I did something bad the day before. I let other people's success and happiness be a stumbling block to my joy. I slipped into the cavernous wormholes of Facebook and started creeping on people from my past. They seem to be very happy, fulfilled, successful individuals and instead of stopping at being happy for them, I progressed to being discomfited for myself. 

Go back to 10/20/2011 - my life was very much the same.

Go back to 10/20/2010 - ditto

Go back to 10/20/2009 - same

Go back to 10/20/2008 - setting up for the same

I've done some great things in the last four years and progressed a lot in certain aspects, but the one that got me down the other day was more of a professional dilemma.

"Whatever our vocation, we should be sweetened, not hardened."

A couple of years ago I heard a talk by Neal A. Maxwell and in it he said, "Whatever our vocation, we should be sweetened, not hardened." I had become a robotic employee, only concerned with my own responsibilities and not very enthusiastic for venturing out of that realm. I listened to that statement and decided it was just for me. I took an active role in my team position and felt a difference in my satisfaction in a day well spent.

Today, and if I'm being honest for the last year, it doesn't seem like enough. I'm a year away from a teaching credential I don't desire, if the requirements remain the same; four years with a company that has been relatively good to me; and ten years with a boss who challenges and tries me, and generously compensates my time.

There's my professional state of the unit ( me ) address. I'm still figuring it out and some days I wish someone would just tell me "you're supposed to do this", but in the meantime I'm taking it day by day. I hope to be able to update this post soon with some kind of resolution, but until that time...

Sweet by and by.