Greetings Everyone,
I hope you are all well today. I want to take a moment to reflect on another important lesson I learned this week. I have volunteered and worked in some capacity since 1998. I was 13 years old at the time I started. I am 36 now and I have worked at numerous jobs throughout the years. I have worked in various industries – child care, education and development (which I favor); retail; administrative/secretarial, data entry and case management. I have a diverse background and loads of experience in interacting with people. I don’t always interact with people because I am focused on my tasks. Plus, I am a quiet introvert. I meet lots of people daily. I don’t always remember people, especially faces. However it is likely I will remember a person’s name. For whatever reason, people always seem to know who I am.
I have worked with so many people over the years. I made some friends. There are more acquaintances. I can tell you various stories about those experiences. There was a time where I would only work at a job for three to six months before leaving. I just celebrated 11 years at my current job, which is a huge accomplishment for me. The second longest job duration was two years and four months. Everyone made a lasting impact, whether good or bad. I remember a lot of things from every job.
I am always happy when people excel and when they are promoted. I am happy when people are finally able to retire. At jobs, we tend to spend the majority of our time with our coworkers. I have met a lot of wonderful people, many of whom I have kept in touch with over the years. Many coworkers are connected to me on various social media platforms. I tend to move around a lot to different units and offices. As a result I have learned a lot of policies and skills. Many people reach out to me for help as a result. I don’t mind since I have spent a lot of time training others.
I have personally worked in units and jobs where everyone was tight nit. I have worked in other jobs and units where there was some division. I am a person who tries hard to get along with people. I am human, and that is not always feasible. I can recall a time when I almost got into a physical altercation with a coworker at a grocery store that I worked at part time. There were plenty of instances where I did not always like or get along with people, since we all have different personalities. And that is okay. God made me be real and not perfect. I do take ownership of my part in the matter. Just know that I am a work in progress and I am trying to do a better job of interacting with coworkers on all levels. I do know and understand there are things that I need to work on. However, no matter what you do, people won’t always like you. People have various reasons for this. It is okay, as long as people are honest with themselves. I am not a saint, nor do I proclaim to be.
The main point that I am trying to make is that we tend to spend more time with coworkers than our actual families. This is the case if you are in full time employment. Having worked at my current employer for as long as I have, I have met hundreds of people. Many people have come and go. I have gotten close to some. For the most part, I stayed to myself since I was always so inundated in my work. I trained many people, There were also a lot of times where I functioned as an unofficial supervisor and lead worker because a lot of people came to me with questions for the work we do. I remember many names. Many people know me. It is safe to say some have touched me more than others. I made some friends. In fact, when I got married in 2011, my coworkers had a bridal party for me. I participated in various meetings, holiday parties and functions. It is nice having fellowship and comraderies with coworkers. I enjoy those interactions.
Unfortunately, there were a lot of coworkers who passed away too. Being a truly empathetic person, I am deeply affected by death. I am always saddened. In recent weeks, several former and current coworkers passed away. In the midst of COVID-19, I attended the funeral of one person. I sent a donation via Cash App for another person’s children. The funeral is forthcoming for the last person. Unfortunately, that date pose a scheduling conflict. I did send a donation via Cash App for his surviving family members. I did not know either of them well. However, all of them were kind people who truly worked hard. The final coworker I described was the jokester who kept the office laughing. All will be deeply missed. No matter what they were dealing with, all exuded positivity. That is how I will remember them all and I will honor their memory. I still have the handmade stone another former coworker gave me prior to her passing, which proudly sits on my desk at work. This painted stone says “smile.” I always need that reminder.
I strongly believe that there is a reason why we all cross paths. We can all stand to learn a thing or two from one another. Every interaction is meant to teach us something. Dealing with coworkers have taught me immeasurable lessons that I will never forget. Many coworkers become like family. I have former coworkers who became my closest friends. I am grateful for that. I remained in contact with various coworkers, especially via social media platforms. It is nice to hear about the great things that are happening in their lives, such as promotions, marriages, child/grandchild births, retirements, relocations, etc. I am always happy for people’s success. I wish everyone strength and prosperity when they are struggling and facing many of life’s challenges. I pray for many of them (based on the relationship I have with them). I always hope for the best, no matter what happens in their lives.
It took me a long time to realize how important coworkers can be. I guess that is a part of growing and understanding life more. I hope to build better relationships with coworkers in the future. It is my ultimate hope to one day become an entrepreneur. I plan to use each coworker interaction that I can recall as a mechanism to succeed. I hope you all think long and hard about your coworker interactions. Continue to learn and grow from them. I am glad I did.
Thank you all for your time. Enjoy your day. Stay blessed.
< 3 Rayne Elise
~ This post is dedicated to the memory of John, Mecca, Sharon, Tonya, David, and Ambrose and anyone else I worked with over the years who passed away. I am grateful I had the opportunity to meet and work with you all. May you all rest in peace. You will never be forgotten. You are all deeply missed.
Discovery Journey 