I have worked for some great bosses (and one really horrible one), but I genuinely love my current job. My boss is terrific, and the group dynamic in my office suite (four of us in very close quarters!) is an amazing balance of diverse personalities and a big dose of humor. People from other units within our department — and other departments, entirely! — have said on multiple occasions that they wished they worked in our office. As the supervisor, that thrills me to pieces.

There are days when my job is pretty stressful (grantseeking has taken a nose-dive in the current economy) but the success stories make it worthwhile. Really, though, it’s not just the successful grants that we’ve written that make the job great, but it’s the process, the people and the purpose for which we write.

I talked with some colleagues from another Big 12 university at a conference in Kansas City, MO, earlier this week, and they mentioned a job vacancy that they’ve been trying to fill in their office. I just had such a feeling of appreciation when I listened to them, because not only do I have a job, but it’s one that I look forward to doing.

Do I do my job perfectly? Hardly. Do I have much to learn? Certainly.

I am grateful, and the encouragement that I receive almost daily from my boss and co-workers makes me want to do an even better job. Sic ’em!