Something to be proud of

I recently had an interview for a promotion. I should not have applied, and it's good that I did not get it. I wanted transformational change for improvement, so badly and desperately needed.

But I've reached a point of looking back at what has already transpired over the decades, and the blessings that could be found during that time.

The last question I was asked in the interview was - "tell us about your greatest accomplishment."

For me it was a no brainer. I had heard responses in the past from other people, what they thought was their greatest accomplishment. The answers usually ranged along the lines of either a big promotion they received, a title they held, a degree, an award, or a recognition.

I've read a lot of books about eternal things and the contribution we make on the earth while we're here. For me, it was not about what I had been recognized for or received, but the accomplishment question would be about my contribution, what I had done for others. The interview for the position was not for working in a hospital, but it was in the hospitals, starting back in 1990, where I feel like I had more of a contribution than anywhere else.

So my answer to the question was simple - "I'd like to think that I made a difference in the lives of the patients in the hospitals where I worked." My answer reflected what I was most content with. I'll never know the degree to which I could have made a difference in patients lives, but at least to know I worked to clean their rooms as best I could, with the time I had, with all the pressures to do it so fast that even at the peak of my physical abilities, in my 20's, 30's, 40's, could not keep up with the pace as demanded, but still found ways to be happy on many days of what I'd done. On those days, I did leave at the end of shift with something to be proud of.

I've always been a change agent - I like to change everything for improvement where needed. Very difficult to do in the medical field that is regulated so much, and so many chiefs in charge. Sometimes you have to get beat down to know what changes need to be made. Getting smashed down at work can be good. Good for learning. I can't think badly of the hard times, or the upper supervisors that were not happy because of my requests - all these were learning excercises. It is amazing the resistance for many to change to the better, even for things that are not regulated. It's just common sense to me, to seek improvement.

Yet, it is possible to make fundamental amazing improvements if allowed. Even if you are not in charge, in whatever field you may be in, you can make high contributions towards others. There may be no reward, no recognition, and some in the organization may be against your efforts - but that can make it all the more sweet, knowing you helped others while perhaps facing resistance, and even if nobody knew, it was the message you left on earth - you helped people when they needed you - and that is the greatest accomplishment of all.