Tag Archives: Training

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! It’s that time of week again where I do my weekly check-in. Let’s discuss how work is going. My job is going quite well, and I love my job. Despite being informed that I am doing a good job at work I worry about not passing my probationary period due to my supervisor being out on leave to take care of his mom, I’ve been informed to not worry about as I am “doing a good job and going above and beyond the call of duty.”

Even though I have been told this, it still worries me but at least I am doing what I am supposed be doing. In fact, I am doing some trainings to help the people I help. The plus thing it is counting continuing education credits once the peer licensure changes. I am really enjoying the two trainings/continuing education courses I am taking. I am taking Personal Medicine Coaching that Pat Deegan created which is awesome as well as taking the Hearing Voices Facilitator training through the Hearing Voices Network USA. I really do enjoy the fact it is all peer focused, and the trainings are being facilitated by people who have lived experience and if for some reason I don’t pass my probationary period at work, I at least have more to add to my resume. Hell, even if I pass it still looks good on the resume. A good friend of mine as well as current colleague both tell me that I am experiencing something called imposter syndrome. I’m not sure if I am experiencing imposter syndrome or not, many people no matter their job title experience it.

I may not know if I have imposter syndrome regarding my job, my depression and PTSD symptoms have been acting up. I have a theory or two on why my symptoms are acting up, but I do know what is helping me cope with my symptoms. Going to work is helping just like volunteering at PAWS Cat City and with Alley Cat Project. Volunteering and working help a great deal but my cat, Billie is extremely helpful with coping. I am so very glad that I have my cat, Billie in my life to help me through good and bad moments as well as everything in between.

I do not have anything else to discuss or share or to write about in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

A Day of Learning

Posted on by Gertie

Good Afternoon, World!!! It is a few minutes after three o’clock in the afternoon here in Seattle. I haven’t really done very much of anything due to not feeling well which means I have not left my apartment. I haven’t left my apartment as I don’t want to give other people in my apartment building or anybody else my cold. On a plus note at least my take home Covid test are all coming back negative which makes me so freaking happy.

Since I haven’t really left my apartment today due to not feeling well, I have been trying to stay productive with various educational opportunities and some personal growth opportunities as well as some training opportunities. I really enjoy being able to have learning and training opportunities as I enjoy being able to learn. As personal growth opportunities go, it can be quite challenging at times but well worth it in the long run.

Sadly, the training I was hoping to start and finish today, I could not do, due to a technical glitch that is not on my end. The training I was hoping to accomplish today is one for PAWS Cat City. It will allow me to learn more about cat behavior as well as being able to work with some cats who may be bit more socialization for various reasons. It is my hope that by the end of next year (2026) I can complete the various levels of training to be able to work with some of the sassier cats. On that note I am not sure if I have to wait a certain amount of time to take the next “level” of training and I am okay if I have to wait so I can get more hands-on experience after doing the online training.

Speaking of training, I did a continuing education course regarding my career path of being a peer specialist. I am not too sure about the course that I have been doing but I am learning something. Some of it is applicable to being a peer specialist and sadly I feel like the particular course I am taking is missing some vital information. I am hoping that when I finish the course that the vital information is discussed.

As far as the personal growth opportunity goes, I am doing a workbook for queer people who identify as trans or nonbinary, but I do know queer folks who do not identify as trans or nonbinary. The workbook’s focus is to build resiliency in your identity. Building resiliency can also be a part of other areas of life. The section I did today was quite challenging for me and I know it will ultimately help with accepting myself as well help me with my mental health recovery. I am grateful I have workbooks to do to help me improve myself.

I do not have anything else to discuss or write about in the particular blog post. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated on my end that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Thinking About Self Improvement & Recovery

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It is a few minutes after four o’clock in the morning here in Seattle. I am not sure why I am up so early, but I am and sadly I am not feeling very well. It appears to me that I have a cold as I did a home Covid test last night as well as this morning and both tests came negative. I will be taking another take home Covid test this evening as I want to make sure that I don’t have Covid and if I do then I will self-isolate to make sure I don’t give it to anyone else. I am wearing a mask in public because I don’t even want to give this cold to anyone.

