I’m sipping a hot cup of coffee from my favorite mug. My house’s temperature has dropped to a chill factor that requires socks, flannel, and chunky sweaters. This is perfect contemplation weather.

I haven’t written in a while, but it’s not for lack of trying. I’ve thought of posts on the commute and have actually started writing a few when my carpool allowed me to ride. I just didn’t feel the right inspiration for the writing to be any good.

Work has tried my patience lately. I’m not loving what I’m doing like I have in the past. However, I have been making a concerted effort to do my best even though the situation isn’t perfect. Yesterday, I worked for 12 hours straight with one quick break to grab lunch and take it to my desk. Late in the day, the work rose to a fever pitch as a small group of us prepared for an inspection. If you’ve never been involved with this kind of prep, it’s the same in every industry: everyone involved knows they’re doing a good job, yet everyone starts to overthink and panic a little.

Everything went wrong for our group. The power went out in our work area, but several of us had work that had to be finished that day. We crowded into a conference room and lined up our computers to keep working. The stress level was high and it was hard for the group to stay civil, even though on a normal day we work together like clockwork. Several times we laughed (tensely) that there was a whole room full of people who didn’t want to be there.

I was the last to leave; I didn’t want to have to rush around Monday morning. I have been pretty down at work for a few weeks and it culminated in the rough day yesterday. Then a funny thing happened.

As I walked through the long hallways to my car, it was completely quiet. It was almost eight o’clock in the evening and the sun was all but gone. I had almost completely missed a party that was thrown by some good friends. I had lots of reason to feel bitter about work…but I didn’t. I absolutely love the company for whom I work and I believe in our mission. So many of the people who were there today were not just hard workers but truly great people, a lot of whom I consider friends. Some friends from a different department grabbed a beer after work and texted me several times to ask me to join them. I couldn’t make it, but it felt good to be asked. Sure, I could be mad that I couldn’t go, but I guess I’m more glad that they wanted my company!

It was an odd feeling to want to feel mad and to instead experience a quiet satisfaction. I’m so glad to work for such a good corporation…in the company of friends.