Spring forward, for varying values of forward

We received more than five inches of rain from the week's storm, plus a few inches of snow that hung around for a short while. Today the sky is clear, the sun is bright, and it's 50° at coffee break time — as much of a pronouncement of spring as we can expect in New England.

Today also marks the end of the second full week away from my job. About three weeks ago, it became clear that my recovery and return to work wasn't going as hoped. Simply put, I wasn't able to do the work. My efforts were only digging the hole deeper. So, after good conversations with HR and the senior director of our group, we worked out what I regard as a generous severance agreement. My job now is to get better.

I'm learning a lot anew — accepting help when it's offered rather than insisting that I can do things by myself that I can't, accepting suggestions rather than holding on to old ways of planning my day, old ways that have, as the management euphemism declares, been overcome by events. Writing is hard because the thinking that precedes it is hard. I'm grateful for all the help that I'm receiving and that gratitude helps me move forward.