More thoughts on a shiny new life.

I'm up early because I woke up wheezing, and as anyone with asthma will tell you, once you've used that inhaler, sleep is elusive. I'm a bit, shall we say, Jittery? And I'm listening to this song from Scrubs.

I went for a run yesterday morning, a 5K easy run since I'm doing Barb's race on Saturday and I'm all about the taper. (I may not be all about the training, but I'm all about the taper.) So, it was dawn when I started out, and during my run I realized I can do this a lot from now on. I love morning runs, but they were a logistical impossibility in my previous life (as a teacher, I didn't have to be at work until 7:10 am, unless I wanted, like, a parking space). Then there were those mandatory 6:30 am parent-teacher meetings or staff meetings.
Being a teacher, for me, was a lot about being treated like a child, with an ever-present lack of autonomy and trust in my abilities.

Last week I panicked a little on my first day, when I started going over the files of my new clients, thinking,
ohmygodamIevenconceivablyreadyandtrainedforthesepeoplewithreallivesandproblems?
But then, I sat down and started writing out treatment plans, and the best part of it was that I was doing that in my kitchen, and in a coffee shop, and at WholeFoods waiting for DreadPirate to join me for lunch, and also in the doctor's office while Mini-baboo got his athlete's physical, and it was fine.
In fact, it was better than fine! it was challenging and fun. It's what interests me, DUH; it's what I've been studying to do for several years. Treatment planning is somewhat similar to lesson planning, except I have much more autonomy because now, it's assumed that I'm a professional and know what I'm doing so I'm not micromanaged.
That's what the panic was about last week: that sudden loosening of restrictions that have been so firmly in place for the past 9 years are suddenly gone. And now, well, now I have get to think for myself.

My new job starts about 9:30 am. I could start later, but I only get paid for each client hour. After I signed a contract to work there, they started assigning me clients at an average of one every two days. I'll have a full roster soon. But I'll still have time for a morning run.

I am a morning person. I'm up early. I hate to be rushed, too, so I'm wildly excited about my new life in which I could work out for an hour or so in the morning, shower, get some coffee, then ride my bike to work. I am giddy at the thought that I can do this 3-4 times a week. I'm thinking about doing my first 50-miler next year, and when you start getting to those distances it's all about weekly volume. The skipping-of-the-weekly-run-and-then-just-doing-one-long-run-on-the-weekend just won't cut it.

And, it's a relaxed run. Just a run, for the love of running. And doing something for a living I will love even if it occasionally frustrates me. The occasional craziness of traveling for a marathon or triathlon, without having to call in "sick" and get permission. And let's not forget that they actually are glad I'm working there.

Ah, so this is how it feels to be a grown-up who likes their job! Who knew?

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