wonderful amazing image by hugh macleod of gaping void

There are moments at my day job, when I am acutely feeling the burdens of campus bureaucracy, 

when I have to remind myself of this. My work in college health promotion is inspired by and revolves 

entirely around helping students become more healthy and successful until graduation and beyond. 

Those thousands of souls need to be touched. 

And the moments when the light bulb visibly goes on over a student's head 

or one gives me a genuine, heartfelt thank you 

or some other less warm and fuzzy (but no less important) moment occurs, 

those are the moments that keep me going...the moments when I know I've touched a soul. 

That's the upside. 

The downside is all that soul-touching can be exhausting for me.

Today was my one year anniversary in this job, a year in which I've accomplished much, 

but also a year in which my primary relationship has been with that job. 

Not really even with myself, and very infrequently with my creativity, but with my work. 

The irony of that is my work is all about promoting self-care and self-responsibility. 

So maybe my second year on this not-so-new job of mine needs to be about touching my own soul.

Redefining my relationship with myself. 

Maybe even getting my creative mojo back.

That would definitely touch my soul.