september 7

i love my work ethic.
this may come as a surprise to people who laugh at state workers, but i really am a hardworking person. when i put my mind to something, i give it my all. when i was pregnant, i took a class and studied hard to do well on the promotional exam. i took it 7 months pregnant, and despite the many bathroom breaks, i ended up doing extremely well thanks to the work i put in.
since i got promoted last winter, i have been very motivated, working extra hard to make a good impression and build a name for myself. i stay late at work most nights that i don't have my daughter, and i volunteer for new assignments. i take the stress and pressure in stride, and use it to my advantage. i thrive on the challenges. plus, it feels good to prove some of my naysayers wrong.
lately, i have been instrumental in training staff in my office in our new system, and just put the finishing touches on a new accounting manual for staff. this week alone i've heard "nice job" from my boss's boss twice, and "thank you" from my own boss several times. it feels good to know that my hard work is paying off. not just in how i feel now, but in building a future for me and most importantly, my daughter. i'm laying the groundwork now, for future promotions. everything i do now will only bring good things for us in the future.
at one point, the naive girl i was thought most people were like that - hard working, reliable,  motivated - and i was nothing special. but i know better now. i've learned the hard way there are lazy people in this world, who want to get as much handed to them as possible, who only take and contribute nothing, who have no desire to make anything out of themselves or their lives.
i'm proud that i'm not like that. i'm proud that i'm setting a good example for my daughter. i love that about myself.