If You Believe it…You can Achieve it

Working full time isn’t the easiest thing to do if you have lupus, MS, or any number of chronic diseases. I have my good days, and I have my bad days.

Thankfully, thankfully, thankfully, my job gives me the flexibility to work from home; I do so about twice a week.

When you feel like you’re working super hard just to get by…but then someone sees your hard work and recognizes you for it…it’s better than amazing. This especially rings true when you’re being recognized based on your hard work, and not based on the fact that you managed to accomplish something WHILE managing a chronic illness.

The company that I work for recognizes certain people every quarter based on nominations from others, including managers, colleagues, etc.

I’ve been with this same company for nearly 15 years. I’ve won this award once (when i won,  it as a team award…I’ve never been recognized by myself).

It may not be a big thing for all people, but it was a big thing for me. What made it even better was the fact that I received phone calls and emails from several of my HR colleagues congratulating me. It’s like they knew that this award meant so much to me.

One of the great things about winning this award is the fact that it qualifies me to win the annual award, which is a trip to a tropical location with several other winners. I hope I win; a trip to a tropical location in the middle of winter is always welcome (the trip takes place in January).

I won this award because I was basically doing two jobs for a while: my old job plus my new one. When I got a new role, my old position experienced a loss and was therefore in a bit of trouble; that role was a busy one.

I did one job in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

Someone new was hired, but she had a previously booked vacation. I abandoned my new role for a week and worked in my old role full time to ensure that they had coverage.

I then spent a few weeks going back and forth between locations, cross training the new person that was hired (and another person that was subsequently hired).

It was definitely difficult for me to run up and down to different buildings while lugging my laptop around, but everyone in both environments were so appreciative and helpful, so it was definitely worth it.

I’ll of course post another update when the time comes to see if I won the trip. At the end of the day, though, it really isn’t about the trip. What matters most is the fact that I am doing something that I love…and getting recognized for it is just a bonus.