It’s still travel season. Were you wondering?
This travel season has been longer than usual, but I’ve enjoyed being out on the road. When I think about each of my job responsibilities — traveling, reviewing applications, planning events, working with tour guides, etc. — I think about how fortunate I am to have a job I love so much and so completely. But travel, although exhausting, has to be pretty high up there.
I feel like I’ve lost a lot this year, but I’m overwhelmed by how much I’ve gained this year. I have a great group of friends with whom I travel. These are friendships I cherish. They understand the demands of this job and are full of professional advice, but more importantly, they are outstanding people and friends.
When I first took my job, I had a very close knit group of coworkers whom I adored. During my first year at this job, I met one of my best friends working in that office; this best friend ultimately introduced me to some of my other darling friends, and I am thankful. After my incredibly, um, challenging first year out of college, it was a relief to have a happy, fun-filled year with people I adored.
It didn’t last, as y’all know, and I inherited a different group of coworkers. Don’t get me wrong: I love this group of people, but when you get to work with your best friend, nothing will compare — even when you have great coworkers. I got ridiculously spoiled during my first year, and two years later, I still miss those friendships. But for everything I thought I’ve lost (or misplaced, really, because I am still friends with these people), I have gained with my road friends.
Can someone remind me of this when I start being whiny and ungrateful again?
