Great Expectations

I hate meetings!
I work in a place that is in meeting overload.
We need a new basketball goal...let's form a committee and have a meeting to discuss this.  We need more bottled water...let's form a committee and discuss our options.  It is complete and utter madness!
So, when I was informed that I needed to attend a 3-day conference in Louisville, KY this past week, as you can imagine I was less than enthusiastic.  If given the choice of a 3-day work conference or 3 days of explosive, emotionally crippling diarrhea, I believe I'd choose the diarrhea.

When I arrived, of course I was filled with dread.  There were 80 people in the room and we were all assigned seats at a table with 8 other people from other facilities across the country.  I was in hell.
We were informed that the people at your table were going to be your "family" for the remainder of the conference.  I wondered if I could spend the entire conference in a state of advanced drunkenness...possibly.

But, honestly, this past week was a fantastic, motivating experience!  The people in my "family" were some of the most interesting and inspiring people I've ever met.  They made me realize that even though things might be crazy back home, there is always a light of inspiration waiting to be discovered...sometimes  in the most unlikely places.  I will remember these people forever and, hopefully, I will remain in contact with them for many years to come.

The moral of the story...always be open to try something new, even if it is work related.

And, yes, there were states of advanced drunkenness.  But, it was a family affair in Louisville.  I can't wait for a family reunion.