It and a Bit: Day 797: 5 Minute Freewrite: Thursday - Prompt: haters will be haters

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Image by Alex Kotliarskyi from Unsplash

@Zeldacroft
@freewritehouse

Day 797: 5 Minute Freewrite: Thursday - Prompt: haters will be haters

"It and a Bit." Yep, that was the name I was given by my co-workers. Can't say I didn't know why. How do I know? Because I saw it in writing from one co-worker to another.

In my mind though, I always knew my name was on their lips whenever they huddled together at each other's desk. You see, I had an office. One like middle management. And at my salary grade and status on the corporate hierachy charts, that was an accomplishment. I could shut my door and draw the blinds as though shielding me from the bad words and thoughts echoing through their minds as they pass by in the hallway.

Anyone outside the department would agree that I deserved it, and let others know about it if asked.

Did I care? No. The fact is, as long as I can remember, I've been on the outside looking in. Marching to a different drummer. But that didn't solve my immediate problem of being labeled.

In this case, it was the "know-how". The ability to see a problem and attempt to solve it. The ability to teach myself a new office program that was essential to the daily work. The willingness to volunteer to take classes to help the department. It all sounds good like a reasonable person would expect any employee to do.

But those were not reasonable people, and those were not reasonable times. Layoff rumors catapulted down the hallway as if rushing to find the source and confirm its truthfulness. No one was safe. The atmosphere was so thick, I could feel the pressure as I stepped off the elevator, opened the door, and walked through the cloud of hatred each morning.

But I have another purpose that's not known to anyone there. My husband was injured on his job a year ago and only being compensated 80% of his normal salary. I am the only full-time household provider at the moment. Our mortgage is 3 months in arrears, and we don't yet qualify for a refinance to lower our monthly payments. One of our children was just diagnosed with an illness. Another one is not doing well in his studies. Our parents need us, mine the most.

My world is slowly tightening around me. My only concern is how to keep the migraines at bay by the time I wake up each morning.

Some nights, sleep evades me. But I have to force myself. 5:00 arrives as though I just saw the kaleidoscope of images behind my eyelids an hour ago. Kids need to be fed and out the door by 6:30 a.m. My husband tries to help as much as he's able.

But I have to press on. I volunteer for extra hours. I teach yourself the new office program. I volunteer for coffee bar attendee. I volunteer to help other departments. I become known outside my department as a friendly face each time they meet me. No one knows the tiredness, the uncontrollable urge that brings me to tears if I think about my world too long; the turmoil inside.

But I press on and get the highest evaluation rank and raise allowed. I get an office that no one else in my salary grade has.

And now my name is not Natalia. It's "It and a Bit."

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Thanks,
@justclickindiva

Happy rest of the week everyone with whatever your endeavors.


SOURCES:
a) JustClickin logo created at CoolText.Com
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) Separator Lines Free ClipArt Belt from Public Domain Vectors & ShadedLine from ClipArt-Library
e) All Tribe logos used with permission of Tribe Discord Channel admins.

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5 comments
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Well written @justclickindiva, and when faced with the need to perform, with family that really needs our help most of us do step up and take the responsibilty that is required to help out, I am not sure if this is fiction or your own story, but it sounds like this is what you would have done in this situation, keep up your great work, it's awesome.


This post is AWESOME!

It has therefore got a manual 100% upvote from @thisisawesome, for the Awesome Daily Upvotes in category Freewrite, I give out 1 such vote in that category per day, plus 3 more in other categories, and your post will also be featured in todays Awesome Daily report for more visibility.

The goal of this project is to "highlight Awesome Content, and growing the Steem ecosystem by rewarding it".

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hi @thisisawesome. thanks for stopping by and taking the time to view my post. It's based on some of my life experiences. But I know many others who have traveled the same path. My 35 years of working in the corporate environment, I've seen and experienced many things done to me and others people only whisper about. To survive, you need an outside relief switch, which is the one that signals time to get up and go home.

Appreciate your kind words.

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Thanks @justclickindiva, and I wish you all well going forward, if I remember correctly you are now traveling full time in a van, and are free from that environment, have an Awesome New Year.

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LoL. I wish. Retired, but not traveling full time in my RV. Just use it for traveling on vacations for long trips. can't give up my permanent home yet.

I had a fleeting thought once to just pull up and leave and go live in an RV park. My hubby quickly brought me back to reality. Earth to Chris.

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