Why Do We Do What We Do?
Mother Fucker. You suck. I'm going to sue. You all are stealing money. You're going to lose your job. I'm going to kill you. I'm going to kill myself. You all are worthless. Just some of the things we hear on a weekly basis. The list goes on and on and it keeps growing. So why do we do what we do...
I have worked in mental health my entire adult life. I've seen some pretty messed up things. Been attacked. Been spit on. Lied to on a daily basis. The reality is that we will lose a lot more than we can help. Getting better for some people, is beyond their capabilities. So why do we do what we do...
I work on a team that is all women, with the exception of one other dude. We are a close group. There really isn't much that we don't know about each other. A powerful team with a fierce desire to help. Blessed to be surrounded by them. As I am by far the oldest of them, I get my fair share of abuse. But at the end of the day, they trust me and lean on me...as I them.
It's a thankless job. I make a decent buck. But I could be making more doing my side hustle. But I stay, because I feel like I am supposed to be there. And for that privilege, I have to watch my back on a daily basis. Be subjected to being called some pretty fucked up things. Work in some pretty hostile environments. So why do we do what we do...
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Yesterday late Friday afternoon, one of my team members called me with a crisis situation. Within minutes, my program coordinator from the Rapid Response Team and myself, were heading into the storm. Why do we do what we do? Yes, we lose more people than we can help. But sometimes they do get better. And as of last night, one individual is still alive, because our team exemplifies not only true professionalism, but because we also believe that everyone deserves help...and we don't know what the meaning of the word "quit" is.
Long hours, no lunch breaks and being mistreated on a daily basis. Why do we do what we do? We do it because we believe in you.
*Actual picture taken minutes after the crisis. Debriefing with the team, prior to returning to the office.