The past couple of weeks have been somewhat of a blur. I began my new journey getting oriented and settled in my new position. For the next few weeks I'll be continuing to train and gradually work my way into the job itself, but I'm really loving it so far. My new employer is really employee centered and treats associates so well. Facilities resemble a large mall or airport terminal with cavernous and soaring spaces, escalators, shops and cafes lining the concourse. It's not really like being at work actually, but more like being part of a small city. There is a lot of walking so my level of physical activity has dramatically increased. There is also no smoking anywhere on campus so I'm going about nine hours without a single cigarette and doing pretty well at it. Both of these things are certainly good for me. I've even joined the on site fitness center so I can start doing treadmill sessions. I'm not in any condition yet for P90X or anything like that, but I really want to try and get a lot more walking in as a start anyway. They are so accommodating and make it easy for people to take advantage of all they offer, even providing workout clothes in all sizes so folks don't need to carry their own to and from work. They take care of laundering and sterilizing them so there are fewer excuses not to at least do some kind of activity. Fitness center membership is very inexpensive and handled through payroll deduction, but even that is refunded up to 75% depending on how often you go. Two guys from my orientation class want to be workout buddies so we can keep each other accountable and encouraged. These are just some of the positive changes going on in my life. It's so great to have these opportunities that make it so easy to actually do it. Cutting way back on smoking and getting on a regular exercise regimen can only bring great benefits compared to the lifestyle I have been living for so long. The food options at work are so much more healthy as well with lots of salads, sushi and freshly made subs. I've been eating so much more regularly and better since I started that I've even seen significant improvement in my blood sugar levels as well. My doctors will be so happy with me when I follow up with them. Hell, they may even jump for joy! Perhaps I'll even get to the point of reducing my dependence on diet soda too, but I just can't take on everything at once.
As rough as the road to recovery has been, I can't help but believe that everything in life happens for a reason. As much as I enjoyed and valued my time at American Express, circumstances all the way around led me to explore options and get into a much better situation. Improvements have not only been healthful but also financial, which is allowing me to get back on my feet more quickly than I could have hoped for. I still have a way to go but I'm much more optimistic about the future and have a lot to look forward to! I'm also going to be in a much better place in the fall that will allow me to get back to school and start working toward my Master's degree. There seem to be many opportunities and significant potential for professional growth, development and advancement as well, so as I further my education I will be an a good position to move up in the organization. While it will be a long road ahead, I really want to eventually complete two programs. The first will be in communication at Purdue and then I hope to go on and complete my MBA with a concentration in project management. The combination of the two will allow me to get into some of the things I really want to explore in my career. And to top off all of these improvements in my life, my overall mood has been elevated and my level of depression and hopelessness has really decreased to a point that it is more than manageable. I haven't been able to do as much writing as I would like, but I do plan to stick with it moving forward. I imagine once I add school to the mix I'll be doing a lot more academic writing, but I still hope to keep up at least on an occasional basis with my blogging. Fall will be full of time consuming activities because on top of full time work and school it's also football season. I'm going to have to get used to multitasking and doing all I've committed to while keeping up with both college and pro ball. I still have the summer to settle fully into my job to a point that I can successfully take on the extra educational burdens. Feeling both physically and mentally better and stronger, with a huge boost in stamina, certainly makes life more full and enjoyable. I've finally achieved that sense of normalcy I've been working toward. It's come with a whole lot more than I ever expected but I'm not complaining at all since I'm enjoying and savoring every minute of it!
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