Don't Give Up



Yesterday was a bad day.  It had NOTHING to do with the pandemic and everything to do with work. It was a good thing that I was working from home so that the woman I report to could not see that I was I was crying and I covered my microphone so she couldn't hear me sobbing at various points in our conversation.  I was at a point yesterday where I just wanted to give up.  I wanted to say: "I quit.  I can't do this.  To me it seems like you think I can't do this.  You don't understand me."  But I didn't.  And it wasn't out of any nobleness; I need this job and this paycheck.  I need to keep going.

 After our conversation, I took a break and went for a walk.  I am lucky enough to be able to do so and I realize that.  I tried to enjoy the sun on my face.  I tried to enjoy the view.  It worked; a little.  Not enough, but enough to keep me going.

 While I was on that walk, my former boss called me.  We still work together even though I don't report to him.  One of the reasons I enjoyed working for him (and still enjoy working with him) is that he takes mistakes/errors and makes them "teachable moments."  He'll say "lesson learned" and we move forward.  I think that's something we all need.  We all screw up.  We all screw up multiple times for a multitude of reasons.  We need someone to point to our mistake and show us how to move forward.  As we talked, he didn't say that I was to blame for something, but he didn't let me off the hook either.  As he was trying to work out a solution to our current situation he said, "this is nobody's fault; and everybody's fault."  He is right; the problem is not the result of one person, but of a large group of people who are failing to communicate and work together.  (There is still an us/them culture.)  I am not alone in this (although it sure the heck feel that way).  I can work with him and others to communicate better and eventually things will get better.  Maybe not perfectly or exactly the way we want them, but better.

 I was and am grateful that his call came yesterday afternoon while I was at a low point.  While I still had a few moments throughout the day (and to be honest I'm having some now), he encouraged me to move forward.  Even though I no longer report to him, he is still providing me with teachable moments.

 So here is MY teachable moment for you; even though I'm no teacher, leader or expert of everything.  Don't Give Up.  I'm not saying don't cry.  I'm not saying don't be angry.  I AM saying, keep moving forward.  For those of you who are ill; keep fighting and keep trying.  Do what you can...and what you can do looks different than what someone else's can do looks like.  We are not here to compare one another or judge one another.  We are here to keep moving forward.  Or as one of my favorite fish once said:  "Just keep swimming."

 We are all different, yet we are all the same.  We are sharing this planet together; now in this moment. Each of us has something to offer; even though we may not know it.  Don't give up.

 We are all faced with moments of unbearable pain; be it physical, emotional, spiritual...don't give up. Move forward; slowly.  Life is not a race to be run; it is a journey to move through, to learn from, and to hopefully enjoy.

 This is a difficult time for ALL of us; we are all just at different levels of dealing with this crisis.  When it seems too hard to bear; don't give up.  There are still lessons to learn.  There are still smiles to share.  

 We will need to rest, but we can't JUST rest.  We will need to cry, but we can't JUST cry.  We might be angry, but we can't JUST be angry.  Keep moving...don't give up.

 Stay safe...stay sane.  And DON'T GIVE UP.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Have Taken America Back

Image
Back to a time when all men (and women) are not created equal.  Where women's healthcare is determined by men's laws and not by medical professionals. Where education tells only the "winning" side of the story and truth does not matter.  Where banning and burning books is a social event.  Where people who are "different" than those in power can be mocked, shunned and hurt with no real consequences. Where lies are acceptable and integrity is  just a word on a page We have moved into a time where rage is the rage.  Where hate is not just normal, but accepted and even cheered. Where leaders can ask to have their "enemies" killed and no one will bat an eye.  Where it's "funny" to see someone struggle.  Where felony is applauded. Where compassion is not shown and caring for others is looked down upon. We have taken America back to a time of pain and suffering for many.  Back to when the "haves" can have and the have nots don'...
Read more

It's Not About Starbucks (or is it)?

Image
  About a block and a half from my home in a major intersection.  At the southeast corner (which is nearest to me), is an empty building.  Back in 1995 it was a Bank of NY (I remember this because they didn't shovel/de-ice their parking lot well and my husband fell and broke his ankle one Monday morning.  I recall this clearly because we were not yet married and it was the first day of a new job for me.  I had gotten on the bus to work and he was catching a later one; only he never got there.  Instead he ended up laying on the ground until an employee came to open up the bank.  Then he had them call an ambulance AND my mother who took control of the situation until I arrived home that night blissfully unaware of what had happened that day.)  It eventually became a Chase Bank; the second one in my small little town.  It eventually closed.  I'm not sure when but it's been empty for quite a long time.  (I do know that it was open in 20...
Read more

As Is

Image
  Today I want to discuss what I think it is a relatively simple concept, but may be difficult for some, even an attorney who might have once, over a decade ago won a  prestigious award  for young lawyers .  That term is "AS IS." As you may know, I volunteer in a thrift shop.  Everything we sell, from all the donations we receive, is "as is."  The items are not brand new.  They are not perfect.  That doesn't mean they aren't any good or worth something. They are sold "as is."  Buyers should go in knowing that. (After all you are shopping in a thrift shop!)  In some cases, particularly when we are offering higher end products, we will actually write on the price tag, "as is." Such is the case of two designer purses that I purchased from there this summer.  (I'm a purse-aholic!  Don't look in my closet.)  They were reasonably priced (especially when you consider the name brand), but each had an "as is" clearly marked o...
Read more