So what is your driving force? How did you decide to be a caregiver? What was the pivot point that brought you to this moment in time?
Everyone has a story
When we are in high school and beginning to truely evaluate what you would like to do with your life, there are many factors that help you decide. Often times there are many different voices giving you advice.
Sometimes the influence is from parents. There might be a push to take over a family buisness, or follow in footsteps and go into the same career choice. Sometimes it’s actually the opposite and a parent does not want you to follow their lead.
There is the advice from teachers, guidance counselors, and coaches. Many times their input goes a long way if they have established good relationships with us.
Sometimes it is an experience that lights our path forward. It could be an injury, accident, crime, or even good experiences like a concert, a play, or a book.
Is it a passion? Or looking for a paycheck
Sadly in this world, working for your passion does not necessarily correlate with the paycheck. Often times the jobs that can give immeasurable joy and satisfaction don’t necessarily give great joy and passion to the checkbook.This is usually true for service types of occupations.
There are some significant occupations that will surely enlarge your checkbook and have some many other perks.
The biggest question is what makes YOU happy. Do you truly enjoy your career, or is it just a job.
Life will give you an answer
There have truely been times in my career when the usual stresses of therapy and Skilled nursing management have gotten me down. The constant barrage of Medicare cuts every year, the rising cost of insurance coverage taking even more of your paycheck, the shear cost of life in general.
There certainly have been times when it is easy to wonder, “Why am I doing this when I could get a better paycheck outside of therapy?” “I have management and math skills that could easily translate to another career.” “Is there some lthing better out there?”
Like clockwork, Life has a tendency to give me an answer to all the doubts and questions. It always seems just when frustration hits a certain level, one of your residents makes a huge improvement. It could suddenly be the first time standing up on their own, or the first time being able to walk. It could be the day they get to go home and a huge sign of appreciation happens.
Life can be funny like that sometimes. God just seems to give you a sign to reassure you that you are doing the right thing. Make sure to find your happy place. Mine seems to be bettering the lives of a vulnerable population, in any means I can.
