Last night a friend asked me about my job working for a Hospice where death is an almost daily occurrence. He wondered how I could possibly love what I do when it deals with people dying. The people I work with are the kindest, most compassionate bunch of folks you will ever find. Hospice is not just a job, it’s a calling. It takes a special person to be able to deal with death, to be with people in the last days of their lives, to empathize with the loved ones of those who are facing the loss of someone they love. And while I rarely meet the patients, and only sometimes meet the families, I know each and every one of them through our clinical staff who do know them personally.
When my sons were trying to decide what to do with their lives, what choice to make for a degree in college, I told them to there are basically 2 ways to look at it realistically. You can have a job that you don’t particularly love but that you make good money doing, or you have a job you love that may not pay as well as other jobs. It is a rare find I think to find a job where you love what you do and feel like you are paid well for it as well.
When I “fell” into the hospice job, I found that it was not only a job that paid well for my experience level, but it is a good fit for me. I often remark how blessed I am to be paid for helping others. While I am technically the “business manager”, I think the real job I do is keeping the staff uplifted with my humor and my positive ,optimistic, nothing’s gonna get me down attitude.
I was reading something the other day about jobs and the author said the best job of all is one that makes the world, and your world, a better place. And I thought, wow…that’s what I have. What a blessing.
But its not all about work. If you don’t find the passion in your work, then find it in your free time. Get absolutely enthralled with something. Get over the fear, the discouragement, the imaginary fences that hold you back. Throw yourself into something with abandon. Be somebody. Whatever that is. For me, its comedy, its writing. For others it may be music, or gardening, or volunteering. Whatever it is there is no time to waste. Life is too short to be miserable.
It doesn’t really matter what you do whether it be your job or your hobby. What is a dream job, or wonderful hobby to you may be drudgery and stress to another. Whether you are the janitor or the CEO it doesn’t matter as long as you find fulfillment and give it your best. The Bible has a verse in Ecclesiastes 9:10 that says Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. I love that.
Relationships need to be that way too. If you truly care about someone you invest in them. That means you take the good with the bad, you overlook the flaws and celebrate the good things. You pour your heart and soul into the people you love and watch what happens in return. Sometimes it backfires; sometimes you may get hurt. But it’s worth the risk.
This weekend I was pondering whether or not to take a trip I was invited to go on. I ended up talking myself out of it. And wishing that I hadn’t. Because the “cons” came from people around me who were worried about me, for me. What if …..,what if….do you really want…..I wouldn’t….. Should have gone with my instincts and taken a leap of faith. A life without risk, emotional or otherwise is a pretty mundane life. Next time I have the opportunity, I’m going for it.
Sometimes, when you take a leap of faith, things don’t turn out like you want, or hope for. For example, you should have seen how badly my family and friends freaked out when I decided to fly to Nashville several years ago and meet Matt, a guy I had been talking to on line. The What if …..,what if….do you really want…..I wouldn’t…..began as soon as I told people of my plans. Did I have some fears, some reservations? Absolutely. But I did it anyway. And while it didn’t turn out to be a romantic relationship, it turned out to be one of the most fun days I have ever had. And it turned out to be a friendship that has lasted for 8 years. And it turns out that that encounter, that man, is the one who ultimately inspired me to try stand up comedy. Something I probably never would have even considered had it not been for that day in Nashville with a truly funny man who thought I was funnier.
Whats next for me? A REAL LEAP OF FAITH. My friend from Tulsa, the one that didn’t want to meet me originally because I’m so extroverted but then had a change of heart? He’s a skydiver. Wants me to give it a try. I haven’t decided. But more than likely I’ll do it. Because what's life without a little adventure, a little risk. Please someone TALK ME OUT OF THIS ONE. LOL
I would never advise someone to quit a job even if they hate it. Jobs are too hard to find. But if the opportunity comes along to do something you love I say go for it. If there’s a hobby you’ve wanted to take up but haven’t made the time for, go for it. If there are people that you want to get to know, if there are things you have never tried but want to, go for it. There may be some sacrifices involved. But the joy of doing what you love, finding love, finding a passion, experiencing a new thing may well be worth the risk. Shake it up a little.
Blessings
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