Back Then, Now, and Hopefully Tomorrow Too

There are moments.
Moments when you grumble and complain that the pay is the same but they keep piling on this task and that task.
Half of it is real indignation, and half is a cute little boast that you can do this AND that.

But at some point comes a moment when you realize, all that was just the climate.
Your commute is fixed, and the total amount of work one person can handle is also fixed.

Sometimes when you sense that climate approaching, anxiety sets in.
Ah - it's awkward to hand someone just this, and awkward to hand them just that too - you reach that kind of awakening.

Lately I feel I've entered that season.
Phone calls from seniors, juniors, and CEOs I haven't heard from in a while, saying they have a question, saying they have a favor to ask.
It's humbling. Truly moving, truly humbling.
I wave off the fees. I happily draw it, write it, look it up - free of charge.
Only now can I breathe easy that when someone needed something, my name popped into their head.



Just lately, by some honor, I got pulled into a group chat like that and I find myself remembering the old days.
I know I should read the room and join and leave properly, but I'm a little stuck watching for the right timing ;)