A Few of My Favorite Things: Part II
Tag: Work
day’s end
the dog sits and stares
at me–wonders, what ….
I think she knows today
nearly pummeled me
into submission
I walked a tightrope with
loose ends and software
glitches
my voice is cracking
and the last bit of
fight I have in me
will be used
to clean this day
off my skin
tomorrow isn’t promised
but I’m already praying
it comes with more
of an appeal than
what I struggled with
today
many of us can
conquer the hard times
and jump over the
obstacles but how
many of us are willing
to admit we want
just one day of
struggle-free experiences
just one day of
getting it done without
tiresome negotiations
just one day of
not wondering how
intense the next day
will be before it even
arrives
it’s nearly day’s end
and while I have all
of this welling up
inside me, I still
believe “joy comes
in the morning.”
*Originally shared via LinkedIn on Thursday, August 25, 2022 after a stressful day of work.
relentless
another day tried to
dog us–take us through
the ringer, but we
persevered–willingly
available to help each
other overcome an
overwhelming beat-down
one’s not told just
how stressful working
with people can be when
one pursues a career
where people are the
ultimate focus
we’re given the “idea”
of satisfaction at the
end of the day just
because we can help
make a difference in
the lives of others,
but this work isn’t for
the weary
relentless; an understatement
when it comes to the
remarkable human beings
I share these tasks with;
we are made of lightning
and “Hadouken” forces,
strengthened by a togetherness
that cannot fail
by the end of your call,
if we haven’t made your
day an excellent one, then
you haven’t talked to
us
an undeniable peace
before the workday
began, I sent a few
prayers up for
strength and endurance
and for peace.
this week has been
a storm wrapped in
a tsunami yet I
have the pleasure
of working with
an amazing team–a
beautiful bunch of
people who see
the storm and react
accordingly.
we tackle every
obstacle we’ve trained
for effortlessly–loading
hard times on our
backs–our proverbial
crosses to bear, and
we march forth,
determined to complete
every task.
there is an
undeniable peace in
knowing suffering isn’t
an act of alone(ness)–it
is never as brutal
as it can be when
the number is
just one.
exhaustion
I wash my white clothes
without washing them–
re-read that …
I thought I’d selected
the settings, pressed
the start button, and
walked away from the
beginning of cleanliness
for my fabrics, but
apparently, I forgot to
do this.
there’s nothing like
finding dried laundry
detergent on your lights
and whites, and being
puzzled by this fact–
nothing like having to
actually wash your clothes
when you thought you’ve
already done this.
maybe it was working overtime
two days in a row, followed
by traveling to visit
my mom after a full
week of craziness
that almost showed no
signs of letting up.
and the cleaning and the
cooking and the caregiving
of a senior dog
or a combination of all
these things.
and now, as I listen
to the whir and hum
of my washing machine,
I am thankful for
the ability to take on
this task again from
the comfort of
my home.
The Grieving Room
Pictures tell the stories we can’t seem to share
I had one rollercoaster of a week. Work was hectic until Thursday afternoon. We had major issues with our phones and there had also been some connectivity issues which made our jobs extremely difficult. When your main priority is to answer phones and schedule patients for radiology scans and invasive procedures, not being able to effectively and efficiently do this for nearly a week had been mind-altering … and not in a good way.
I don’t know what had me on the verge of breaking down on Wednesday afternoon— it could have been the frustration of dealing with the issues with the phones and software or the weather (it has been raining off and on here for nearly two straight weeks), but I felt a weight overcome me that I just couldn’t shake.
Thankfully, I was keying in contact letters for unresponsive patients and had a moment to allow the tears to flow.
When this form of emotion hits me out of nowhere, the first thing I want to do is … text or call my cousin. It is still hard for me to force myself into the action of not thinking about her to call or text — I am trying but it is far too hard to remove from my mind.
I often wish there was a switch — one I could flick off — one I could use to remove the thought from my mind so that it never occurs again because when it happens, the sea of sadness becomes my wading pool.
I am moving through it all as best as I can. One thing is for certain, I am glad the workweek is behind me.
A few photographs and a visit with one’s mom can renew the spirit
One thing that did help me through this week had been taking pictures of various things that make me happy or cause me to pause and reflect on life’s happenings for just a moment. The following photos are the results from this past week.
To shake some of the “stank” off me from this past workweek, I took a trip to Greensboro, North Carolina, to spend some time with my mom. Visiting my mom allowed both me and Jernee to truly kick back and relax at her place while we gave her our utmost attention.
After dealing with everything that took place this past week, seeing her face and listening to her talk 100 mph did my entire being some good.
I think Jernee agrees too.
Appreciating the beauty all around me
Now that the past week is behind me and a few emotional moments have been curbed, I am bracing myself for whatever is to come for the rest of this weekend.
I don’t plan on doing too much for the rest of the day, and the only things I intend to do for tomorrow are to wash my hair and cook dinner (I am still thinking about what I will make). Aside from the normal little things I do on Sunday, these will be the only two add-ons.
I have enjoyed looking up, around, and within my line of sight to capture God’s creations, however major or simple. Sometimes we need pictures to tell the stories we cannot seem to share. I think the photos above have epic tales to tell. Don’t you?
“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” ― Eudora Welty
Welcome to The Grieving Room. I am here. You are here. We are not alone in this.
©2022 Tremaine L. Loadholt Originally published in The Grieving Room newsletter via LinkedIn.
A Cornered Gurl 
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