Personal Updates for March 7, 2021

In this post, I have updates about my exercise, job search, and spring.

My Exercise

I have met my exercise goals for 269 consecutive days. While I’m proud of that accomplishment, I know I need to start adding more anaerobic exercise and strength training to my routine. My body feels like it may be getting too used to the longer cardio.

I also think it’s time for me to settle on daily goals that are a bit harder to meet. Since I want to accomplish my goals every day, I have to up my goals with the understanding that life will not always allow for an hour of exercise. So, I’m thinking I need an easier daily goal and a harder weekly goal. The weekly goal will be an average. That way, if life prevents me from doing as much as I would like on a certain day, I can make it up on another day that week. I don’t yet know what the daily and weekly goals will look like, but I have it in my mind to decide this week.

My Job Search

I applied for a job as an auditor for Multnomah County and another as a deputy ombudsman for the City of Portland. I’m intrigued by both possibilities, because I believe external accountability is a critical piece of making government more responsive to those it serves. My personal experience has taught me that my sadly unique experience as a government employee with a disability gives me a different lens through which I often view government’s work.

On a personal note, I think either job fits my personality better than my current job. By nature, I need to be getting things done. I try to take pride in my work, and I want things to work. In that way, being able to propose suggestions to solve problems of government not working would make me happy.

I’m also interested in these positions because I believe it would be good for my career to have a job that doesn’t directly relate to the field of disability. I feel bad saying that. I know there is a real need for competent professionals in the field of compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. But I also know there is a real danger of people with disabilities being stereotyped into disability work. Sometimes, I get a painful feeling when I tell someone what I do that they decide my work isn’t surprising to them. They can’t imagine me doing something outside the field of disability. I know this shouldn’t bother me. Most of the time it doesn’t, but there are times when being judged and stereotyped hurts.

There is also the real issue of a lack of career opportunity in the disability field. Given the lack of commitment to follow the law, there are very few jobs in the disability field. In too many instances, the jobs that are available come with too little authority to be effective. The lack of opportunity means there are real limits on me if I continue in the disability field for the rest of my career.

Maybe I’m being overly hopeful or naive, but part of me thinks having a job outside of the disability field could make it easier for me to eventually get one of the rare jobs in the disability field that would actually empower me to make the kind of difference I know I can make and that I know needs to be made.

I’m just going to take this one day at a time. I will keep looking for jobs, applying for ones that seem good, both in and out of the disability field, and evaluate any opportunity that comes my way. No matter what, I know there is much more out there for me than I have now.

Spring

I am so excited by the weather slowly improving. I’m able to play basketball much more often now. I love listening to baseball, shooting baskets, and hearing the birds under a warm sun. For me, this activity is truly one of the best. I can’t wait for even better weather. The first day we hit 70 is always a highlight for me. And, of course, I will be taking Opening Day of the baseball season off from work to celebrate a new season.

Hope you are Well

That’s what I have for now. I hope you are hanging in there and that things are looking up for you too.