Are you alright?

This was the question my coworker asked me today. He said that I seemed to be detached from work lately and he wanted to make sure everything was OK.
I appreciated the concern. You don't get that from a lot of folks these days and it was refreshing. I assured him that I was fine, but I've been in the process of allowing life and God to teach me and it has caused me to put things into perspective(so maybe I didn't use those exact words, but that was the sentiment).

Life lesson No. 1: Work isn't everything

I've started to identify what I want from this life and sometimes it doesn't line up with society's idea of success.
I want a personal relationship with my Creator free from empty rhetoric and meaningless tradition.
I want a happy marriage full of love, friendship, silliness, intimacy, romance and plain ol' fun.
Together, I want my husband and I to raise a responsible, spiritual, moral, educated, man who respects both himself and others.
I want healthy relationships with my family and friendships that last a lifetime, and while doing all of this I want to maintain my identity. I'm not just Dan's wife or Ian's mom. I'm a woman with my own opinions, interests and experiences.
Those are my goals and I believe I can achieve and maintain them, but it requires prioritizing.
As a result I'm not concerned with climbing the corporate ladder or participating in office politics. I'm quite happy with my non-managerial status, and frankly I'd like to keep it that way. I have no desire to keep up with the Joneses with their new car every 2 years and the ever increasing square footage of their home.
I'm not knocking material possessions or professional advancement. If that's what you want, go for it. I'd just prefer to stick with the job I love, live comfortably within my means and have enough time to enjoy the people around me.
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Edited to add: The same coworker sent me the following link today (02/14/08) and since it fits with the theme of this post I decided to included it
http://www.weboflove.org/051230whatmattersinlife

I think I'm beginning to heal

I have a confession...
3 months ago I absolutely dreaded the sight of an obviously pregnant woman. I didn't want to hear of anyone becoming pregnant, I didn't want to hear about someone having an 8lb bouncing baby girl or boy, and I especially didn't want to hear some lady that was 7 months pregnant complain about how she "wished she could just hurry up and have this baby already".
I was bitter about my own pregnancy experience and I was jealous (or envious, I always get those confused) of their seemingly normal and uneventful pregnancy. Intellectually I knew I shouldn't feel that way, but I couldn't seem to convey that message to my emotions.
But you know what? I think I'm beginning to heal. Here recently, I've heard from two friends that they are expecting, and I've seen many a pregnant woman, and those negative feelings haven't reared their ugly head.
When I heard the pregnancy announcement from my friends I was happy for them. I mean genuinely happy, without a single thought to my pregnancy difficulties.
Now I won't lie. I still experience sadness and will shed the occasional tear about the past, but I'm so happy that I'm at a place where I can rejoice and share in the excitement of others.
I guess the old adage is true. Time really does heal all wounds.