Same Glass, Two Sides

When asked how many sides a circle has, a concrete thinker would say that is has none. An abstract thinker would say "two, an inside and an outside." What about a glass. Unlike the circle, it definitely has a top and a bottom, and an inside and an outside. But the abstract thinker can also apply the half full, half empty cliché and reason that the person observing the glass can see one side or the other. Therefore, it must have those two sides as well. I kind of feel like that glass today.

I have been working since May at a new job. The good news is that I have been working since May. As far as self-esteem goes, it is far better to be employed. The hours are limited. So I only need to work forty-three hours each week. This allows ample time to pursue that elusive degree that is hindering my upward mobility. The bad news is that the pay is less than half of what I used to make. When transferring to another job, there is probably going to be a depreciation in value. The corollary to that is that the work is half as challenging. Subsequently, the sense of purpose one would hope to achieve by gaining employment has been marginalized significantly. I went from organizing financing, project management, and vendor relations with over 200 vendors to cutting plywood, managing equipment maintenance and doing quality inspections. I went from a self managed position to working for a micromanager who changes his mind just to sound important. As a final downer, I must seek alternative employment, if at all, in the Charlotte area. Moving to another town would mean

But I encourage myself with the knowledge that as of December 2009, I will have earned that degree. That is my inspiration. It has to be. With a full time job and three classes, there is no time for anything else.