Wednesday Ramble

When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light,

for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and the joy

of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies in yourself.

Tecumseh

I had a nice day yesterday. It takes no planning to feel grateful.  It only calls for a change in the thought process, to rise in the morning and look forward to the day. The truth is, life is only as good as we allow it to be. Constant griping and a lack of gratitude for the little things that cross our lives can make us into miserable people. It's up to us how we look at life.  For example, life hasn't blessed me with a lot of money, and I know I will never own my own home, but I don't dwell on it.  Home is where the heart is and life has blessed me with just enough to to have a comfortable place to come home to, something that many people do not have. Life has blessed me with a loving husband, loving sons, and Miss Minga, my loyal friend. Nothing gives me more joy than sitting in my rocking chair after a hard day of work with Miss Minga at my feet.  

I am grateful for the warmer temperatures and the gentle peek of the sun.  Reminds me that Imbolc is on its way.  Hubby has been sick with a cold and is now on the mend. Boy, am I ever grateful for that! The man has dealt with a dreadful car accident, cancer, numerous liver biopsies, a year of giving himself shots in his stomach that made him nauseous throughout the weekend, and pneumonia to name a few...but it is the common cold that brings him to his knees. 

I've been going through something on the job lately that has really brought me to the verge of quitting.  I've not mentioned it here before, but there is a male client who has been acting quite threatening to me and several other female counselors.  He tries to intimidate us by raising his fists. He has done that twice with me, and I tell you know, I was shaking in my boots, but I couldn't show fear.  Not easy standing there and not even flinching when someone with a known history of violence and mental illness is approaching you looking as if they are going to kick the crap out of you, but showing fear only invites further threats.  One cannot give in because when you do, you lose all control.  

Like Monday, I had just finished putting away breakfast--which clients know is served from 9 am to 9:45 am.  He came into the room at five minutes to ten and demanded a juice.  I told him "I'm sorry, but breakfast is over." He then got this angry look on his face, stomped his foot pretending to take a step towards me, and raising his fist.  I stood my ground.  If you give in once, he's got you, and that is the biggest part of his game.  One counselor is so afraid of him that she lets him come to group long after group has started.  She is afraid to tell him no.

Well, after I told my boss, "If he steps to me again, I am walking out.  I don't like feeling threatened, and don't feel that I should have to be afraid to come to work", several other people came forward.  In one group, a young intern's group, he picked up a chair and threw it across the room because she told him to have a seat.  Several other staff members from the maintenance crew came to complain that he approached them outdoors asking for a cigarette, and when they refused, he stated, "I'll f.... you up."  Another counselor went to a family Christening party on Saturday that just happened to be in the neighborhood where she lived.  He followed her in there.  She only found out he was there was someone pointed him out and said, "Why is that guy staring at you?' 

Well, I am totally grateful to all of these people for stepping up as they did.  Word got to the higher ups, and they want him out. Staff should NEVER be put in a position where they are threatened.  My boss, as nice as he is, is a wimp. I'm sorry that he got into some trouble over this, but we have to be protected.  I am grateful to her for stepping in and putting staff first.  It is about time.

Thanks for letting me share.