The last few days have offered a chance to be quiet, think about how life's going, and what's on the horizon in 2010. One of the areas I found myself thinking about was the blog, and my reasons for writing. My hope was to use the blog as a forum to: 1) get a chance to write creatively 2) document a year of big change in my life and 3) to keep friends updated on my life as I made that transition. Here's where I stand in those three areas after six months of this project:
Topic 1: Writing) I have enjoyed writing about life, observations, and other random things over the past few months. There have been some poorly written entries (in terms of style, outline, etc) and a few I thought I did pretty well. Like most things, writing is a skill we continue to improve on, and I'd like to think blogging has helped me improve in some way.
Topic 2: The Story of My Life) The last six months of 2009 are pretty well documented, and at times like this (the end of the year) it is nice to look back on some of those fun moments to remind me its been a cool year. Photographs also serve the same purpose, but its nice to know the story behind some of the experiences. Its also not an entire picture of my life, since there are some topics I don't write about in a public forum.
Topic 3: Keeping folks abreast of my life) When it comes down to it, we all rely on technology to stay connected. Telephones, emails, facebook, blogs, etc., are all part of our lives and will be for as long as most of us are alive. The blog was originally a travel blog for folks in Seattle and Chicago (and elsewhere) to ride along as I made the trek across the country. I could reach a broad audience at once, and didn't have to re-tell the same stories to everyone in my life.
At some point, the blog morphed in to a combination of "here's whats going on" and "here's what I'm thinking about." In terms of keeping folks abreast of my life, I'm pretty sure folks have a general idea for what's going on in my life. And there will continue to be adventures and interesting moments along the way that I'll probably share with many of you--the question is whether I still need a blog to achieve that purpose.
So as you can tell, I'm a bit of a crossroads in terms of whether to continue writing the blog in 2010, or I should ditch it and spend my free time doing other things--like writing the book I've wanted to complete.
I'm not feeling compelled one way or the other to continue, but I figured this would be a good time to turn it around and ask if folks are even reading (I have no way to track) and whether you like it. I can achieve the same three objectives (Writing practice, documenting my life, keeping folks abreast) in non-public formats--the question I'm trying to answer is whether sharing my life for the world to see is worth the time and (potential) exposure.
If you've gotten this far into this entry, you've probably formulated an opinion at some point about the blog so do me a favor and drop me an email (dweber1212@yahoo.com) or post your comments below (anonymous is fine) about the blog. I'll make a decision after I've given it some time to swirl around between the ears, but any input/feedback would be really appreciated.
Hope all of you celebrating Christmas enjoyed it,
Delta Whiskey
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
2009: The Year in Review
Last Friday I had my work team's holiday party, which shaped up to be your typical office holiday party. Some awkward chit-chat, a secret santa thing, you know, the kind of thing you probably attended in the last week. Anyhow, I didn't realize until the morning of the party (it was a lunch) that we were supposed to bring our reflections on our year. Of course, these were only supposed to be reflections on our professional life, but I found myself reflecting on the bigger picture as I drove out to the suburbs.
The words I'd use to describe this past year were challenging, fun, and adventuresome. (Somaybe my blog's title wasn't so dumb after all). But in looking back on the past 12 months I've been able to accomplish most of what I set out to at the start of the year as well as a few added bonuses.
How do I know this? Well, as I've written about before, I sat down last January and began to think about what 'success' would look like at the end of the year. And for me a successful year would be one I could look back on as peaceful, so I set out with the belief that if I achieved success in the main areas of my life (career, finances, health, social/family, and hobbies) I'd have a shred more serenity in my life than I had on December 31, 2008.
So I set about doing my best to accomplish those goals, and tracking how I did along the way. As you can see from the photo, many of the goals were accomplished, and I've got a sense for where things can continue to improve as I look forward to 2010. Green = Good, Red = Needs Improvement.
But the question I've asked myself is, "despite all of these accomplishments, have I achieved peace of mind?"
