Compromise and Commitment

The winds of change have done their thing once again, sweeping in to propel me in a new direction.  This is my second week back in the working world after a nine month hiatus.  It is an exciting time, but it brings with it the return of the need to maintain proper balance.

The interlude between jobs gave me time to travel with my husband, to connect with friends, and to simply relax.  It allowed me to decompress and to reevaluate my priorities.  It granted me the time to jumpstart the writing that was the missing puzzle piece in my life.  It was a gift.

I must admit that a part of me did not want to return to work.  Another part, however, felt the pull to be back in the workforce and to feel the satisfaction of being productive and meeting goals.  Would I be able to go back to work without giving up the things that had become so important to me?

There are times when we must accept that we need to give up one thing in order to get another, and these times call for compromise.  I could have stayed unemployed for the foreseeable future, but my husband is more comfortable with a second income coming in.  We wanted to expand our travels, and to do so would require a dual-income household.  I craved the rush that comes from contributing to a company’s success, but I did not want to run headlong back into the stress that is an inherent part of my profession.

I had to come up with a compromise that I could live with.  I was not interested in returning to the 40-hour work week (that more often than not turned into the 50-hour plus work week).  I began to search for a part-time position, and I was presented with an opportunity that I could not pass up.  I was hired by a company that places true value on a work/ life balance.  I knew it was a good sign that they did not want their employees working from home after hours or on weekends.

I am now working three days per week.  This allows me to enjoy the fellowship of the office environment while leaving ample time to pursue my other passions.  It feels great to be a part of a team working to exceed production goals.  It also feels great to have a shortened workweek.  It is a compromise I can happily live with.

The new job brings with it a new commitment.  I am dedicated to being a valuable asset to my employers and my co-workers.  In accepting the position I have made a promise to them that I will be a diligent and devoted member of their team.

As I am committed to my job, so must I remain committed to maintaining the promises I have made to myself.  I have vowed to keep up with improving my health by sticking to a six days per week workout schedule, getting enough sleep, and traveling.  I pledge to make my marriage and our joint happiness my number one priority.  I am dedicated to finding an appropriate and manageable balance between work and non work time.

Life is a series of compromises and commitments.  Make sure your compromises do not add up to sacrifices made without return.  Keep your commitments to yourself in the same way that you keep your commitments to others.  Honor the promises that you make to you.

Have you been successful in making compromises?  What commitments are you unwilling to break?  Do you keep promises to yourself?  As always, I welcome and appreciate your comments and feedback!

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