At the end of 2019, Mala (b|t) invites us to write about the gifts we’ve gotten during the year. I’ve been gifted with a lot of things this year personally and professionally. So to honor the 12 days of Christmas here are 12 gifts I have received.
- Through the wonder of Twitter I responded to a Tweet for a job position and I’m now working at DocuSign remotely with an amazing team after being in a job that had me very unhappy. My job is very supportive of all participation in the SQL community and the community at large which you will read in a bit.
- I wrote a book with Grant Fritchey on Query Store for SQL Server 2019 because I had an amazing mentor recommend me to write the book and ask Grant to help out with it in Kellyn Pot’Vin Gorman.
- I had the pleasure of speaking at PASS Summit for the third year in a row and at several user groups and SQLSaturdays again. Something I never take for granted.
- I’ve mentored a couple people along the way career wise and to be speakers, that seems like a gift for them but really is a gift for me as I like giving more than receiving.
- Rob Sewell helped me learn how to write checks for dbachecks, watch out world, well SQL world.
- I got Bob Ward’s signature in orange in his latest book, the rarest Bob Ward signature to date, to match my hair.
- I’ve helped friends though hard times cementing lasting friendships. Again I like giving more than receiving. And friends were there for me when I needed them.
- I’ve advocated for five different children this year, still advocating for three of them through the North Carolina Guardian ad Litem program, putting me up to I 52 kids in 16 years.Read more about that here.
- Technically, this was the end of December last year but I started volunteering with some wonder folks on the PAIMI (Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illnesses) Council for Disability Rights of North Carolina.
- I got my Mental Health First Aid certification in May that’s good for three years by attending training through the Disability Rights of North Carolina.
- SQLSaturday Charlotte top the end of the year with me doing a presentation on Mental Health in IT that went better than any other presentation I’ve ever given. I hope to do at each SQLSaturday I go to this year. If your event is interested contact me and I’ll see if I can add it to my calendar.
- More importantly after a rough 12 months I finally got stabilized mentally through therapy and medication.
Along the way I’ve acquired many more people as part of my #sqlfamily, personal family, and to my core value of making a difference. I hope every had a blessed Christmas and has as many gifts for the year to be thankful for as I do.