I would like to think I'm at a good place today. Its a much better place than I've been in a while after having a few years that were anything but peaceful. So when I step back, things are pretty cool today--December 22, 2009. A few reasons:
I'm close to the people who matter most to me. My family and friends are what make Chicago so great, but its also an awesome city with endless possibilities for entertainment, fun, and adventure-seeking. Needs Improvement: Sports.
As much as I gripe (griped?), I have a job that gives me a chance to help patients avoid some of the chaos inside the hospital. It gives me a chance to grow and learn, help patients, and be creative which is all I can really ask for in a job.
My health is great and I'm not worried about my next doctor appointment, procedure, or surgery.
I'm financially comfortable, and have more than enough to afford the things I need to be happy.
But despite all of these great things I have had a chaotic year in many regards. I've traveled to 23 states, moved across the country, left a job I loved (for a job I like), moved in with my sister and kids, then moved in to a place of my own. So as you can expect, it hasn't exactly been "peaceful" at times due to all the activity. I know these were changes I brought on myself, so I really am not complaining, just making the observation that all of the activities I spent time may have led to success in many regards--it just not may be success in terms of 'peace of mind.'
Looking forward I see 2010 as a year of continued learning about myself, and I'll spend the next few weeks thinking about what I'd like to accomplish in 2010....stay tuned, and don't be afraid to set a few goals yourself if there's something you're itching to accomplish.
The words I'd use to describe this past year were challenging, fun, and adventuresome. (Somaybe my blog's title wasn't so dumb after all). But in looking back on the past 12 months I've been able to accomplish most of what I set out to at the start of the year as well as a few added bonuses.
How do I know this? Well, as I've written about before, I sat down last January and began to think about what 'success' would look like at the end of the year. And for me a successful year would be one I could look back on as peaceful, so I set out with the belief that if I achieved success in the main areas of my life (career, finances, health, social/family, and hobbies) I'd have a shred more serenity in my life than I had on December 31, 2008.
So I set about doing my best to accomplish those goals, and tracking how I did along the way. As you can see from the photo, many of the goals were accomplished, and I've got a sense for where things can continue to improve as I look forward to 2010. Green = Good, Red = Needs Improvement.
But the question I've asked myself is, "despite all of these accomplishments, have I achieved peace of mind?"
I would like to think I'm at a good place today. Its a much better place than I've been in a while after having a few years that were anything but peaceful. So when I step back, things are pretty cool today--December 22, 2009. A few reasons:
I'm close to the people who matter most to me. My family and friends are what make Chicago so great, but its also an awesome city with endless possibilities for entertainment, fun, and adventure-seeking. Needs Improvement: Sports.
As much as I gripe (griped?), I have a job that gives me a chance to help patients avoid some of the chaos inside the hospital. It gives me a chance to grow and learn, help patients, and be creative which is all I can really ask for in a job.
My health is great and I'm not worried about my next doctor appointment, procedure, or surgery.
I'm financially comfortable, and have more than enough to afford the things I need to be happy.
But despite all of these great things I have had a chaotic year in many regards. I've traveled to 23 states, moved across the country, left a job I loved (for a job I like), moved in with my sister and kids, then moved in to a place of my own. So as you can expect, it hasn't exactly been "peaceful" at times due to all the activity. I know these were changes I brought on myself, so I really am not complaining, just making the observation that all of the activities I spent time may have led to success in many regards--it just not may be success in terms of 'peace of mind.'
