"New Job, new perspective..." 'Judith Whitehead' (Inspiration Monday)

Judith Whitehead is back guest-blogging on this Inspirational Monday about how every day is Thanksgiving ... Judith lives in Amherst N.Y. has worked in the ophthalmology field of medicine for almost 30 years...

Times are tough for many not knowing where their next meal may come from. Many people are one step away from being homeless...

Sometimes we can get in a rut, going to the same job every day, mindlessly getting up every morning

and going to work to bring home a paycheck. After several years of doing that, I woke up one day and

decided I needed to work at a place where I could make a difference. I needed to contribute to a place

where my work meant something and I could give back and feel fulfilled at the end of the day.

So after several months of searching for the right position, I found a medical practice where I could

utilize my medical and people skills more fully and could feel that I can do something to make a

difference in someone’s life at the end of each day. It is so easy to get complacent in our lives and to

just go along and get along every day. We have such little time to leave our mark on this world; It’s

important to give back somehow to people who can benefit from our help and touch their lives in some

small way.

Each medical practice has a certain culture of people it is comprised of depending on where the practice is located. As it turns out, I have found myself working in an area of Buffalo that has some of the most needy patients of all. They are people from all walks of life, professionals’ as well as nearly homeless enter our doors every day of the week. They are all in need of medical attention and they all share a common bond; they are all human being in search of care.

In all my years of working in the health field,I have never felt as lucky as I have lately. Over the last few months I have met such a variety of needy people that have no fall back network, no family or friends to count on and who are in such need of medical attention. Their stories unfold in front of me each day and range from despair to success as I work through their patient history. I cannot help but compare their lives to mine and it has made me realize just how lucky I am to be part of a loving family and group of friends; some of them will never experience what I have had all my life. Many of them are of limited financial means and have put their health on the back burner for many years, now it is catch up time to fix what been broken for so many years.

 For many, food and housing takes precedence over health and well being. As their stories unfold each day in my work area and they share what has happened in their lives, I feel lucky to be part of their health care plan and only hope it is not too late for so many that have gotten to this point of sickness and despair.

It once again reminds us that many people living, especially during these shaky financial times, how

fragile life really is and that we are all just one step away from homelessness, unemployment and

despair. None of us really take the time to realize each day that we have a warm place to live and food

to eat each day; something that many of these people worry about 24/7.

Especially during this time of year, when the holidays are approaching, we need to take some time to

realize what we have. I have begun to observe this fact every day I go to work and feel more grateful

than I ever have for how lucky I and my family have been. When you have the opportunity to swap

stories with the needy, you really see the great amount of lonely, needy and unhealthy people that still

remain out there with no support system and nowhere to turn. Thanksgiving will take on new meaning,

especially this year for me.

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