Even though I am not feeling well, I am still planning on doing what I want to accomplish today or at least start what I want to accomplish. There are a couple of continuing education course I want to take through the State of Washington that is for already certified peer support specialist. I am wanting to do this just to learn more as well as needing to take them for future trainings as peer. Plus, I love learning especially when it comes to my career of choice as a peer specialist.

Speaking of my chosen career choice, I have been applying for jobs as a peer support specialist. In fact, I have two job interviews next week for two different teams at the same agency. One is parttime and is not temporary job while the other if fulltime but temporary that last 18 months. In all honesty, I really hope I get the parttime job for various reasons. One of which I think I could succeed in the particular job.

Since I brought up wanting to succeed in a future workplace, I have been setting some goals for my recovery. One of those goals is to continue to work my way through some recovery related workbooks. I enjoy doing workbooks as a form of self-improvement as well as to help me with my recovery especially in between sessions with my therapist. Plus, completing recovery related workbooks allows me to help clients with improving themselves and I can inform them on how the workbook helped me with my own recovery.

Another way that I am focusing on self-improvement, and recovery is by watching TED Talks videos. There are so many TED Talks that I can learn from and not just with self-improvement, but other topics as well including how to deal with grief as I recently lost both of my parents. Hell, there is even a series for cat people like me.

Speaking of cats, I got approved to take the next level of cat behavior training for PAWS Cat City. It is online and I am looking forward to it. I can do it at my own pace, which is a good thing, but my plan is to do it in one sitting later today. I really enjoy working with cats or in this case volunteering with cats and not just with PAWS Cat City but Alley Cat Project (ACP) as well. Even though my volunteer position with Alley Cat Project (ACP) doesn’t have me directly working with cats, I am still helping cats. On that note I am really excited about taking the next level of cat behavior training for PAWS Cat City especially since I do have direct contact with cats at PAWS Cat City.

I do not have anything else to discuss or write about in this particular blog post. I do want to thank you the reader for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Another Sleepless In Seattle Type Of Night

Posted on by Gertie

Good Morning, World!!! It is just after two o’clock in the morning here in Seattle. I am unable to sleep due to insomnia. Since I am unable to sleep I have been cuddling with my cat Billie as well as doing some mindfulness meditation through the Calm App. The mindfulness meditation has been quite helpful to quiet my mind.

Not only have I been doing some online training for Alley Cat Project (ACP) as I applied to be a volunteer two weeks ago and found out this past Tuesday that I am now a volunteer in training. Alley Cat Project (ACP) helps trap stray cats to return them back to their human or get them a new home as well as neuter and spay feral cats and if needed stray cats. That being said, people call their message line in which someone returns that call. From there coordination happens depending on the situations. Most of the time it is with the trapping team and from there the trapping team takes over. So, I will be on the incoming calls team that helps with coordination with helping the cat in need of help. So, I am really excited about this volunteer opportunity especially since Alley Cat Project helped me trap a stray cat and I am incredibly impressed with them which is why I want to volunteer for them.

I do not have much more to write about in this particular blog post except I really want to finish this part of my training so I can get my next training as I am really excited about volunteering at Alley Cat Project (ACP). I do want to thank you for reading my blog. It is greatly appreciated from my end of things that you the reader, read my blog. If it was not for you the reader, reading my blog, I would not be continuing to write my blog. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Read
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)
  • Work on mental health recovery workbooks

Monday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House (a mental health clubhouse)
  • Work on mental health recovery workbooks
  • Dinner with friends

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House (a mental health clubhouse)
  • Attend Queer Space (in person) group
  • Kickball practice
  • Work on mental health recovery workbooks

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Emerald House virtual group
  • Attend (in person) WHAM group
  • Work on mental health recovery workbooks
  • Kickball practice

Thursday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Sexual Health: An Essential Part of Recovery Training (virtual)
  • LGBTQ+ virtual group
  • Kickball practice
  • Work on mental health recovery workbooks