Looking forward I see 2010 as a year of continued learning about myself, and I'll spend the next few weeks thinking about what I'd like to accomplish in 2010....stay tuned, and don't be afraid to set a few goals yourself if there's something you're itching to accomplish.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Always Look on the Bright Side
I'll cut to the chase and describe my week at work as crappy. As part of my orientation, I was asked to co-facilitate a week-long workshop with a team at one of my organization's hospitals. From the team's perspective, they were asked to improve how patients move through the first few steps of a visit to an Emergency Department. My role was to teach, coach, and help them put in place ways to improve the experience for patients and they did a great job solving some complex issues. Healthcare gets a lot of press in the media these days, and working with staff on the front lines you see how the chaotic nature of healthcare leads to a patient experience that is less than ideal. These are folks doing their best to help patients on what may be the worst day of their lives, and they're working in a system that is best described as 'controlled chaos.' But I'd like to think my work helps those folks do their jobs easier by using their expertise to put in place changes that should help.
On a personal level, I like my work for two main reasons: 1) I have a hand in improving healthcare for all of you (and myself as well) and 2)I get to help teams work together to solve problems they've been wrestling with for some time. But this week I had a hard time appreciating those things about my work. I won't go in to a ton of detail, but I'll say that the working relationship with my co-facilitator and 'teacher' didn't exactly go perfectly. There were a few times during the week when I felt really crappy about how it was going, and although we had a chance to discuss some of the challenges it was a very uncomfortable experience. At the end of the week, we accomplished what we needed to with the team, I just wish it was a little smoother getting there.
So feeling a little down, I left work yesterday and turned on AM Sports Talk Radio, which has become my default coming to and from work. I know, very meatheady of me, but I love Chicago sports and 30 minutes in the car helps me get my finger on the pulse of the sports scene here in Chicago. During a commercial break, I hopped over to WGN-AM (radio home of the Cubs) and caught a bit by one of the DJs where listeners call in and describe what the "bright side" was of their week and it was exactly what I needed to snap life in to perspective.
In the background, you can hear the Monty Python "Always Look on the Bright Side" and it was really uplifting to hear everyday people call in and describe the little (and sometimes big) things they could be happy about. Having had very little to be upbeat about in my world, it gave me a nice pickup hearing about soldiers returning from war for the holidays, fun events people attended, and even shopping specials they found for holiday gifts. So maybe listing a few things I can be happy about will help some of you as well look at what's good in life, instead of what's not so good:
Brightside #1: My name is not Tiger Woods. I had a crappy week, but nothing in comparison to what is going on with he and his family. I'm an avid golfer, and pretty lukewarm about Tiger--mainly because I'm a big fan of underdogs and he never captured my heart. I certainly appreciate his talents, but wouldn't describe myself as a "fan." I don't need to recount the details of his week, but my challenges are nothing compared to what he's sorting through.
On a side note, I do have a minor conspiracy theory that some friends suggested I post, which is pure speculation on my part and not based on anything factual. In fact I feel creepy speculating on it, but it might merit some investigation if we really care about what happened that night. My guess is he and his wife got in to it physically the night of Thanksgiving and he was injured in the house during their encounter. They knew a domestic violence situation would be very ugly in the media, so the 'accident' was made up to make it seem like he wrecked his car rather than had his wife open up a can on him. Again, I'm not a policeman and don't know if that's got any weight, but it seems awfully fishy that he would run in to a fire hydrant, and a tree, and sustain an injury that led him to being passed out in the street. Chew on that one. Either way, I'm with Elin on this one. You go girl, and feel free to call me next time you're passing through Chicago and want to hang out.
Brightside #2: I got to a blackhawks game last night. There isn't much to be excited about in the Chicago sports scene these days. The Bears are a collosal disappointment, the Bulls are an average team, and the Cubs are sitting on the same roster they had at the end of last year's waste of a season. But the Blackhaws are HOT and the city is behind them after they revamped their marketing approach, got some exciting young talent, and a coach that knows what he's doing. I was a big hockey fan in high school and its nice to be following the sport once again. Yeah, I know that makes me a bandwagon jumper, but I really don't care. Winning is fun, and I'll support any Chicago sports team (outside of the White Sox). My official step on to the bandwagon was commemorated with the purchase of a blackhawks hat, with the coolest logo in professional sports.
