Dead Moon

There is something exceptional for the human mind and nervous system. The way it reacts for a large number of people when we sense danger or situations that may not necessarily be good for us is simply amazing. Anything from the pulse speeding up, to the little hairs being raised due to goosebumps, to that small prickling at the back of your neck that indicates something may not be all on the up and up. That perhaps a quick and unobtrusive exit may be in order.

That sense of self preservation could also be triggered by a person and their actions, or demeanor when they enter a room. You know the type and/or behavior that will trip your trigger each time. It is when you are at a gathering and someone’s voice is just a decibel louder than the rest. Or the startled looks you will see others give someone or a group when those comments seem a bit off. Honestly it could just be that swaggering individual that wanders into an area looking for a challenge.

I swear this new year has swaggered into January just looking for an excuse to tell someone to hold their beer. It has been cold and snowy, but at home and I swear in the office that we all work remotely from. I was recently in a conversation with my boss regarding goals for the new quarter. While I recognize the goals are meant to stretch you as an individual, there is stretching and then there is setting up to fail. When my boss failed to show up to our regularly scheduled meeting that they set up on time, yet again, I took it for the message that it was, that I wasn’t respected. Grace can be given for one offs, once in a while exceptions that can be explained, however since they had yet to show up on time to one of our meetings, I understood, yet again that my time wasn’t a priority, it was ok to waste it.

Once that message was sent, intentionally or not, the goals were given and I was done. In fact, I asked them if they had no intention of giving me a bonus, why bother setting up goals? And then, I had no interest in listening to excuses or whatever lines they wanted to give. I let them know they would be late to their next call and ended the conversation.

At the end of the week, in an oddly aggressively cowardly move, my boss then sent me a video detailing the goals they had discussed at the beginning of the week, making them, in fact, worse than what they were before and advised me to put them in the system. This person is someone who has been recently promoted to the role and I remember missteps when I moved up into management forever ago, however, if you never look for feedback, don’t make yourself available for conversation and avoid your responsibilities at all costs, you will fail. They may have been set up to fail being given the boss they currently have, however there are ways to improve if you looked for it.

It is almost like I can hear 2025 swaggering at the outside edges of the year, looking for an opening to egg on a confrontation, challenge an unassuming individual with an outrageous choice and proudful boast. I just need to keep my head down, avoid eye contact with the braggart stirring up flames and be mindful of my path. Adventure and prizes await if I can ignore the idiocy bleating at me from the corner and am careful with my steps.

The moon is near to full tonight, lighting my path to salvation, prosperity and mental peace. But damn if I can’t smell the alcohol from the new year, following me on heavy feet, asking dumb questions and insisting I hold its beer.

I just hope I don’t get thirsty.