Did You Sign Up for This? - Reflection

Last Spring, I went to help care for my dad for 10 days or so. I knew I'd be assisting him with ADLs and buying groceries, etc, in between my coaching sessions. When I arrived, he explained the neighbor helping with the horses wouldn't be by since I was there. "Hmm, okay," I thought. I was not planning on helping with the animals?but decided it would be fine.

The next day, my dad said, "Oh, one more thing, I need you to take care of the beaver dam each day." I laughed, thinking it was a joke.... he wasn't joking. ?? "I'm sorry, what?" He explained?the beavers had blocked the pond's spillway drain, and someone had just spent a lot of time digging it out, but beavers repaired it each night - so it's an ongoing battle to keep the pond edges from overflowing and eroding. He told me the tools were in the back of the side-by-side.

I drove to the area and looked at the site where I'd be standing ("If I were a moccasin, I'd like to curl up here and sleep"). I looked at the mass of mud and branches. So much for the manicure I received for an upcoming wedding. I grabbed the shovel and half-heartedly?tried to dig out the trench, taking?care not to get too muddy before my next coaching call. "He has the wrong person." I could barely put the shovel in. "This is not what I signed up for!!" I said aloud to the dogs, horses, donkey, beavers, and imagined snakes.?

I returned and announced that I, in fact, was the wrong person for the job. He accepted it. That night as he was beating me in cards, we discussed my attempt. He said, "You tried using a shovel?! No, you need to use the pickaxe or hoe. Those branches are braided tight."

Hmm, I thought about it. I like a challenge. As I went to sleep, I determined I was going out early the next day to give it a full attempt. I have to say, there was great satisfaction swinging a pickaxe to form two throughways in the dam. Water began flowing. I felt a bit proud and glad I'd been keeping up with my strength training. I tackled the dam the next few mornings (they literally built it back that fast).?

I reflected back to specific times during my career, and to current?residents and attendings saying the same phrase: "I didn't sign up for this." It's true, reality and expectations are often mismatched. Have you ever said it? It?doesn't have to mean you shouldn't be where you are, however. Acceptance and curiosity can be helpful.?

But most importantly, it's?much easier to rise to the occasion when you have the proper strategy, determination that you find within,?and the right tool! (And you may need wisdom from someone more experienced to figure those out - mentors are amazing).

When do you find yourself saying you didn't sign up for this? What strategies can you formulate? Why do you want to overcome the challenge? What do you need to ask for?

Also, taking on an unplanned challenge can be very helpful for future planning. You learn a lot about what you want and don't. Despite being successful in a temporary battle with beavers, I can tell you, without a doubt, that this is not part of my ideal future plan! (And my dad eventually found a more effective strategy than me swinging?a pickaxe! ??)

Have a joy-filled?and strategy-up-leveling?type of week! ?Tonya??

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