Friday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Attend Emerald House (a mental health clubhouse)
  • Virtual appointment with therapist
  • Dinner with friends
  • Work on mental health recovery workbooks

Saturday

  • Mindfulness meditation through the Calm App
  • Morning walk
  • Kickball game
  • Work on mental health recovery books
  • Read
  • Art (color and/or rock painting)

Lack of Sleep & Other Thoughts

Posted on by Gertie

It is five o’clock in the morning Seattle time and still haven’t slept yet. Good ole insomnia is kicking my ass tonight. That besides the point. Today’s my brother’s birthday and I made him a care package but I don’t where to send it as has done his disappearing act again.

Anyway I took a four hour training on First Aid, CPR and AED. I needed the first aid and CPR for work and found out if I’m strained on AED I get a raise so yeah me. On that note the four training could have been down in two hours but that is my opinion.

I better try and get some sleep. Peace Out, World!!!

Weekly Check-In

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! It’s been a long week. It’s been a long week. It started with me volunteering on Sunday as I normally do. We were slammed due to it being “kitten season.” The place I volunteer at has a super sweet lovable senior kitty who surprisingly hasn’t been adopted yet.

Then I started my job on Monday. It’s been a week full of training and my brain hurts from everything I learned this past week. Best part was having yesterday (Friday) off so I did an extra volunteer shift. I love me some kitten time but I love my Billie so much.

Then today I took a training to get certified in First Aid and CPR which is required by my employer. I had to pay for the training but I’m okay with that especially since it included AED training. To find out, I will get a “few cent raise” for the AED training or so I’m told. Weather or not I get the raise having all three certifications will help make me more employable.

All I need to do now is get my food handler’s permit and I am all set in what I need which will be easy to attain since I needed one for working at Safeway. On that note I just realized I need to show proof on auto insurance but since I don’t have a car I don’t have any. I still might have to get it if I’m required to drive a company car but if that is the case then I get to use auto insurance for tax purpose’s then.

Have a great rest of your weekend and Peace Out, World!!!

Everyday Inspiration; Day 12: Critique a Piece of Work

Posted on by Gertie

I don’t have anything to critique at the moment. This will be a very short post. I will say that my critique would be my new job and the great way they are doing training. My new employer is doing an awesome job with training and is willing to be accommodable to those of us living with a disability. So far I give the training an A.

Mixture of Feelings Going Oz About the New Job

Posted on by Gertie

Today, I had to go to an in person training for HR and IT stuff. Now I need to do some online training. Most of it through Relias. There is know why I can get 20ish hours down by 4:30ish to morning especially when I have other online trainings going on tomorrow. I have training on Wednesday and Thursday but nothing on Friday so I asked for a disability accommodation to finish the Relias training on Friday since I have nothing going on Friday. Worse case scenario I get up early to do the Relias training. I still think I’m going to do a good job at this work. Its just getting through the training.

Weekly Plans

Posted on by Gertie

Sunday

  • Mindfulness Meditation Practice
  • Walk
  • Volunteer a PAW Cat City
  • Read Comic Books

Monday

  • Mindfulness Meditation Practice
  • Walk
  • Attend a Training via Zoom  on De-escalation
  • Spend tie with Billie
  • Pick up grandpa from airport from honor flight

Tuesday

  • Mindfulness Meditation Practice
  • Walk
  • Read Comic Books
  • Work
  • Spend time with Billie, my cat

Wednesday

  • Mindfulness Meditation Practice
  • Walk
  • Work
  • Spend time with my cat Billie while reading comic books

Thursday

  • Mindfulness Meditation Practice
  • Walk
  • Work
  • Spend time with cat Billie while reading Comic Books

Friday

  • Mindfulness Meditation Practice
  • Walk
  • Work
  • Spend time with my cat Billie while reading comic books

Saturday

  • Mindfulness Meditation Practice
  • Walk
  • Read Comic Books while cuddling with my cat Billie