Well that interview went extremely well and we’re working together on terms of an offer.  It looks like this will be it, after nearly a decade, 15 layoffs and two mergers I’ll be departing.  I’m real interested to see how the new management will handle my departure.  Will they kick me out the door with nothing or let me finish my notice time.  We’ll see.

This is the right thing for my family and myself.  The terms of the offer may not be exactly what I envisioned, but it doesn’t matter.  The courage to be happy is what matters.  The terms will not hurt my family and the intangibles make up the difference.  I will be more productive at work and more importantly happier at home.

After everything I’ve been through over the last 4-5 years I feel like I’m finally getting to a place where I can be happy.  But I’m also waiting for the other shoe to drop (that’s my nature).

I’ve taken on a new mantra, Find the courage to be happy. Can’t say I came up with it, I heard it on the HBO series “Tell me you love me”.

I’ve internalized it to mean that I need to find a way to remove distractions in my life and make myself happy, thereby making my family (immediate and extended) happy. To that end I’m going to undertake the search for a new job. This current one is not making me happy on a variety of levels; Commute, direction and lack of involvement to name a few. I really, truly want to be a part of this company but for whatever reason I don’t feel like I am a part of it. I know I’m not the only that feels this way. So I have two options, talk to my supervisor or leave. Well I have talked with my supervisor about things I can do and have done and still I’m working on (what I call) trivial matters. I’m not in the meat of things like I used to be. It’s probably my ego being bruised but so what if it is. When you used to be the one running things, making decisions, being asked for input for seven years and then you’re removed and not included, how would you feel. The big turning point for me came after this past vacation we took. For the past seven years every time I have returned from vacation it was jumping back into the fire. This time I’m not even sure people knew I was gone.

Anyways, the courage to be happy means I’m looking for a new position that will better my commute and have me involved and excited again. If that means less pay, then we’ll have to see what we can live on, but I’m not ruling out going for less. My children are too young to have their father be a grumpy old man who leaves at 7 and comes home at 7. Alot of you may do this, but I’ve been fortunate for too long to not have to so I don’t feel I should have to start now. My happiness will mean my children’s happiness. Having their Dad home before they go to bed, to hang ou, play games, toss the baseball/football, work on homework, you get the picture. Why wouldn’t you want to do that? You had children, why not be there for them as much as possible and not just weekends (which is probably yard work or worse work work)?

I’m trying to find that courage to be happy and put myself into a better place. I challenge all everyone who reads this to do the same.

So Theo, find the courage to make Red Sox nation happy and sign Mike Lowell!!!!!!!!!!