More Learning

When in the OSR Masters program, I learned about Punctuated Equilibrium points.  These are points or milestones in a system where change becomes chaotic and it is no longer possible to predict what will emerge from a system.  At these points, small inputs can have enormous effects in the final outcomes. 

As a system passes through a punctuated equilibrium point,  the foundation of the system—the parts of the system that keep it stable and unchanging—are loosened.  In human systems, I believe this means that changes can be introduced that would normal seem impossible, but which can seemingly be accomplished with relative ease.

Think of people that have gone through near death experiences, some make whole scale changes in their lifestyles and never look back.  After having a Heart attack many people stop smoking after years and years of feeble attempts.  Other people don’t change at all.  They somehow have a belief that the way it was is the only way it can be and this belief informs their choices going forward.  Many people knowing that smoking will kill them, smoke through heart attacks and lung cancer up until the bitter end or until the explosive oxygen they are using to breath precludes them from smoking—else they blow themselves up.

It is almost like the normal laws of cause and effect don’t apply as we go through these punctuated points. 

That is not the case, it is just that the feedback loops are changing and predicting which loop will have the greatest effect on the outcomes becomes impossible.   For me the most interesting part has to do with leveraging these times—adding more change into the mix and using the idea that the system foundations are open to change.

When I was laid off at Boeing, I felt this was a punctuated equilibrium point in my life—a time of immense changes when their was no way to predict what would come out the other end.  To leverage this time, I wanted to not just recover from losing my  job but also to leverage this time for becoming the house dad, getting more healthy, and under taking a major remodeling of the house.

I’m happy with my decision to do this, and I wish I could say that all of this has worked out just perfect and now my system has re-stabilized in its new position and life goes on.  But that is not the case,  my systems have not stabilized; I am still in the middle of change.  Its been a little over a year since I was laid off and I thought this was a good time to give an update.

The main change is with the work situation.  I’m 3 months into a temporary assignment with the UW .  This started as a 6 month assignment and has been extended almost to the end of the year.  I don’t feel stable here, though my need for stability is nothing like it was when I lost my job.   I feel more confident in my ability to function with less foundation under me.  I am confident in the skills I have to offer.  And I am learning—this learning has become very important—maybe more important than getting that permanent position.

I was blessed that my wife, who wasn’t working before, was able to find a great job right after I got laid off.  This has enabled our income to actually be higher last year, and now with my extension at UW, it will also be higher this year than if I had stayed with Boeing. 

On becoming a house Dad, my personal opinion  (and probably egotistical) is that I did great on this point.  I learned to do all the housework, cooking, grocery shopping and laundry.  This took loads of organization and self discipline to accomplish.  I didn’t always do it great, especially in the area of self discipline to get it all done, but I did pretty well.  Currently, this has all fallen apart.  Three months into my assignment, we are still learning how to share the housework with two full time wage earners.  This is difficult and there isn’t near the hours in the day needed, but we are getting better.

I wanted to improve my health.  I was able to start working out and showed great improvement until two things occurred.  The first was an injury in my foot n the August timeframe, that the doctor said I should take about 6 weeks off.  Next was needing to increase the priority of the remodel because I wasn’t getting much done.  These two combined to throw me for a loop around getting in better shape.   Through last Fall, working out suffered and my weight increased.  I was working out more than I was while working at Boeing, but my pace was chaotic and was less than needed to improve my conditioning.

This has changed for the better, this Spring when I agreed to do the Seattle to Portland (STP) ride with my wife this year.  We entered into training to be able to ride the 200 miles in two days.  As the rides have gotten longer, I’m beginning to see the benefits.  My weight is slowly coming down and my overall fitness is getting much better.  I’m hoping that the biking is something that I can do long into old age, as it is easy on the joints, and as long as I stay away from those pesky cars is a pretty safe undertaking.

The last area is the remodel.  Progress has been slow on this since the start.  This has been my lowest priority, except last fall when I was injured and could work out, then I focused more in this area.  Since returning to work progress has been non-existent due to work, the commute, and bike training.  Now that I am getting use to work and the major physical hurdle of getting ready for the STP is behind me, more time should be available for the remodel and we should start seeing progress made.  I don’t have to worry about looking for a job through at least the end of summer and more like mid–fall so this time can also be used to focus in this area.

Over all, I think I have made good progress.  I still can’t see to the other side of this journey, but the changes I’ve been trying to make are coming about.  I’m happy that I tried to expand the change instead of narrowing the focus to just what was in front of me.   I’m happy with where I am and the changes that I am making moving forward.