Finding your calling, and then some

Be regular & orderly in your life, so that you may be violent & original in your work. 

- Gustave Flaubert

I love that quote, always have. I am just now starting to see, however, that there is a distinction made between "life" and "work", as if the two circles don't quite link together... and I'm not sure how I feel about that. That's beside the point, however, as I am here to share with you this amazingly wonderful news:

I think I've found my calling.
(I'll give you a couple seconds to get the laughter out.)

Go ahead. Take your time.

Have you heard of the term "clicktivism"? Basically, it's the idea that one engages in activism by sharing something online - so, every time you click 'Share' on a political photo on Facebook, you are, essentially, becoming a clicktivist. You could also argue that it's an example of slacktivism, and I wouldn't necessarily try to stop you. Before my inbox is flooded with hate-mail, note that I don't see anything inherently wrong with either of the cutesy-termed categories as, really, at least something is happening. Some message is being spread... just not enough to make an actual difference.

When cheering for a cause is cooler than serving the cause.

Then there's "creative activism", where the aim is to explore and encourage creativity as a means to promote citizen activism. A lot of times, it employs the same tactics as click-and-share methods or petition signing, but never does it stop there. Some of the objectives of a creative activist (and one group, specifically), include:
* Humanitarian Outreach
* Neighborhood Crime Watch
* Urban Exploration

* Empowerment and Awareness Outreach
* Specific Operations
* Law Enforcement Support
* Environmental Outreach
* Community Emergency Response

... notice a difference?

...

Going back to the quote for a minute, I think I see some room for interpretation. Remember how I wasn't too sure how I felt about the distinction between "life" and "work"? I think that's a true statement, that the two things are distinctly different and separate entities... until you find your calling. Your calling is that place where your regular, orderly life collides with the violent originality of your work, forming something so uniquely balanced that the merge between "life" and "work" is made without any effort on your part. That's how I'm feeling about what I've found.

Can it sound any more New Age, hippies-are-attacking-at-dawn, hide-your-patchoulie? Probably... but, even as-is, I don't care. After having bounced around in the career field, going to school, starting a family and dropping an entire human's-size of weight, I've found something that allows me to make a difference in a way that encourages me to be myself... that challenges me to improve, constantly, and without excuses... that connects me to people across the country... and that, yeah, may let me indulge my crazy writing/social networking/self-defense/badass obsession just a wee bit.

I don't know how this will shape up, other than me being drawn in more and more. I don't know what kind of impact this will have on my children, other than knowing it WILL have an impact on my children. 

I don't know how this will frame the rest of my life, only that I'm excited to let it do just that.

Perks of Working Downtown - The Series

If you have met me, you will have undoubtedly been presented with my love of all things Seattle. I have, on occasion, made such proclamations as "I'd marry it if I could", "Is it possible to make love to a city?", and "Mmm, Seattle". It's safe to say that I, Krystal Bishop, am a Seattlephile.

On my way back from lunch a scant four minutes ago, my nutrient-starved brain started making a list of all the things I love about working downtown. Oh, sure... there are pages and lists galore online touting the many amazing reasons why one should visit downtown Seattle (most not moving past Pike Place Market, the Space Needle/Seattle Center/EMP, and the Ducks)... but where's the love for Seattle's faithful proletariat?

It's here.

Perks of Working Downtown - #1:
This one may/should be obvious, but the close proximity to and and everything is kind of key here. Whether it's food you need or errands that won't wait, the convenience factor is HIGH.

Maybe it's the nice li'l flood of endorphins talking (hello... desk job!), but I am one happy girl.

I mean, come on, we have our own VILLAIN.