“It's our challenges and obstacles that give us layers of depth and make us interesting. Are they fun when they happen? No. But they are what make us unique. And that's what I know for sure... I think.”  Ellen DeGeneres

 

So to be honest, I began this assignment thinking I would forego the exercise to save time and energy but then I thought about last weeks free writing exercise and how much I enjoyed it and got out of it, so instead I decided to go ahead and do this week’s as well.  Again, it was good.  I whizzed right through the obstacles even though I thought I would have a hard time identifying them.  I cannot draw, I can’t even use the word artist, so bear with me, and Jamie did say not to worry about how good it was artistically, it was the act of doing it that was the benefit.  So here is my drawing;

 



What I discovered when I drew without thinking about it was that my obstacles are time or lack thereof, my age is conflicting with how I feel and is scary because I don’t want to be running out of time.  I’d like to spend more time with my husband and the rest of my family who are spread out all over and so the obstacle is again finding the time and coordinating schedules.  Another obstacle for me is that I have deadlines for court reports and am accountable to the Judge to make sure everything has been done for the families I work with and if the court report is late or there is something left undone, it’s my reputation on the line.  The last obstacle that I drew was the many families I work with.  They want and need and expect so much from me that it is exhausting at times. 

 

 

One thing that I didn’t draw and I didn’t think about until now is me; I am often my own obstacle.    I doubt myself sometimes and don’t feel I’m smart enough or capable enough.  I’m working on overcoming this, but it’s been a lifelong work in progress.