It Takes All Kinds Of Kinds!
“Ever since the beginning, to keep the world spinning, it takes all kinds of kinds.”
From lyrics “All Kinds Of Kinds” by Miranda Lambert
My husband and I entered our local airport in the early morning hours one day last May to catch a flight for a combined work/play vacation to Puerto Vallarta. We were just a few of a handful of people in the airport terminal at the time, so we couldn’t help but notice the energetic disposition of an airport employee who greeted the ticket agents with warm regard and polished the metal fronts of their individual ticket counters with meticulous care! I wasn’t sure whether this person was just coming on duty or about to finish up his work shift, I just knew that in the few minutes I observed him, he had made enough of an impact on me that I seemed to feel a little less weary and made a mental note to approach the rest of my day with a more positive outlook–after all, I was going on vacation!
Once settled in our seats on the plane, my husband and I observed a disgruntled passenger in the aisle that an airline attendant appeased with charming finesse! By now, I couldn’t help mentioning to my husband how great some people were at their jobs! Not that I hadn’t noticed before, but with little else to really occupy my time, I was a captive audience! As my husband adjusted a pillow behind his head, he simply stated, “That’s what makes life so great–most of us work hard to find our niche, then we try our best to do really well at it!” Pretty impressive wisdom, considering it was very early and my husband was about to go to sleep!
Since that day, I’ve tried to do better at noticing all the hard work others do–especially when it impacts my life…
I think I’ve mentioned, oh, maybe at least a few dozen times, that we’ve had some yard construction done around our house this summer! The workers who came to re-coat our foundation were some of the hardest working guys I’ve ever seen! It was a hot summer, but the heat never seemed to bother them! It takes amazing skill to apply the cement mix. These men are truly artists at their profession!
On a quick trip to the store to buy more drinks and treats for some of the men working at our house, I was helped with my grocery sacks by a kind, energetic worker gathering carts in the parking lot! I had my two granddaughters with me, and after we’d gotten back in the car, my oldest granddaughter, Makena said “It was sure nice of that guy to help you grandma, and he was so happy!”
I was in awe at the coordination and attention to detail that was required to pour the cement for our new driveway! The contractor worked as hard as the rest of his crew members! A couple of the young workers were his sons–I mean we’re talking really young guys here, and yet the skill set they had obviously learned from their dad on the technique of finishing cement was amazing! You could tell they took real pride in a job well done!
I am reminded of the expert skills of some talented and diligent workers every time I set foot out my front door!
My husband works in the financial planning field and helps others budget and invest their money. He does a lot of retirement 401K work too. He is well versed in the nature of our crazy roller coaster economy and plans his investor’s money accordingly. He is patient and kind as he reassures clients of their financial futures; it seems that many often view him as an extended family member! I also love that my oldest daughter’s husband knew that he wanted to work with numbers when he was about twelve years old. Shane is a math wizard and a great CPA, and seems to know the tax laws like the back of his hand! I work hard for my money, but find that paying the bills and balancing my checkbook is about as far as I want to venture into the financial world, so I am very appreciative for those who know how to help manage it!
Naja is a housekeeper on the women’s unit at the hospital where I work. Naja came from Bosnia and doesn’t speak a lot of English, but always greets you with a smile! Naja goes out of her way to make everything neat and clean. The floors are perfectly polished and the patient beds are beautifully made by Naja–she doesn’t miss a thing! I once asked Naja if it was hard for her to go home and clean her own house after work, but she just laughed shyly and told me that she enjoys making things nice for everyone. The patients especially take note of Naja’s hard work. Naja constantly inspires me to do my job better!
I work with doctors and nurses who are a credit to their profession and are fun to be around and considerate of others, despite the long hours spent at the hospital. As my son-in-law, Cole, works to finish up his last year of medical school, I know he will be a valuable asset to the medical field, and not only because of his keen ability to grasp the ever-expanding knowledge base that is required to be a doctor, but also for his desire to be genuinely kind and caring as well!
Watching my father during his many years in the teaching profession, I know how hard he worked, and I realize that being a teacher is one of the hardest jobs in the world if it is done right! More on this topic coming next week!
Finally, as my husband and I waited for our flight on that morning last May, I saw that most of the other early arriving travelers were military personnel who were leaving for deployment or making a transfer to another base assignment. Words are not sufficient to describe the selfless, courageous work of these brave people!
Recognizing Our Superpowers!
This is a saying on a cup I recently received as a wonderful gift. It made me stop and think what I might be capable of in my life if I worked like I really believed that I did hold some sort of superpowers! In all the various roles we take on each day, how much better would we be at the things we wanted to accomplish if we conducted ourselves as if we actually held magical abilities to help make life better for others?
After being more observant of other’s abilities lately, I’m starting to believe more and more in superpowers!
Since I’m required to wear scrubs at work, I have to at least let my shoes show that I’m willing to go the distance, so to speak! Ha!
Anyone you’ve observed lately with the extraordinary ability to be amazing at what they do, no matter the circumstances?
–Mary