Working 56 hours per week
hang on tight
It’s 1/2/2023. I slept 4 hours, my normal. Today, I’m signed up to work for Waiter On The Way (a food delivery company) for 8 hours. In fact, I’ve decided, after two weeks of a “trial run” with the company, that I’m going to shift from working 16-20 hours per week to working 48 hours per week. Sunday will be considered my “Sabbath” and I will REST, REST, REST.
I’m still keeping all of my commitments to teaching my students, but won’t be able to teach them “overtime” hours, which I really enjoy. Because I teach 8 students, this makes 8 hours. This means my total work hours will be 56 per week. This is my plan for January, so I can make $3,334 per month. (I used to make $5,100 per month and work 20 hours per week amid tons of amazing travel, simply playing the piano on a ship or performing with PMJ - BUT NO COMPARING HERE, IT’S THE CARDINAL SIN OF ALL SINS - I gotta live in the present.) Nearly all of my students receive lessons that are much longer than what they signed up for - by my choosing - it’s because teaching is my happy place.
There is one thing about life that will never change. Money. I check my bank account each and every day. I have $948. My medical supplements are beginning to run out and $700 of rent is due on 1/6/2023. So what is one to do? Go forth and make that money, that’s what!
Every medical doctor I see (16 appointments per month) has asked me to not work more than 20 hours per week, but every doctor charges me money to see them. Most doctors ask me to buy extra things on top of seeing them, as well. It’s a double-edged sword. The reason I’m well is that I go to my appointments and work exceedingly hard at applying what they tell me to after the appointments are over. I’m a good little patient.
The positive in all of this is:
For the first time since September 14th, I’m actually feeling well enough that I could attempt to work this many hours per month.
Waiter on the Way is the ONLY employer out of Barnes and Noble, H and M, with numerous applications on Indeed, Sweetwater, Walgreens, CVS, Allen County Public Library, The Journal Gazette, Krogers, Star Financial Bank, and Chase Bank that showed any flexibility with me because of my disability and hired me. The others…did what every other company does when they see the words “Disability” on an application. (And now that I’ve seen how the system works, DON’T FILL OUT ANY INFORMATION THAT’S NEVER REQUIRED, and DON’T ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. PLEAD THE 5TH. As much as I wanted to strangle an interviewer for telling me this, there is power in playing the game, in not revealing information that may taint someone’s view of you.
This month will be one more chance to get one step closer to the 1st Buddhist Truth: Life is (essentially) suffering. So basically, accept that reality is not perfect or what you want it to be, and live with virtues that will keep you strong. For me, Waiter on The Way allows me to keep books in my car. This is time to read! It allows me to listen to CDs (my car is old) while driving - so this is good! It allows me time to send voice messages to friends when I’m at least on the highway or some old dirt road for 5 miles headed to the Amish’s house. There are ways to still enjoy myself while “working in solitude."
Time Management. As much as I’d love to continue teaching my students for much longer than an hour at a time, offer them free perks of voice memos as practice tracks, and watch videos of them during the week; it’s going to have to stop. I’m just not going to have the mental energy. I’m going to have to be stricter with my time and work with a stopwatch, never going beyond either their 45 or 60-minute time limit. (I’m not wired this way, once I start working on music with someone or having an engaging conversation, what matters is the follow-through of the connection that’s being made at that moment or just the pure joy of experiencing music through teaching.
This might all change in one month. I’ll have to keep my mind on the Prize. I’ve done far more strenuous things for 31 days, …like touring; where you don’t have the comfort of your own bed to come back to. February could be different. The fact of the matter is when a grant company tells you “Your funds should arrive in February, WE HOPE,” you can’t just sit there and not plan for the worst. You must be proactive. As far as that statement entails, my $15,000 grant money from The Haven Foundation could arrive on Feb. 1, 2023, or Feb. 28th, 2023. No assuming.
Keeping Sunday as a Rest Day will teach me about myself. Even if I wake up with tons of energy on Sundays in January, I have to remember to only do re-charging activities. This is a chance for self-discovery. How do I really recharge? What will I need to say “No” to on these days especially?
In summary, I’m choosing my attitude during these financially desperate times. Carpe Diem!
***(The photo below shows my psychiatric meds and supplements that I take on a daily basis.) You can’t buy supplements or a gluten-free/dairy-free diet without having money. My total medical expenses this month will be $1,688. I have applied for
SNAP (EBT) 3 times and have been denied all 3 times - and I only report my income at $1,111 per month. Wut The Fuck. I’m applying for the last time this month. But since I’m choosing to WORK and my income will be much higher than their threshold, there’s almost no point. However, there are clever ways around this which I’m not going to reveal here.
Ah, the days of me wanting to move to Iceland are starting to ring in my ears….In everything I’m saying, there’s a strong argument for socialism in here somewhere…For governments that take care of their people before their economy. But, I live in the USA and have to accept that for now.
However, every day I read the mantra “I can provide for myself.” I’m proud to say that even with 2 disabilities, I’m doing much more than my fellow humans on welfare who’d rather stay home and simply take government hand-outs and add nothing to society. *Slow clap* And, I’m not apologetic about that statement.
So, LET’S DO THIS!
P.S. I still have to find time to compose! I’ll make it work.