I don’t fit into my office. This is not a new secret. Like, I don’t fit in so bad that it’s nearly comical. It’s almost like I’m a mystical being stuck in a land of protocol and unyeilding emails. Actually that is almost exactly what it’s like, it’s hard to be a Lauren in a 9-5 kind of world.
And the best part of all of it… is that my boss hasn’t the slightest idea. And the worst part is… I think he’s such a nice boss, that I kind of never want him to know how hard it is to work with some of the other people in our tiny office space.

Now several times last year I thought of quitting my job, without any back up plan. And not for reasons people usually do… No one ever has a great boss, and bad coworkers. No one has ever said that! And no one ever says when they are in a bad work environment that they love the work they create. Which… I do. I like the clients I deal with. I love the idea of something I draw being built and occupied by people who are learning, and working and changing the world with their existences and thoughts and dreams. Right now at this moment, that is what architecture means to me.
Things I don’t like about work is being harassed by coworkers, being asked to quit to make certain people feel better about themselves (several times, actually) and feeling totally unappreciated for all the actual effort I put into creating a product that we are proud to put our names on.
I have actually tried to think through these issues a lot in the last few days. How can you get past these kinds of work problems?
The first one… well I’ve tried a few things. Including ignoring, trying to talk it through, and finally giving up. And then I stumbled upon these little words from every cool chick’s homegirl, Tina Fey:
“So, my unsolicited advice to women in the workplace is this. When faced with sexism, or ageism, or lookism, or even really aggressive Buddhism, ask yourself the following question: “Is this person in between me and what I want to do?” If the answer is no, ignore it and move on. Your energy is better used doing your work and outpacing people that way. Then, when you’re in charge, don’t hire the people who were jerky to you.” -Tina Fey, Bossypants
I have taken these words to heart, and my days have felt so much lighter and brighter than they used to. I can do my work really well, and I will be in charge of a firm someday. And maybe I’m also better about this type of situation due to the fact I may (or may not) have concealed and color coordinated weapons on me pretty much at all times.

And secondly, I’m not going to disappear to ease other people consciences. You are an adult, I am an adult, we make our own decisions. And I’m sticking around to get stuff done, and you can’t be rid of me so easily. Also you have no right to banish a good fairy, unless your name is on the business, which it is not.

And well the other one…. Hmm, there isn’t much I can do about this. All bosses everywhere do this in some shape of form… I mean if you keep pulling off impossible deadlines for them, they think that you can do so much more. Sometimes to fulfill my boss’s requests I find myself alone in the office in the dark of the night clicking and clacking away at the computer just to meet the deadline. And then after it’s all printed, he will say, no lets go back to the other thing we were at a few days ago. And then I will smile and know I tried. This actually happens a lot, and it used to make me really mad. But now I think he requests crazy things because he believes I can make magic. So now instead of getting upset when my work is shelved… when I complete the impossible tasks he asks of me, I just feel a little bit magical.
And well all of the analogies in this post came from my truly desperate grasps at happiness. Online Quizzes. Yes, when I feel a little blue I take internet quizzes that tell me things like I should paint my walls blue… or eat a margherita pizza. So this time when I was feeling a little down I took an internet quiz about Fairy tales and even the internet agreed:

And then I applied that knowledge to my actual existence, and found that it’s not really too far off. Eccentric, cheerful, probably coated in glitter. Maybe being a fairy isn’t so bad, as long as someone thinks you’re magical.
♥Lauren
p.s. Sorry Amber who reads this blog, but you know how it is ;)
HAHAHA! i do know how it is! I’m loving your outlook on it all! I find I want things to be so much more positive in this here world we live in from 8-5, so that’s what i’m going to do! And I do think boss man thinks you make magic! Because you do! I certainly cannot do anything close to what you do! ( and secretly, he can’t either) and per our convo yesterday….yes the Man needs you and your secret, magic, fairly skillzzzzz! keep that chin up buttercup! ;-)
Thanks Amber!
Good is going to happen this year in this office! I just know it! And now that I really sound like a muppet I can say with confidence with enough work we can make this place into a fancier, and friendlier environment. I’m actually sure that the office really needs it or we are all going to be in serious trouble, like homeless in the street trouble.
And thanks for appreciating my magic, I was beginning to think no on in this office wanted to believe in me or my dreams of goodness anymore. And I was tired of being treated like Vanellope Von Schweetz in my little outcast corner of the office with my blankets I used to cover myself like a little hobo.
I adore you!
What kind of jerk would want YOU – of all people, to leave?
I think I just answered my own question.
xo
Thanks for the ♥.
Your comment made me laugh so hard… because it is so so true.
I will stay here as long as I want! And I will also Wang Chung with reckless abandon when the mood strikes!
I think you have a wonderful outlook my dear sister! And as for Mr. Grumpy pants who wants you to leave to make himself feel better? Ummm…he’s free to go anytime! Don’t let the door hit him in the arse on the way out :) Love you!!’
Thanks Season!

I think you know exactly who I am speaking of. Also, thanks for using the word arse.
♥♥♥
These people sound awful, they will not go any further in life. And love your characters!
Thank you so much!
Can I say I love your user name? When I read it not only did I totally giggle, but anyone who selected a name like that… I think we may have been separated at birth.
Party on grumpy young woman!