Friday frazzle (for you three)

I heard a joke some time ago. It goes like this:
"There may be no 'I' in 'team,' but there's three of you ("u") in 'Shut the f*&k up!"

I apologize for the (alleged) foul language, but that sentiment has been running through my veins lately. I have been frazzled and I've run out of more than just bubble gum... I simply can't LISTEN or be around people anymore!

Rest assured, today has been better. It's my short day of work (5 am - 9 am), and we're heading into a three-day weekend. But the last two weeks have taken their toll on me. I was running pretty ragged the last few days.

The reasons have to do with work changes, church responsibilities, and my own issues with setting boundaries.

WORK CHANGES
We got some new equipment at work, and it has completely changed my day-to-day job (though I'm not sure anyone knows this, much less the negative effect it is having on me). Not only had I just taken on more responsibility in the membership area of my job, but with this new equipment we are now required to take everyone through a 30-minute orientation to use it. I have lost track of how many people we've processed, but just in the first three days we had taken over 100 people through the orientation. This requires much more of me, but also the addition of more staff.

I used to be the only staff person there for the first 2-4 hours of each day. Lately there has been someone there an hour after I arrive, and while I like this person and they are good at what they do, they talk NON-STOP!

So, not only am I not there by myself, but I have more responsibilities (with the new equipment and onboarding), I have to deal with new staff, and there are just more people in general. I know it's not the end of the world, but quite honestly, IT WEARS ME OUT. Being around people wears me out, the work wears me out, simply having to listen to someone talk to me wears me out.

Again, it's not that I dislike the work, or the people... but it puts a strain on someone with my personality. I honestly don't know how much more of it I can take.

CHURCH RESPONSIBILITIES
On top of this, there are the added responsibilities at church. I have started meeting with the pastor once a week. He is a great person, but... we are kind of two very different people. So it's a bit of a challenge for me trying to be helpful to him. And I want to be... It's just going to take some time.

We are also now doing the weekly chore of trying to find someone to pray for each Sunday service, as well as three people to help with communion each week. While it's not terribly difficult, it's just another thing to do.

Plus we just ended an eight-game home stand last night doing the parking lot for the minor league baseball team. That means - at least - I have to have the money bag ready, set up the parking lot, and collect the money after the game... for each and every game. Some nights I work the parking lot too (either alone or with Jane). It's usually at least 8 pm by the time I'm done, and I have to get up at 3:50 a.m. each morning.

BOUNDARIES
I think you can probably surmise that the common thread in the first two parts of this are... my struggle with setting boundaries for myself. I know how much I can take, and I've been spreading myself too thin. Especially with my marathon training beginning next week!

So... what I need to work at is:

• Better communication with my boss. I will be the first to admit, I have a hard time talking to him. I don't have a lot of respect for him, and whether that's warranted or not, I need to be better about speaking for myself and communicating well. There is no room for pouting or the proving-of-points.
• The parking lot responsibility has got to go. I have already shared with the pastor that this will be my last year being responsible for the parking lot for baseball games. While I actually do enjoy working the lot during games, it is more work than I anticipated. That's made worse by a string of games all in a row. It just doesn't jibe well with my sleep schedule. Plus, the time commitment is more than I care to commit to. Mostly, though, is that I think I would rather spend my time on "church stuff" in the area of actual kingdom/disciple-making stuff, rather than making money for... wherever it is it goes.
• In general, though, I just need to continue working at speaking my mind without being rude or overly sensitive. It's difficult for me to set boundaries because I am overly afraid of hurting someone's feelings. However, that also makes me prone to just be downright mean when I let it build up for too long. It's a problem I've always had, and while I may make strides here and there, it's something I still need to work on.

So, there ya go. That's where I'm at on this Friday. Yesterday seemed to last a decade, but at least there is hope for tomorrow. Hopefully.

Now, for you three...