Faith poster at work – the saga continues. I finally spoke up!

Work has been strange this week. It’s been busy, and I’m a little stressed and emotional.

On Monday, my supervisor asked me to take a survey online. I had no idea what it was about, but to my surprise, it was about diversity in our workplace. Religion was mentioned several times in the survey, and I was brutally honest.

I finished the survey and broke into tears. My boss asked me what was wrong, and I didn’t hold back. I told her I felt ostracized, and I complained about the faith poster in the mailroom as well as our organization’s obsession with Chic-fil-A. 

When it came to the poster, my boss and I agreed that it is okay to have a religious poster in your cubicle, where you can see it, but placing a religious poster in the mailroom where everyone can see it is inappropriate. I felt empowered and validated.

However, the poster was still there when I came to work this morning. No one was around, so I took it down myself. It felt like an amazing release. I told my boss I did it. She didn’t seem upset, but she did ask me if anyone saw me. I said, “Nope.”

Turns out the survey was done by a third party, and my organization hired a diversity professional to help us out with our workplace environment. There are going to be focus groups and training in the near future.

The comments. The Bible quotes. So much happens at work that makes me uncomfortable, but could change be on the horizon? Are improvements possible? For once, I’m hopeful.

Maybe this was a breakthrough, and I’m finally finding my voice.

This experience inspired my art today, and I made this mask at work.

Some people I just can’t be mad at. How would you respond?

A coworker quoted the bible to me a few days ago. We were having a very vague conversation about politics and I admitted to her that I don’t feel like a democrat or a republican. I just don’t fit with either. (If you’re curious, I tend to be very progressive and wish we didn’t have a two-party system. We need better choices! I didn’t tell her that though.) She agreed with not fitting in and said a bible quote about unity, and while I agreed with the quote, I really don’t think it should be said at work. Guys, she even said, “god sayeth…”. This is a common occurrence at work, and it often enrages me. However, this coworker really is the sweetest lady. She’s very short and very pregnant right now. She’s just an adorable little meatball. She wasn’t pushy about the bible quote, and it made sense with what we were talking about, so I said nothing. I know this shouldn’t be happening at work. We probably shouldn’t have discussed politics even though it was very vague.

I know nothing will change if I don’t open my mouth, but I just can’t be mad at her. Guys, what if she was the one who hung up the faith poster?

Have you ever had that happen? When you want to be offended by someone saying inappropriate things, but at the same time it feels harmless? Maybe it was harmless, but at the same time, it reminded me of how out of place I feel at the office sometimes. I love my job, but I’m definitely uncomfortable around my coworkers at times. It shouldn’t happen, but it does.

Would you have said anything?

Art Shows!

I was in an art contest and the results were posted today. You can check out the show here. The show received 949 submissions and I am absolutely honored to receive special recognition.

I’ve been a little bummed because the same two pieces of mine keep getting accepted into shows. I was losing a little confidence and thinking I was never going to get any better. But I got into a show called Tears and Smiles, and I am so excited that one of my weirder pieces that’s never been in a show before was accepted! It opens on the 12th and I will post the link once it’s up.

Thanks for your support! 🙂

“Faith” poster at work

Do you remember that “faith” poster at my work? I haven’t complained and it’s still up.

 

I was so annoyed I made another poster after considering all of your suggestions.

 

Beer and weed weren’t an option since many of the people we help at my organization are dealing with addiction. I thought the ice cream was cute!

I am so tempted to post this next to the original poster, but I chicken out every time! Will I get in trouble? Maybe people will just think it’s cute? Does it get the point across?

More Art Shows!

Yes, I know; it’s a flower show, but two of my pieces got in! They sent me the plaque posted above. I was also really impressed with the other artists. You can see the show here.

 

I also got into a show that opens July 5th. I will post the link once it’s up.

 

After my rough day yesterday, I was thrilled to wake up to an email saying I was accepted into a show! Whew! Today’s a new day! Thank you so much for your support!

What do you do when you have a rough day?

Today has been a rough day.

I had a couple of bad dreams last night so I was already on edge this morning. My dreams always feel so real. I tried to shake it off and go about my day.

I dropped off my daughter at STEAM camp, and as we were walking through the parking lot, a car almost hit us. I went into full momma bear mode and LOST MY SHIT. I screamed at the lady driving. My daughter truly looked scared. I’m normally a pretty cheerful person so seeing me angry is out of the ordinary for her. 

I walked my daughter into the school and quickly left. I burst into tears in the car. I felt so horrible.

I was terrified of my dad growing up because he was always so angry. He wasn’t around much, but when he was, we were walking on eggshells trying not to upset him. I don’t ever want my daughter to be scared of me.

I called my husband at work crying, and he actually used comp time to take the rest of the day off and spend time with me. Did I ever mention I have the best husband in the world?

One brief moment of losing my cool reminded me of all the baggage I carry. Something that happened so long ago just resurfaced. Have you ever had a moment like that?

In one of my scary dreams last night, I left work for my lunch break and it was pitch black out at three in the afternoon. This morning it stormed and got very dark. My husband jokingly asked me if my dream was prophetic. 

Tonight I see myself having a conversation with my daughter about what happened and then lots of meditating to hopefully recenter myself. Here’s hoping for a better day tomorrow.

Do you have any tips for calming yourself down and focusing on the present?

A new job has me feeling anxious.

I’m finally in a place health-wise where I can take on a little more. I’ve been looking for a second job to work nights and weekends, and I’ve found one!

I had a job interview Monday and was hired on the spot. I will be working at an arts and crafts store starting in July. I’m very excited!

But also nervous. When you start a new job, you usually don’t know who you’ll be working with. I hope my supervisor and coworkers are nice.

I always feel like I have so much to hide when I first meet people. I’m an atheist with schizoaffective disorder.

I’ve worked in the mental health field for the past seventeen years, so when I talk about having schizoaffective disorder, for the most part, my coworkers and supervisors have been understanding. 

Working outside of mental health, I feel like people will doubt my abilities if I come right out with it, so I’m going to keep it on a need-to-know basis. I don’t anticipate any problems as I’ve been doing really well, but if it becomes an issue I will be honest.

Then there’s the atheism. I just don’t talk about it. I’m just hoping I don’t have to tolerate too much religion in the workplace like I sometimes do at my current job. (At least I’m not working at Hobby Lobby!)

It might seem a little surprising, but where I live, I would rather tell people that I’m mentally ill than an atheist. People seem to be more understanding about schizoaffective disorder because it’s obviously not a choice.

In my dream world, I would become so comfortable at the arts and crafts store that I can truly be myself, but in reality, I am going in with my guard up.

Any words of advice?

On a side note…one huge perk to my new job is the thirty percent employee discount! Imagine how much I will save on all the art supplies I buy!

I’m doing well and god had nothing to do with it!

I feel like I’m starting a new chapter in life. For the past couple of days, I’ve been completely pain-free. I’m not tired, I’m not sore, and I feel really good. 

And I have a job interview next week!

This weekend we are having a garage sale. Our house has been so cluttered. It’s stifling. It feels so good to be getting rid of so much stuff! With everything we’ve been going through, it almost feels symbolic. Out with the old, in with the new!

I’ve been through so much shit the past couple of years, and things are finally looking up. I appreciate all the people who said they were praying for me, but god had nothing to do with it. I’m giving myself credit. I pulled through.

Humans are resilient creatures. We need to give ourselves credit. I’d love to hear some stories! What have you overcome in life? Let’s give ourselves a pat on the back! We made it!