Hockey is a sport that gets a bad wrap for being too rough, but it is actually a very peaceful sport to watch. There are very few whistles, and a really cool play in hockey is something special to watch. And Hawks games are unique for many reasons, but my favorite parts are:
-the national anthem (watch this to see what I'm talking about if you've never been...yes, they do this for every game although this was one of the most memorable renditions from the old Chicago Stadium)
-a really well-executed goal. Jonathan Toews, one of the Hawks young studs (and Pearl Jam fan...I saw him backstage earlier this summer with his crew) had an electrifying goal you can watch here.
-the crowd. Die Hard Hawks fans are a unique breed and very Chicago. Compared to the other 'die hards' in Chicago, they're just as charismatic and way tougher than any other fan base. Most of them wear jerseys and live and die with every possession, which I respect as an avid sports fan.
-the music during timeouts. If you populated a Venn diagram of Heavy Metal fans and Hockey fans you would find many in both groups, and as a lover of loud, obnoxious arena-rock I really dig the entertainment during hockey games....
Brightside #3: Annie getting to run along the lakefront. In addition to my week being crappy, Annie's was equally as bad. She had to wait nearly 14 hours between walks and really didn't get a chance to be much of a dog. Despite temps in the high 20's (remember, I have a policy on ADW not to bitch about weather) we headed out early Saturday morning to walk along the lakefront and take in some scenery. There are a few pictures in this album, and it was a really calm morning walking with Annie along Lake Michigan as we took in a skyline I yearned to see over the past few years. For Annie, I was happy to see her running in the leaves, mixing it up with a few other dogs, and being her usual goofball self. For me, it was a visual reminder of all the different places she and I have taken our morning walks since I've had her and how far both of us have come.
Brightside #4: I've been able to hang with many of my oldest friends at the end of a crappy week of work. That's not to say I didn't have great friends to hang with out in Seattle or elsewhere to chat about what's going on in life, but there's something very cool about hanging with your closest friends who can help keep what's important in its proper perspective.
Life isn't always about big 'events' to be happy or sad about and sometimes we've gotta remember the little things that put a smile on our face. For me, that's much easier said than done, but thanks to some radio karma I got that reminder I needed to always look on the bright side and hope you're doing the same....
On a personal level, I like my work for two main reasons: 1) I have a hand in improving healthcare for all of you (and myself as well) and 2)I get to help teams work together to solve problems they've been wrestling with for some time. But this week I had a hard time appreciating those things about my work. I won't go in to a ton of detail, but I'll say that the working relationship with my co-facilitator and 'teacher' didn't exactly go perfectly. There were a few times during the week when I felt really crappy about how it was going, and although we had a chance to discuss some of the challenges it was a very uncomfortable experience. At the end of the week, we accomplished what we needed to with the team, I just wish it was a little smoother getting there.
So feeling a little down, I left work yesterday and turned on AM Sports Talk Radio, which has become my default coming to and from work. I know, very meatheady of me, but I love Chicago sports and 30 minutes in the car helps me get my finger on the pulse of the sports scene here in Chicago. During a commercial break, I hopped over to WGN-AM (radio home of the Cubs) and caught a bit by one of the DJs where listeners call in and describe what the "bright side" was of their week and it was exactly what I needed to snap life in to perspective.
In the background, you can hear the Monty Python "Always Look on the Bright Side" and it was really uplifting to hear everyday people call in and describe the little (and sometimes big) things they could be happy about. Having had very little to be upbeat about in my world, it gave me a nice pickup hearing about soldiers returning from war for the holidays, fun events people attended, and even shopping specials they found for holiday gifts. So maybe listing a few things I can be happy about will help some of you as well look at what's good in life, instead of what's not so good:
Brightside #1: My name is not Tiger Woods. I had a crappy week, but nothing in comparison to what is going on with he and his family. I'm an avid golfer, and pretty lukewarm about Tiger--mainly because I'm a big fan of underdogs and he never captured my heart. I certainly appreciate his talents, but wouldn't describe myself as a "fan." I don't need to recount the details of his week, but my challenges are nothing compared to what he's sorting through.
