Ok, skipped yesterday so need to pick up again. Gratitude Challenge: Day 3 1 - I am grateful for friends. I find the nature of friendship changes over the course of our lifetime. In our childhood they are are neighborhood kids, schoolmates and associations through our activities. In high school they are running buddies, hangout friends and team mates. As we grow our interests change and they are friends turned lovers, and then eventually wives and husbands. Our focus becomes more intensely linked to our family and making our way through the world. We have fewer running buddies and hangout friends as our time is consumed with our careers and family. Some manage relationships that fill those voids through church, work, or organizations like Shriners, Elks, Eagles. Some are so consumed by their home and work that they let those deep outside friendships fade to memories. Instead we have a different level of friendship with co-workers, those are sometimes as deep a bond as those in our youth, but most are of a different quality, not in the sense of value, but in the context of the fabric of that relationship. There are friends in both groups for whom I would drop everything in an instant to assist in a time of need. I hope and believe you know who you are. I find as I age I am missing those close bonds or friendship that fueled my wild youthful dreams. Time and geography have spread those friends far and wide. I maintain close personal friends of great value, and through the lucky intervention of FaceBook those who I thought had forever slipped away are being rediscovered. I value those newly reconnected friends dearly and find joy in reading of your thoughts, your lives and your passions. 2 - I am grateful for my career. Not just my job, but my career. In my years I have had a string of jobs in the same career. I spent 33 years either being claim adjuster, or managing them. Now, I know what you are thinking… as a group we are just a little less popular than attorneys and politicians, but actually I have rarely met one that would intentionally cause harm or mess with somebody. Some of our decisions are not poplar, and attorneys make a living drawing pictures of us as heartless bastards, but the truth is, more often, we are helping people in some times of their greatest stress. My line has been predominately workers compensation. Most of the time, in fact statistically about 96% of the time folks are legitimately injured and it is our job to take the financial burden off of them and allow them to heal. It has been good helping people through these times of stress. Usually they are scared and confused in addition to being in pain. A good claims person sets them at ease, reassures them what their benefits will be and makes sure that they get the best possible medical care. I have had people flown the length and breadth of the country to receive care in centers of excellence to meet their needs. I have paid for travel for family members to be at their side to aid and encourage their recovery. I think I have helped far more than I have hurt, and I have trained many claim reps to show the same respect and commitment to assisting rather than resisting. I have had the great good fortune to lead teams of claim reps in their work, and have always been proud of them. 3 - I am grateful for the pets and animals in my life. I have always had dogs, and a few cats. I prefer dogs. Unquestioned loyalty, and always happy to see you when you come in the door. They provide comfort and companionship when you need it most. In the last 10 years I have fallen in love with our equine friends as well. Huge animals with the capacity to kill you in a heartbeat, but who choose instead to serve. I have found the great animals to be for the most part much like humans. Some are stupidly happy, some shy and some with such distinct personalities it is like they read your mind. I dont ride. That is my daughters thing. I clean and groom, scratch ears and bathe. I shovel my share of their residue and find in that task a quiet satisfaction. My profession tends not to have a beginning and end, while cleaning a stall is a finite task. They typically show their gratitude by immediately making a fresh deposit in your honor, but no matter. Right now there is a 2 year old stud that I care for. Some around dont like him much as he can be pushy and seem aggressive. What I learned is that when you work with him you need to first pay him attention. He loves to have his face scratched and his neck rubbed. A few minutes of that attention and he is calm. He will follow you around and he will nudge you for more attention, but is really just a big dumb kid, looking for attention. Give him a little, define your personal space and he is fine. Patience is a virtue not wasted on animals.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 03:09:54 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015