I am one of the lucky ones. There are so many reasons why, but today it is for employment. Actually, it’s much more than that, but I will get to the ‘much more’ later. Pre COVID-19 I always felt fortunate to work in a field I love, because I felt like I was living my passion and being paid to do it. Now I am lucky for a different reason as I continue to hear about so many neighbors, friends and family that are not. I’m lucky to continue to be able to provide for my family while continuing doing what I love. Only now, as I work in a non-essential service and deployed to work in a long-term care facility, I am lucky for another ‘much more’ reason: to go through an extremely difficult situation that has humbled me and will forever change me.
Walking in to my first shift at one of the long-term residents, I immediately felt it: the fear, stress, anxiety, and sadness. That is, until I witness the staffs’ calmness, positivity, strength, endurance, compassion, even love. It is clear they love what they do, and for whom they are doing it. It is also clear how hard they work, and the impact their job has on them. While the residents are here in lock down without the ability to have any visits from family; even during their last moments on earth, the staff here become their family, the person residents seek comfort, conversation or to share a laugh with. Then, at the end of the day, the staff go home to their life, their families with the day’s events I’m sure still weighing on their shoulders.
As I started to write this, I thought I was just going to express my gratitude in maintaining employment, but what I’m feeling as I write this is bigger and more important. It’s that making and maintaining connections with others is paramount, and it’s to remember to practice patience, gratitude and kindness every day. It reminds me to pause and reflect and remind myself how lucky I am today, for witnessing the strength and compassion people continue to demonstrate during difficult times.
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