On a side note, I do have a minor conspiracy theory that some friends suggested I post, which is pure speculation on my part and not based on anything factual. In fact I feel creepy speculating on it, but it might merit some investigation if we really care about what happened that night. My guess is he and his wife got in to it physically the night of Thanksgiving and he was injured in the house during their encounter. They knew a domestic violence situation would be very ugly in the media, so the 'accident' was made up to make it seem like he wrecked his car rather than had his wife open up a can on him. Again, I'm not a policeman and don't know if that's got any weight, but it seems awfully fishy that he would run in to a fire hydrant, and a tree, and sustain an injury that led him to being passed out in the street. Chew on that one. Either way, I'm with Elin on this one. You go girl, and feel free to call me next time you're passing through Chicago and want to hang out.
Brightside #2: I got to a blackhawks game last night. There isn't much to be excited about in the Chicago sports scene these days. The Bears are a collosal disappointment, the Bulls are an average team, and the Cubs are sitting on the same roster they had at the end of last year's waste of a season. But the Blackhaws are HOT and the city is behind them after they revamped their marketing approach, got some exciting young talent, and a coach that knows what he's doing. I was a big hockey fan in high school and its nice to be following the sport once again. Yeah, I know that makes me a bandwagon jumper, but I really don't care. Winning is fun, and I'll support any Chicago sports team (outside of the White Sox). My official step on to the bandwagon was commemorated with the purchase of a blackhawks hat, with the coolest logo in professional sports.
Hockey is a sport that gets a bad wrap for being too rough, but it is actually a very peaceful sport to watch. There are very few whistles, and a really cool play in hockey is something special to watch. And Hawks games are unique for many reasons, but my favorite parts are:
-the national anthem (watch this to see what I'm talking about if you've never been...yes, they do this for every game although this was one of the most memorable renditions from the old Chicago Stadium)
-a really well-executed goal. Jonathan Toews, one of the Hawks young studs (and Pearl Jam fan...I saw him backstage earlier this summer with his crew) had an electrifying goal you can watch here.
-the crowd. Die Hard Hawks fans are a unique breed and very Chicago. Compared to the other 'die hards' in Chicago, they're just as charismatic and way tougher than any other fan base. Most of them wear jerseys and live and die with every possession, which I respect as an avid sports fan.
-the music during timeouts. If you populated a Venn diagram of Heavy Metal fans and Hockey fans you would find many in both groups, and as a lover of loud, obnoxious arena-rock I really dig the entertainment during hockey games....
Brightside #3: Annie getting to run along the lakefront. In addition to my week being crappy, Annie's was equally as bad. She had to wait nearly 14 hours between walks and really didn't get a chance to be much of a dog. Despite temps in the high 20's (remember, I have a policy on ADW not to bitch about weather) we headed out early Saturday morning to walk along the lakefront and take in some scenery. There are a few pictures in this album, and it was a really calm morning walking with Annie along Lake Michigan as we took in a skyline I yearned to see over the past few years. For Annie, I was happy to see her running in the leaves, mixing it up with a few other dogs, and being her usual goofball self. For me, it was a visual reminder of all the different places she and I have taken our morning walks since I've had her and how far both of us have come.
Brightside #4: I've been able to hang with many of my oldest friends at the end of a crappy week of work. That's not to say I didn't have great friends to hang with out in Seattle or elsewhere to chat about what's going on in life, but there's something very cool about hanging with your closest friends who can help keep what's important in its proper perspective.
Life isn't always about big 'events' to be happy or sad about and sometimes we've gotta remember the little things that put a smile on our face. For me, that's much easier said than done, but thanks to some radio karma I got that reminder I needed to always look on the bright side and hope you're doing the same....
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