I had my annual review* this week and decided to choose time off instead of a monetary bonus for my individual performance award (the monetary bonus = what you’d get paid for the time off).
I thought about this decision for a while, compared to my usual “go with your gut” decision making process. I just booked our Europe trip and it was $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, and the holidays are coming up and I’ll be spending money on gifts. And in December I start to get 4 more hours of leave a month (which equates to 5.33~ more days off a year).
BUT! I saved for that Europe trip and have the money to pay it off. I can charge holiday gifts and pay them off before the charge is due. And even though I will start getting more leave this month, I have LOTS of ideas in my head for travel next year, and want the cushion to be able to take a day off to relax when we get back if I want. And I want to take random days and chunks of time of here and there. Right now I get 17.33 days off a year + federal holidays + every other Friday (+ separate sick leave that always rolls over). Next year I should have 23.11 days + 4.88 days + federal holidays + every other Friday = about 10.66 extra days.
Woo hoo!
Really I’m just coming here to say I am getting PUMPED about 2024. And I hope talking about it now doesn’t jinx it! Eek! Here’s my tentative travel list:
January: nada
February: Atlanta Olympic Marathon Trials?, [location unplanned] Trip with Tiff & Val
March: NC (to see Caitlin & Joe)
April: Europe – the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium (the only trip that is planned and paid for)
May: Denver, CO (see Val/run Marathon)
June: Vail, CO (see Val & Steve)
July: Guttenberg, Iowa River & RAGBRAI (hopefully with Tiff and Val and their fams!), 40th Birthday Trip #2
August: Guttenberg, Iowa Abel Island Fly-In (Steven will have his certificate and we can actually rent a plane and fly in!!!)
September: nada
October: Girls’ Trip with Christina & Ella
November: nada
December: nada
Christina and Ella and I did not repeat our girls’ trip this year (in 2022 we went to LA). We intended to go to a new location, then life got too busy for all of us (especially Ella), so we talked about making it biennial. We just picked a weekend for next year, yay!
*I’m always surprised when I score high in the Leadership category and my supervisor calls me a natural proactive leader *insert face holding back tears emoji* I’m NEVER surprised when I score “successful” (and not higher) in the analysis category. I HATE analyzing things. But, uh, I better get better at it since it’s part of my job.
Pretty much unrelated (also, TW: body size and weight), I was getting ready to delete all of the October 2022 photos off my computer (I keep photos on my computer for a year then remove them – they’re all backed up in two locations) and I opened up one and saw this photo of me, Ella, and Christina on October 30th last year.
First of all, Ella you are two cute with that silly face. Second, my snis looks gorg, and third, just wow. My face. I look so much bigger than I do now:
That’s the three of us on October 16th this year.
It’s odd. When I’m overweight like I am in the first photo I never feel upset with myself. I try to buy clothes that fit and do the best I can. Sure, I knew I was overweight and not taking care of myself at all, but… it didn’t bug me every day. I didn’t hate on myself. I accepted me. I wasn’t upset when I saw photos of myself. I thought that was a cute photo of us three at the time.
But now? Now I look at it and don’t even see the same person! Which feels odd to me, like… why didn’t you notice the difference then, Kim? I suppose because I wasn’t looking at photos of myself at a smaller size, because that would make me feel crappy.
Ha! That reminds me of someone who used to often send me photos of myself at a much smaller size and it did always make me feel like sh*t.
So I guess I was avoiding seeing it.
In the same vein that I don’t notice it as much on myself unless I compare photos, I don’t really notice weight loss/gain on other people either (unless it’s drastic, I guess?).
People notice it on me though. I get lots of comments on my public Instagram account on it when I post my weekly hiding reels, which feature my body each day of the year. The comments are all very nice and no one has gotten weird, which I appreciate. Everyone is encouraging and cheering me on. And I have said a few times over there that I am focusing on my health this year, so it’s not a secret.
I suppose I am just surprised people notice since I don’t tend to notice on others.
Oh! Then there was one person who said “Stop losing weight! You’re going to disappear. Seriously, I am getting nervous 💙 “. Ha. My snis left the best comment, which I screenshot for prosperity (and am glad I did because they deleted their comment):
Anyone who knows Kim knows that she does things the correct way. Nothing about her health journey should be alarming you, and she is very proud of the progress she’s worked so hard for, as are those who support and love her. This comment is not helpful, and discounts all her efforts. 👎
You probably won’t see this, but I love you snis!
