Good for you, MC. I have chaired a lot of professional meetings but am glad that now I don't have to do that. I don't like being front and center.
I think that I would have liked the good ole days in which people really had singleness of purpose. Trying to be something for everyone leaves nothing for anybody.
Have a bery good day.
I help facilitate a prison meeting, one in which the inmates receive a certificate after attending 12 meetings. My philosophy has lately been one of planting the seed. The number of inmates who sleep, read romance novels or chit-chat is significant, but the ones who really want to be there for recovery are much greater. And, of course, I learn more from them than they do from me.
Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom and experience here. I've learned so much from you.
Great post Mary, you have inspired me!
Funny post. Alanon meetings are quite tame. I don't recall anyone ever sleeping. We tend to listen politely..LOL
laughing at Lous' comment!
I don't know why the young people always have to prop their legs up on the chairs in front of them. Why are their legs so tired???
Spread some kind of "germ" rumor at the gym so some people will leave.
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