Once upon a time...

...in a land far, far away, there was a girl. This girl was quite particular, but thought it unfair to ask others to cater to this finicky nature so she was quite self-reliant. She had her own way of living and doing things. People found it 'quirky' but highly respectable.

She lived and worked and studied with great seriousness. Every room in the house had a half read book in it. Even the kitchen was lined with cookbooks. When she walked into the local independent video store, the clerks addressed her by name and pointed other customers to her for advice. She worked out, she cooked, she read, she relaxed. She was a good and loyal friend, especially to those close to her. Though often late to arrive at work, she was often late to leave as well. Hired to do one thing, she quickly found greater problems and challenges and soon found herself juggling multiple projects, advising her superiors and managing structural changes. Every moment of the day was a multi-tasking moment and this left her feeling like she'd had a full day's work and could go home in good conscience.

Then, a major decision, a pile of paperwork and an international flight later she found herself in another land. Few books were read. Few movies watched. Limited local ingredients restricted culinary experimentations. Gyms were small and with questionable equipment. The solid divide once separating work and life faded. Work was everywhere and nowhere. As was life. Suddenly there was no control over any major life factor. 'Accept' or 'do not' were the only choices.

The girl once known for making colleagues laugh at the drop of a hat, whipping people into shape and routinely thinking outside the proverbial box (rumor was that she actually couldn't think IN it) was no longer that girl. The light in her eyes diminished a bit, as did her humor and her spirit. Compromise after compromise - over values, integrity, professionalism, quality - meant she felt less and less whole. Less and less content. Less and less quirky. Less and less respectable. Less and less like herself.

'Accept' or 'do not'... those are indeed the choices.