Being in Two Places At Once

Lots of people accept the futility of being in two places at once. I thought of this today as I was working a few hours at one of my jobs and a few hours at the other. It would be much more efficient to be in both places at the same time.

Impossible.

Or not.

One of my favorite books is "The Fabric of the Cosmos" by Brian Greene (whom I would love, love, love to meet someday). It's a book about theoretical physics and how our knowledge of the universe is evolving. Space and time are not (it is theorized) what we thought them to be. One of the most startling ideas is that you could be in two places at once. They've actually proven this part of the theory on the atomic level. How is that not common and awe-inspiring knowledge?

I cannot do any of the ideas justice as far as explaining them. I have to read and re-read them to really get it, and then read it again. But to me, it is completely worth the effort. It is challenging and interesting and satisfies my desire to learn. If you are interested, the book can be found here. 

String theory and quantum physics are made interesting and accessible by Dr. Greene, and for that I am truly grateful. The idea of multiple, parallel universes is not just an excuse for the odd things that happen in life. At some levels, it makes the odd things make sense.

It also makes me laugh to realize almost everything I've ever thought to be impossible - isn't.

And I think that is a very inspiring idea.

Peace,

Jo Taylor

Encouragement

Encouragement seems to surround me these days.

At work, those who know I have a new job and am still trying to do the old one too have said, "You can do it." The nurses and docs have said as much about my learning case management, and as for my writing - well, my writing partner has given me renewed enthusiasm for working on Road Clothes even as busy as I am.

For all this I am grateful.

This recognition of encouragement sent my way has made me consider all the people in my life who assist me, often unnoticed or underappreciated. People who do jobs that make my job easier, people who are my friends and family who let me work long hours and talk about my characters ad nauseum, and people who make me laugh (like all these people), are indispensible.  I couldn't do my work, be a somewhat normal human being, and write if not for all the assistance and encouragement I get. I think most of us are like this.

But how often do we thank those who make what we do possible? I don't know if I do it enough, but along with my renewed interest in revising my novel I have renewed enthusiasm for appreciating those who help me.

That would be you. Reading this helps me. I know the connection may sound tenuous, but a writer is just a writer if no one reads the words. A writer communicates if someone reads them. The entire reason I write is to communicate. I talked about this in a previous post, and time has not revealed any other reason to me. I don't write to be famous or rich (which is a good thing because fame is not happening anytime soon and I am already rich beyond measure if the definition is having all that I need). But I do so like to communicate.

I think that's why my new job will suit me well. It is all about communicating. And communicating. And communicating. Did I mention the increase in the amount of communication I am doing? Just checking.

So, thank you for reading and for being my co-worker, friend, family and encourager. It is much appreciated.

Peace,

Jo Taylor

Another New Job

I have a new job again this year. Last year at this time I was writing about how I was going from House Supervisor (and de-facto master of the universe) to a desk-and-data job that was in the new universe of Monday through Friday eight to five. It was a rousing and successful year, full of getting up at a reasonable hour and going home on time. I am refreshed after having a "normal" life for a year.

Now, not to say that what I will be doing is "abnormal," but it is back in the realm of the Big House as I like to call it. I will be the Assistant Director of Case Management. Ohhh. What's that?

Case Management is nursing, but it is not the bedside nursing I am used to. It is nurses assisting patients and physicians through the maze of hospitalization and the payment for such. Or something like that. 

I basically can't explain it yet, and since there aren't any TV shows with Case Managers running into closets with hot young interns, it probably means that it's not really one of the exciting parts of nursing. But it is necessary and valuable, and I have great esteem for things that make me feel necessary and valuable. 

I'm looking forward to it for all the career-nursy reasons: something new, challenging, patient-centered. This last one is the part that also appeals to the writer-me: being able to interact with patients again. I have to say I missed it. Check with me next month though, and I may want to retract that statement.

Let's see, what else has happened since October (October? Really?)? 

Ten of my poems were published with some writer friends in an anthology that I'm pretty proud of.  Found here to my utter amazement.

One of my dear friends died in December and I miss her every day.

Thanksgiving and Christmas were wonderful.

We got our new puppy, Abby the black Lab, and already she is so big. Cute too. Really. See?

I got to see an old friend (Kim!) and meet her wonderful family and for that I am so grateful.

I've continued to send out stories and poems to publications and have gotten quite a few personalized rejections. I guess that's not too common, but while it feels good to know they really have read it and liked it enough to comment, the over-achiever can't quit at ALMOST.  

I usually try to have my blog posts come around to some theme, or be conveniently wrapped in a point or two, but just the basics are all I can muster at the moment. I think with blogging, it becomes a slog (hey, that rhymes) and I certainly don't have the time or energy to really compose. But I'm not ready to give this up yet either. I have to learn to let it be mediocre sometimes (or dismally bad?) in order to end up with some gems. 

I don't think this is one of the gems, but I thank you for reading. I'm shooting for 1 post per week - we'll see how it goes :)

Peace,

Jo Taylor