Phew! Just writing that title was hard. It sounds so smug. But today, I think I have no other option but to celebrate. Here’s why…

I can finally announce that I’ve been promoted to a top leadership position on my team at work. My new title is MIS Services Supervisor. Which is a bizarre title for a social worker. The rules at about titles at my office are a little insane. But basically this means I’m leading the training and support teams for our project. As well as doing significant community relations, outreach, and support design work. I’ve actually been doing this job for months, but it took a while for my official position to catch up with my work. I’m excited to be a leader on this team. I have great staff and an amazing team to work with. And the work we are doing in the community is so exciting to me. The homeless service community is where I’ve planted my flag. I can’t wait to see what comes in the next couple years!

I want to thank my family, friends, an co-workers for all their support over the past several weeks, months, years while I worked to find my place. It means so much that you all believed in my value and ability to contribute in the way I am now.

My second celebration today is on the medical front. I had my follow-up appointment with the neck/back doctor. I am precisely on track to meet my strength goals for my back. And I have beat all the flexibility goals. I always said I was pretty flexible for a fat chick. This intensive physical therapy has made such a difference. I still have pain. But its much less frequent and not as intense most of the time. As long as I keep it up. I’ve noticed if I miss a session, I have more symptoms. But its great to see some progress after 2 1/2 years of impairing pain. Plus, I can press nearly #400 on the leg press and have moved up in weight in all my other strength exercises as well. Feeling pretty accomplished.

Its such a relief to see a life without constant pain on the horizon. Again, I have to thank all of those people in my life who have put up with my complaining, crying, depressed days, and canceling plans because of pain. I know I’ve not always been the easiest friend, family member, or co-worker to deal with. I hope to make it up to you all someday.

I want to take a moment to remind you all to celebrate your accomplishments. I am amazing at pointing these out to other people (I think all my friends are doing great things), but suck at doing it for myself. So take a moment to recognize the things in your life that you’ve done. You know who you are 🙂

I’m off to a conference next week in San Diego. I’ve been instructed not to work too much after hours. So I’m going to try and do more blogging. Stay tuned for beach photos (not of me) and fun foodie stories.

Thanks for reading!

~Teresa