To know what a good day is to you, it helps to know who you are, and what you value.

I’m not a real big believer in “quizzes”, those online personality tests that tell you you’re Harry Potter vs Snape, Riker vs Picard, etc.  But there is value in some of them, if they elucidate you better to yourself.

Consider the Five Love Languages, https://smile.amazon.com/Love-Languages-Secret-that-Lasts/dp/080241270X and likely available at your local library.  With the handful of people I love most, mine is quality time.  For the rest of the world, it’s acts of service – volunteering in the community (planting trees, picking up trash, tasks at the library, setting and tearing down curling club ice or kayak race courses or science fairs), serving on boards, helping people move, refilling the printer paper, bringing friends flowers from my yard or homemade birthday cake.

If you aren’t getting enough of these important-to-you  things in your life, you feel flat and unengaged.  School teaches our kids the language of emotional “buckets”, and needing to keep your bucket from getting empty.

You may have encountered at one time or another the job interview question “How would your best friend describe you?”.  Given how my time is primarily spent, as a highly analytical professional, I thought that would at least enter into my best friend’s description of me when I asked them that question.  Nope.  Nor parent, outside fanatic, or many of the other things I expected.  Their description of me was short and sweet:  “You’re a helper and a teacher”.

That’s it? “Just” that?

But then again…

With that in mind, consider my day today:

First, I had someone show up at my office with problems from the rolling software upgrades that were plaguing everyone.  With a background as a student Linux system admin, and more IT-type experience than many in my area, and a willingness to help without criticism, I tend to be the go-to person on my floor for computer issues.  A short discussion, and then I was sending screen-shot supported, step by step directions on the suggestion I had.

Then to the research help desk. My schedule there is booked a month out; but holes in the rest of the schedule exist as early as next week. I’m a popular consultant.

At the research help desk, I had 2 repeat clients today.  Both of whom I’d explained to in the past that they don’t have to come see me for future visits, nobody’s feelings will be hurt and I know schedules are limited.  But they were both back for me, and both said on their way out that if they had any more questions, they’d make another appointment to see me.  They left looking relaxed and confident, which is a far cry from most clinician’s demeanors when dealing with research.

Back at my desk, another research help desk consultant stopped by with questions, a former mentee confident I could answer the multiple questions their client consultation had raised.  And indeed, I could and happily did.

For me, it was a pretty good day!

…

And then the migraine hit.  Ah well, can’t win them all.