#26 - Have the option to work from home

In my top 100 list, just after my #25 blog goal is this one. Looking back at 2020 and how the workplace has shifted it would stand to reason that I didn't dream very big when making this list. But in the interest of remaining true to writing about what's there, I'll keep it as it is listed - for now.

Up until two months ago with my part-time contracting, I've never worked from home. I've had the occasional work from home day, taking early or late calls from the house thanks to a laptop and cellphone, but despite being centered in cloud technology, I've never officially been considered "work from home". With the 'rona, many people who still have a job and aren't in the service industry or healthcare are working remotely from home. Will this trend last? I don't know. But I do know that it's on my list for reasons other than a pandemic. It represents a lot more to me than avoidance and fear.

The social side of me thrives in a face-to-face relational environment. Getting up in the morning to get dressed and ready for my day, packing lunches, dropping the kids off to school, driving in to the office, constructing 'to do' lists while in traffic, all of that routine provided comfort to my [Enneagram] "6" self that I felt like I needed in my day. And yet all it takes is one day of rain and the backup from traffic accidents to make me angry and remind me that I am losing two hours every single morning on tasks that are merely pomp and circumstance. And that's not counting the trip home, child care arrangements, kid activities, dinner planning, and all other things that come into play on a regular day. The proverbial hamster wheel kept me exhausted and burning the candle at both ends. (Why on Earth did I think that was providing a sense of normalcy??)

Then in March, all that stopped. It stopped so suddenly it felt like crashing into a brick wall at 90 mph. I don't know about you, but I'm not really a "cold turkey" kind of person. Apparently 2020 didn't get that memo.

If you are a regular reader you already know all this. So get to the point already Laura! After 8 months of being unemployed and my part-time contract work ending, I am as thrilled as a pig in mud to tell you that I accepted an offer from a Top 5 software company! And I'm as happy as a clam to be able to also say that the position is remote and I'll be working from home!

This new position represents quite a bit for me personally. First and foremost, it demonstrates God's timely provision to me in a very real and tangible way. Second, having learned a few lessons this summer, I was firm in the hiring process about my priorities and goals and am joining a team that respects boundaries and truly advocates for each other. Third, having been humbled this year, I am thrilled that my new position is at an enterprise level for the company, which is quite a jump up from my last position.

Wanting to work from home isn't a culmination of laziness and reclusive tendencies. It represents an opportunity to shed the excess from my life and zero in on my priorities. I no longer have to worry if my babysitter will show up on time or that the dogs are spending too much time kenneled. I don't have to plan dinner the night before. Traffic isn't a concern any more, nor is my huge stack of clothes to be ironed. The guilt of only spending two to three hours a day with my kids during the week is significantly lessened.

Is life still going to be busy and full? Yes. Will work still demand top performance from me? Yes. Will I still need to prioritize my time and say no to some things? You betcha. Am I more accessible to my kids? YES! Will we now get to eat dinner before 7p? I certainly hope so. Do I feel less anxiety on a daily basis? 100%. Will I need to make adjustments in my day to accommodate the isolation of working from home? Of course. Are life priorities more in line with where they should be? Absofreakinglutely.

The wilderness is where God shapes us. It is intentional. Victory in the wilderness comes through God’s strength as we act in dependence on Him. May I continue in this next season with acknowledgement of where the glory and honor belongs. May I remain grounded in who I am from God's perspective. Most importantly, may it offer tangible evidence for a down payment in a future season of trusting in God's provision when He is silent but not absent.