Self-Esteem, Anyone?

What makes you feel good about yourself? Is it when you've worked out hard, and have that satisfied feeling of sore-but-well-used muscles? Is it when you finish a project at work? When your house is un-cluttered and clean? When you finally lost those last ten pounds? For me, it can be any of the above. Though I'm just recovering enough orthopedically to do stairs, that by itself is not really a workout. I lost my job a while back. My house, though less cluttered than before, is still cluttered, and I can't lose weight because I destroyed my metabolism in college (see Careless Words if you're curious).   I have to look elsewhere for that feeling. I found it today.

The Engineer's mother and I do share some common traits, though we are very, very different people. Right now she's recovering from a devastating injury (and is a very private person so that's all I'll say about it). This event has her limited in mobility and stamina. I'm taking care of her in a way that I'm probably the only family member with the time (and experience) to do so.

As catch up for new followers, (Hi!! I tried to make it around to all of you! What an exciting weekend!) I worked as an office manager at a very small manufacturing firm where there were eleven employees, and I was the only female. It was heaven. However, all good things (at least this is what I've found in my life) soon come to an end and they kicked me out the door. (If you'd like that story, see  Abrupt U-Turn)  After three years there, I'd learned some serious accounting skills, how to multi-task even further than what's required for being a mom, and the pleasure of all the ducks in a row, everything accounted for, and no mistakes. Ha. But at least some of those skills are now showing themselves to quite helpful.

The Boss has done the books for The Advocate's law firm for 26 years. Right now it's not just month end, and quarter end, it's also year-end. Lots of paperwork, lots of accounting to catch up on. She needs help. My help. I'm finally using what I learned, and for something so satisfying. So it's grinning ear to ear that I push publish and head off to accounting land again.

I'll repeat my original question: What makes you feel good about yourself?