Years ago, I received a greeting card containing a poem which exhorted the reader to do things he/she might not ordinarily do, "just for today". I don't recall who sent me the card or what occasion prompted her to do so, but I've never forgotten the gist of the verse, which was along the lines of "just for today, I will dress becomingly...
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...speak softly...behave graciously...do something for my health that would appall me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime...not try to improve anyone except myself".
This morning, as I was confronted by a sinkful of dishes that my 18-year-old son failed---again---to take care of while I was off toiling away in 100+ degree heat for the third consecutive evening, I was ready to boil over with frustration. His father and I pay him to do certain chores, and we're lucky if he does half of what he's supposed to...he's too busy with his CNA clinicals, his girlfriend, his texting, his computer, his other friends. This is a student NA who will run back and forth to the kitchen ten times a day to fetch things for the residents, and he's the first to clear off the tables after a meal, but he can't be bothered even to take out the garbage at home. Hmmmmmm.
Then I got to thinking about the attitudes of some of my aides as we were trying out a new meal service arrangement last night at work, and how difficult it had been to hold my tongue while everyone else had the luxury of griping about "@#&! management making all these changes without consulting anybody who actually WORKS here". I felt the same way, but I couldn't say that in front of them; all I could do was remind everyone not to complain in front of the residents, and wish I had some mature people to work with instead of twenty-somethings who get all bent out of gear whenever they aren't accorded the respect they seem to think they deserve. Good grief, what makes a 25-year-old believe he or she should be given what's taken me twice that many years to earn??
That's when that little gem of a poem popped into my head, and I thought, "Somebody ought to write a version of 'Just For Today' for healthcare professionals".
Here goes:
Just for today, I will be smiling as I step through the door of my workplace. After all, in this economy, I am more fortunate than many in that I have not only a job but a decent income. Things could be---and have been---much worse.
Just for today, I will greet my co-workers as though they're my best friends. Come to think of it, they are my best friends because they've got my back when things go South and I need help in a hurry.
Just for today, I will remember that the residents pay my salary, that if it weren't for the existence of cranky Mrs. H. and that fellow who puts on his call light every two minutes and yells "HELP!" for no discernible reason, I'd probably be working at Wal-Mart.
Just for today, I will not let myself become annoyed with residents' family members, no matter how much of a time vacuum I think they are or how hard they push us to "do everything possible for Momma". Who knows how much guilt they may be feeling about having put her in here, or how much they love this 98-year-old Alzheimer's patient and want her to live forever?
Just for today, I will NOT assume management sits in their air-conditioned offices all day thinking up make-work projects for us floor nurses to do in our spare time. I've walked in their Ferragamos, and I wouldn't trade jobs with them again for anything.
Just for today, I will look for the good and praise it, speaking words of encouragement to every aide I come in contact with. People need to know when they're doing well, not just when they're messing up; if I can't find anything positive to say, I'll just keep my face shut. There's already enough criticism out there as it is.
Just for today, I will perform my duties as carefully and diligently as though someone important was watching my every move. He is.
And...just for today...I will leave work at work. It's not anyone's fault that the residents are crazy with the heat, that I'm having to referee arguments between staff members who are behaving with all the finesse of third-graders, that the unit manager really DOESN'T know her butt from a hole in the ground (let alone which residents like to sit with whom at dinnertime). I'm away enough evenings as it is; my family deserves to have me fully present on the nights when I get to stay home and chill out with one of Ben's patented strawberry smoothies.