Gosh, this post went down a long rambly path. Thanks for coming along for the ride!
Psh of course I am seeing that! Love you too! 🙂 Proud of you! Can’t wait for our girls’ trip 2024!
Aww thanks for reading snis! I can’t wait too! Especially to see where you pick! We could totally do Maine if you still want to!
I always, always take the time off (when we get a reward) because I feel like taking the money (with the money being taxed), it’s not really worth taking the pay out. I am super-excited you have so much travel planned already for 2024. I can’t even think beyond Christmas LOL
BTW, I agree with you that it’s usually hard to see weight changes in oneself (or others) unless they’re drastic and/or you compare pictures… and I do see the difference in your photos and love that you’re enjoying the positive feedback. I wonder though why some people feel the need to comment with “alarm” when someone is making positive lifestyle changes (that often, yeah, also lead to weight loss).
Good point! I didn’t even think of that! See, I am smart. LOL, ha. Thanks for being excited for me. I meant to ask if you have been to Dresden?
I wonder that too. Like do they feel threatened? I can’t imagine this person was actually concerned for me. I was still technically in the obese BMI at the time (I don’t believe in BMI, just using it to show I was not stick thin).
There is some serious truth in your ramblings!
First of all I can’t tell you how much I approve of taking time off over money! Once you’re in a place where all of your bills are getting paid, time is way more important than money. For a long time I had flexible PTO, which oddly skews toward not taking a lot of time off. In my current job I hoarded PTO the first year (it never expires and I’ll get paid for it when I leave the company) and set the goal to take all of my 17 days in year two (this year). I met my goal but the joke was on me because we switched to flexible PTO. So my goal is to continue to take as much time off as I would have gotten if we were on the old plan – that means that I *have* to take 20 days of vacation in 2024;-)
Okay, let’s switch to weight. I was heavier when I was younger and lost 50 pounds in college. No one ever commented on my being overweight after middle school, but I can tell you that being called fat on the playground when I was 12 was far less hurtful than when I would get the “You’re so skinny! You need to stop losing weight!” commentary – both are bad but the “oh wait you’re taking care of yourself and we can’t have that” is far worse. Sheesh, I’ve gotten those comments when I’ve GAINED weight from the last time that someone saw me. The only acceptable comment to ever make about someone’s appearance is “you look great!”.
Aww thank you for saying that re: my ramblings!
I was wondering about flexible PTO. The people I know who have it always tell me they take less time and I am like “noooooooooooo! That makes me saaaaaaaaaad!” I am glad you have a goal for 20 days next year. You got this!!! I will be cheering you on. And yes yes yes time is WAY more important than money. Thanks for pointing that out, again (re: last week’s post of memories > money). I 100% believe that!
GAH. WTF people. Just wtf. Is it so upsetting to see someone taking care of themself? And even if it was a serious problem that would not be the way to approach someone. I wish people would think before they talk. Or, like you said, only say “you look great!”
Congratulations on being rewarded for your leadership qualities! That is so nice, and also that you get a choice in it – I would take the time off, too, I think… 🙂
Having gone through my own weight ups and downs, I have had similar experiences to you in people commenting on me losing weight (also along very similar lines as yours) and it always struck me – what makes people think it’s okay to say stuff like that to someone else? I think in most cases they mean well, but it always makes me really uncomfortable. They never said anything to me before I lost weight (which made me wonder if they were just thinking I was really overweight but not saying it?) I agree with Beckett here above, the only appropriate comment to ever make on someone else’s appearence is “you look great”! And you do! But the most important thing is that you feel good about the changes you are making and that is nobody’s business but your own.
Thank you! I felt really good when she said those things to me!
OMG yes I have thought that – if you are saying these things now what did you think of me before? Or has the change in me only made you think to say these things? Just so many “WTF” thoughts. I am sorry it’s happened to you too and made you feel crappy. And amen that IS the most important thing! Thanks for always being in my corner, Amy!
1. You are a connector… I am in awe of your ability to connect with people.
2. Your travel plans make my mouth drop open. Wow.
3. You do you. Comments like that … make me shake my head.
Aww thank you!
I hope they mostly happen! I am excited!
Same. Sigh.
You have quite the busy year coming up in 2024! Wow – so many trips and fun things on the horizon! So far, the only trip I have planned for 2024 is to California in April.
I am excited! And again, only Europe is set! I hope I didn’t jinx myself blogging about it all.
What have you planned so far for Cali?