A good swift kick in the…
I’ve just returned from a manager’s meeting at work where they announced they are suspending 2009 raises until April, at which time they will re-evaluate our financial situation. You’d think after my ranting blog earlier today – sorry guys, I’m not usually such a downer – that I would be adding this to my growing list of annoyances. That probably would be the case if I didn’t have an abrupt change of perspective at lunch.
No, it wasn’t anything I ate, though if it was I could probably bottle the stuff and sell it for a heck of a lot of money. Rather, it was a good old-fashioned case of seeing how good I actually have it, Over lunch, I had the opportunity to volunteer to help out at the local cancer treatment center’s holiday party. My company does a lot of fundraising for this organization but most of our efforts are usually in the form of a check that goes toward useful equipment and programs. Rarely do we have the chance to put a personal face to the people we are helping. Except for today.
As I sorted used clothes for the “boutique” and helped prep the food they would serve at the party, I looked around the infusion center at the 15 or so people patiently sitting in a chair receiving their medication. Some were accompanied by friends and family members, but others were alone and this was especially obvious amidst the festive preparations taking place around the room.
Here I was, exactly two weeks after Thanksgiving, and I’d already forgotten what it means to be thankful. As I re-read my blog from earlier in the day, I realized:
1) I complained about my company hosting a holiday party for children versus one that would benefit me. What the thousands of people who’ve lost their jobs would tell me is that I should be thankful simply that I have a job and with an organization that values their employees.
2) I complained that I had to buy a $15 white elephant gift and wine for a departmental holiday party. To me, really these are small expenses and I can well afford them. To the people in the infusion room today, that $60 doesn’t even cover one of their medications. I should be thankful for my health and the health of all my family and friends.
3) I complained about the holiday parties I’d been invited to attend and the number of gifts I feared I’d have to buy. If I was ever – God forbid – struck with such a debilitating disease as cancer, these friends would probably be the first ones by my side offering to help in any way they could. I’m sure the people alone in the infusion room would love to have such friends. I should be thankful that no matter how difficult a situation may be, I know I will have friends and family to lean on.
Obviously the purpose of a blog is to share thoughts and perspectives, but I literally cringed when I read how shallow, unappreciative and self-important I sounded. On a positive note (see, I’m getting better already) you’ve now seen the worst side of me and hopefully it only gets better from here!
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