August 19, 2015

Up even earlier today, because I had to meet Susan and Janette at Starbucks in Placerville for a ride to Sac State for our team building event at Peak Adventures.  Elena was there, just after me, but I thought Supervision-type stuff would take place on the way there, and while it wasn’t necessarily group supervision,  I was still able to glean information from the discussion.  Getting to Sac State was easy – finding the right area in which to park was not.  We did end up parking on a lot across the campus, but this is simply extra cardio – right?

The team building began right away with some really fun and mind-boggling (for me, it involved knowing the difference between your left and your right hand) exercises.  This was a great way to begin the day and also to build and create more team unity amongst us – although, this work site already has an incredible group of like-minded people who support each other through some pretty gnarly (to use a Californian term…I’m trying to fit in) stuff.  We lunched, where I had the pleasure of getting to know even more of my co-workers better.  It is so nice sitting around being able to focus on one another and relax.

After lunch the first exercise was interesting:  A triangle of cones, representing different cones and asking where we felt we stood – relationships, process, or goals.  Initially, I placed myself between relationships and process, since I feel relationships are so very important to me, but then, after listening to Jen and Darryl speak, I realized, no…relationships, though very special to me, are also something that I am comfortable with the way I currently have them…my children, a few close-ish friends, and many acquaintances.  I do not need a best friend.  I do not need a partner.  I am happy.  I am content on my own and have finally, finally, finally reached that point in which I know I will be super happy if my life continues as it is.  This was a very poignant exercise for me with a nice revelation.  EVENTUALLY, it was time for climbing!  I was looking forward to the rock wall, but then…then we were told that if we wanted to we could do the trapeze jump.  This is a jump I did decades (26 years ago) ago at a ropes course in Colorado with Young Life (which is, interestingly enough,  the same camp in which I got higher than a kite and also was “saved”  by dedicating my life to Jesus) but I couldn’t reach the trapeze.  It was, needless to say, a time of great conflict in my life.  THIS time, I want to reach that trapeze – no pot, no help from Jesus,  just JUUUMMMPPPP.  Well.  Climbing the 40 (possibly 50 feet, but no more than 150 feet, I promise)foot tree was easy-peasy, but walking the last foot of that plank, looking across to the trapeze, FEELING my legs <below the knee> shaking was nuts.  Eventually I started a backwards from 5 countdown and then screamed “OOONNNEEE!!!!” as I jumped.  It is a 7 foot space.  I’m not sure I can jump 7 feet on the ground but I felt bad for not reaching that damned trapeze again.  It’s ok, though.  I’ll keep trying.  And I did something during zip lining which was close to this…just can’t remember what.

As a closing exercise, we had to tell the person whose name we had drawn something positive we noticed about them during the day.  I drew Elena, who is one of the most inspiring and real people I have ever met.  I was able to see her give positive statements to many, affirming people constantly.  She is such a solid person with so much to give.  The person who drew my name was my sweet supervisor, Susan, who has found such a home in my heart.  She said the kindest things about me, that I was in my element, that I pushed myself, that I wasn’t afraid to try…oh, if she only knew how very afraid I often am!  But see, to me, failure is always an option, but not trying isn’t.  I headed home with Janette and we had an incredible discussion.  This is why she, Dr. Weber and I will make such a great softball team for Bradman University:  She’ll cheer, Weber will coach and I will do the soft balling.  What a minute….That sounds bad.  

I was in gym-ish clothes, so I headed in and got going, but my body is tight and sore from yesterday (my biggest burn day yet) and I was un-motivated.  Jake and I are meeting tomorrow, so I finished about half of my workout and left.  I saw Elliott and said hi to him, asked how he was doing.  I smiled at him and he said something sweet to me.  Huh….  I wonder if he remembers me from the other day (I’m not clear on the state of his psychotic break/dissociative amnesia and/or where he is, cognitively).  I will continue to talk to him and see him…  I am interested in these guys who have lost touch with what we see as reality.  Home…a long day, but one of the most beautiful I have had in a long time.  It is truly good to finally be working in a spot where I feel I am doing what I’m supposed to be doing and with people I am learning from.  I love this.

Pictures:  Some of the New Morning people I have the honor of working with;  Sac State, home of Peak Adventures.  I love college campuses.  I really miss being on one <she says, not even finished with the last degree>; Sap (on my boob, of course) from climbing the 40 foot tree; A sweet, sweet post my friend Rachel posted and I adore it!  Must frame and bring to work.