So, here I am at the end of my first 9-to-5 week in quite a while. And it feels great. Honestly, I had forgotten what it felt like to pop out of bed every morning and look forward to the work day ahead of me. I am tired, no doubt about that, but in a good way. My new job is quite different from anything I've done before. The majority of my time is actually spent at sites outside of my main office, which is located at the YWCA Opportunity Place on 3rd Ave. My time is split between eight shelters or day centers which are visited by homeless and low-income clients (mostly women) from all over the city and county. My job is to provide them with assistance in accessing medical care, which can take many forms. I may be assisting someone in making a primary care appointment, a dental appointment, or an eye exam. I may be helping someone sign up for health care coverage through the state exchange. I might also be answering general questions about health insurance or helping someone troubleshoot difficulties they are having with their own insurance. It is a multi-faceted job that will keep me on my toes and never bored. I am especially happy to be working with such an amazing organization as the YWCA. The YWCA is an international organization with a long history in this area and offers a wide range of services for its clients. With such a large number of employees, the employee benefits are pretty incredible. The organization really seems to care about its staff as well as its clients and, compared with some of my previous workplaces, it very much wants to compensate its employees for the hard work they do each day. I am very much looking forward to a long tenure with this agency, doing some great work.
Also in the news, Isaac and I have embarked on an Autoimmune Paleo protocol diet, with the hope of addressing some nagging health concerns and just being healthier in general. What this means is that we are now eaters of meat, vegetables, and fruit! No more dairy, eggs, grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, or nightshades! It is definitely as difficult as it sounds. This week in particular, I am fighting some huge cravings and while I am following the protocol mostly to support Isaac's efforts, it is still worthwhile for me to fight the urge to cheat, especially on the foods that I know are triggers for me. So far, though, there has been lots of cooking, lots of planning, and a great opportunity to start visiting the Farmers Markets again! (Hooray for having weekends off!) I wish I had the discipline and dedication to start an Autoimmune Paleo blog, but that lifestyle is still beyond my capability. It takes so much commitment, time, and hard work. I truly admire the individuals who have led the movement!
This feels like just a snapshot update of my life, but I need to leave something to write about in the next entry. Hope everyone is doing well, staying healthy, and enjoying life :)
