Several months before I met my husband, Dave, I had ended yet another frustrating relationship. My next relationship, I decided, was going to be the final long-term relationship. If in the beginning I recognized the old pattern of feeling that “oh well, everyone has faults”, I would take a step back and examine the relationship. But before I even got in that deep I wanted to set some standards up front, like: has basic manners and uses them frequently, does not have a tobacco habit, is gainfully employed, etc. Using this process worked for me. I didn’t even have to work that hard at sorting through the frogs before I found my prince. If any of the most important criteria was not met, I didn’t get attached so the lesser relationships easily went by the wayside until I met Dave.
Now, as part of my Manifest Destiny or Intentions for 2004, I’m going to set the same kind of criteria for my working life. If I get involved in something, graduate school or otherwise, and the criteria is not met, then it will go in the junk pile and I’ll start over, just like with my relationships in 1999.
Manifest Destiny or Intentions 2004 for My Working Life:
a) I want to be happy to go to work everyday.
b) I require a certain minimum salary that is not huge but must be met.
c) I must feel appreciated for the work I do.
d) The commute must be no longer than one hour, 30 minutes is preferable.
e) I want to feel as though I don’t need to look for another job for a while (a year or two at first) because I feel satisfied with what I’m doing; contentment.
f) I must be challenged but not overwhelmed.
g) I must feel ownership but also feel like I can go home, literally and figuratively.
h) I must have time and energy for my outside interests.
There. Now go out to the Universe and Make It So.