Have you ever had one of THOSE days? I had one of those weekends... Lost a game, a few too many injuries for my liking (or my coaches), long days of travel and uncomfortable hotel beds, tried to hang Christmas lights which were burnt out, and started a fireplace fire that filled our house with smoke. I woke up this morning dreading the day, the paperwork, staff meetings, coaches' meetings, rehabs and all of the other joys a Monday brings. Then one of my athletes came in to see our team physician. I asked if it was ok for me to come in with her and she simply said "of course you're coming with me, you're always there for me". That simple statement changed my day and reminded me of why we do this crazy job and the heart of what are days are meant to be.
So many days we dwell on the negatives, the to-do lists and the why me's. We sit around feeling sorry for ourselves and throw our own pity party just to help us through the day. I wondered this morning if there was ever a day when my negativity brought someone else down, or if a smile through my frown would have made a difference. Has our world brought us down with terrible news stories and the every day complaining or "venting" session that we can't see the sunshine through the clouds or the rainbow through the rain?
My athlete unknowingly reminded me today that we are all so blessed with jobs that pay the bills, schools that support athletics and a profession that fights for each of us daily. I am not always a Mary Sunshine, but I do know that on the days when I fight the urge to be a Debbie Downer and allow myself to smile at someone, hold a door for a slow walker or let that pesky car in front of me, I tend to have a better outlook on everything I do. I may even, dare I say it, be better at my job. I may take better care of my athletes physically, mentally and emotionally because I'm not weighed down by my own sorrows. I may spend an extra minute hearing about their day or not rush through a treatment because I'm tired. I may be the person they need to lift them up or push them along. I may be the athletic trainer they need me to be.
Yes, it's late tonight, I'm still at work and I have Christmas lights to hang, smoke smell to clear out and a pile of paperwork that will have to wait until tomorrow, but I also have so many great things in my life that overshadow those tidbits of frustration. Maybe tomorrow will be "one of those days", but maybe, just maybe, I can decide that it means it will be a good day and those around me will thank me for it.
Happy sunshine, rainbows and wins to all :)
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