b's first thanksgiving... in health care

my first time working in health care on a holiday was a success!  while it was sad to have to trade off both of my only two official holidays (being thanksgiving day and christmas day) in order to have feasible days to travel to see family, i knew the sacrifice was worth it, if not necessary this year.  leading up to this week, it made me sad to tell friends and family that i would be spending thanksgiving day at work... coming home to have dinner alone... BUT strolling in at 7am this morning, it somehow just didn't feel like work.  i LOVE my job.  i had to keep reminding myself that there was actually a "holiday" going on because when i put on that name badge and start knocking on patient's doors, i get in my zone and just do my thing, and give 100% to the person i am with. every time.  the fact it was a holiday almost made it more fun and enjoyable... there were certainly more smiles in the hallway, more thankfulness, more warmth between staff.   then i also remember that the people who i got to serve today didn't have the choice of whether they were going to be there or not... their bodies, and timing, and medicare decided they would be waking up alone in a nursing facility this morning... not enjoying all the other holiday plans they may have had in mind.

ANYWAY, this is not meant to be a lecture on being more thankful and feeling bad about how great we have it, etc etc... but rather, my own insight into the fact that holidays are just days.  for these residents and these families, every day is still one more day they are not at home.  my "job" rarely feels like work.  i'm really not missing anything that important or momentous that couldn't occur some other time in the year (and family get-togethers surely will).  AND that i spent my day (as i do every other day) doing something with purpose and meaning and that uses my skills and talents to their potential.  i am so thankful for my role and opportunities and the people who spent their thanksgiving day with me and my amazing, giving and inspiring coworkers...  i feel overwhelmingly blessed this Thanksgiving!

<3

OH.... and did i say i was coming home to have dinner alone?  because i MEANT i am going to my coworker's house for thanksgiving dinner with some of the other therapists and her family :)  i love my job but i LOVE EVEN MORE the perk of having more than one family, with my second one being my fabulous coworkers!