Pity Party and A Really Good Friend

So...I try not to be a big emotional boob, but for those of you who know me...you know that sometimes, I just can't help it. This week has been super stressful, and this afternoon it all really caught up to me.

Earlier this week, we had this huge meeting on Campus. All of the Board of Trustees came over from Cheyenne...along with the President, and the Vice Presidents. We had a dinner meeting with them, and my boss gave a big presentation on our Campus' Master Plan. For over a month, I have been meeting with him and a couple others in the office to perfect the Plan...(my main function was copy editing, but we all brainstormed together to get the presentation together)...and it's been kind of stressful. On the day of the meeting, we were all running around like crazy, trying to get things together. I had to run to Walmart at the last minute to get mugs and other stuff for the meeting...so that everything was perfect. Long story short, it's been a lot of work for all of us. On top of all of this, I have been handling "beginning of the semester craziness," including rescheduling and moving classes...directing students and instructors in the right direction...getting supplies...taking payments...non-stop...and ALSO, working tirelessly on the Spring 2009 schedule, only to find out yesterday that the Summer and Fall schedules are due in the next two months. Bottom line...I'm tapped out. I like my job...but some days...it just feels like it's TOO MUCH!

Anyway...the meeting on Wednesday went really well...I thought the presentation went well, and it was just good. I was happy. All the hard work paid off. Hooray! So...there are three office staff members in my office. Lynnette and I are both Admin Assistants, and Karin is an Office Assistant. This afternoon, a florist arrived with two vases of flowers. One vase for Lynnette, and one for Karin. They were sent from the Admin Assistant to the President in Cheyenne...in recognition of their hard work.

Um...what??? I don't want to sound whiney, or sound like I toot my own horn, but my GOSH!!! I have been working SO hard lately. Not just on that meeting, but on everything!!! Talk about a gut punch. Everyone in the office felt really awkward...it was obvious...and I ended up in the bathroom crying. Then, when I got back to my desk, my boss came out, having found out what had happened, to tell me how much he appreciates me...and I ended up crying some more at my desk. What a baby I am!!

I'm not generally the kind of girl who HAS to have constant praise to function...but when everyone gets praised EXCEPT me...I'm not going to lie. It hurt my feelings. It just makes it feel like everything I do goes unappreciated...at least by the "big wigs." It shouldn't matter...and I'm over it now...but you know...that was my afternoon.

In the midst of all this, I got a text from Kristi, who I had emailed my frustrations to, and she said, "I promise...More people appreciate you than you realize." It was just a really nice text...and made me feel better. The people in life that MATTER love me. I just need to focus on that. I'm so lucky to have her as a friend...I probably don't tell her that enough...but I am so grateful for her! Thanks, Kristi!