My first day on the bus to Seagate

I am commuting again. For a nice 9 years, I had a 5 minute drive to work - or a 12 minute bike ride, which was my preference. When the CEO of Seagate decided to move our headquarters more than 20 miles away and over the Santa Cruz Mountains, I thought my life was going to come to an end - at least the life that I knew. It really has taken me the full year since they announced the move to accept this change - and I don't know that I fully have, yet.

But, today as I take my first 45 minute bus ride over the slow-winding but beautiful mountain road, I have at least begun to accept some of the blessings of this extra time. Though I won't get to spend it with my husband in the evening as I would prefer, I do have a lot of great things I can accomplish with an extra hour and a half each day. Most notably, I can blog!

In church yesterday, in the women's organization (Relief Society), we had an amazing lesson by Damaris Palmer who inspired me to write in my blog and do more in the social media network to share more of myself, my beliefs and my unique life. So, I'm going to act on that inspiration, starting today by telling you of the most recent struggles of my life and how I'm coping.

I got a job at Seagate precisely because it was 5 minutes from my home. I had been working full-time in Silicon Valley, while living in Scotts Valley for a year and felt very disconnected from my home and family. I would get home at 6 or so every night and then after dinner, taking care of my daughter Vienna who was still in elementary school, and the other sundry duties, it was time for bed. The next morning it was up early, get Vienna off to school and me to work. I felt like I never had time to even get to know the new condo we had just bought. Seagate was perfect because I could get home shortly after 5 and feel like I had a life.

A year ago they announced the big move over the hill (the Santa Cruz mountains) and into Cupertino to be in Silicon Valley, as opposed to outside of it. Our CEO felt this would bolster our business position, give customers more opportunity to visit and allow for the Valley inspiration to rub off on us. I just saw it as one more way this big corporation didn't care about me, my family or my fellow workers and I held a grudge.

I will say, that my work did not suffer - even though I was tempted to really slack off. I love the team I work with and would never slight them because of my disgruntled-ness. They deserve my best.

Now I'm on the bus, resigned to my fate and looking for the opportunities this situation presents me. My attitude, though not perfect, has improved and I am willing to give this a chance before putting in my resume to the company that has made an offer to buy the old Seagate buildings. Some of the productive things I can do now with this time?

• Write in my blog! - Ta Da!
• Read my Scriptures
• Practice my piano using a roll-up portable keyboard I'm hoping my best friend will get me for my birthday. ;-)
• Keep up with my friends on FB and share my insights with them
• Write to my dear friend who is in prison
• Catch up on reading all the books Vienna's always wanted me to read
• Work on writing grants - my latest endeavor to create income that will let me work from home.

So, maybe this commute thing won't be so bad. My optimistic nature tells me it will be alright and may even provide some valuable growth for me. I know that God doesn't give me anything I can't handle and every trial He's ever put in my life has eventually been for my own good - like any good father would do. It's now up to me to find that growth and benefit in this latest struggle.