December to Remember

It's that time of year again... evites, invitations, emails and red kettles. This is the time of year when people tend to actually look outside of their own worlds to others. We finally take the time to buy a toy for a child who has none. We feed a meal to a person who does not have that daily luxury. We drop our change off in the bucket next to the bell ringer. We attend a party to spend time with friends who we miss out on during the year. We sit down to a meal with family who usually are a phone call and drive thru meal away.

During this time we still have work to do. There are still clients to be seen, athletes to be treated and coaches to be appeased. Our profession is in the medical field. Injuries and illnesses to not succumb to closed schools or days off. My challenge is this: Let's take a moment, a minute, a day this holiday season to remember why most of us became athletic trainers... to help others. This time of year thousands of other people will do what we do daily, care for people. Let's challenge one another to push our profession farther, to do more, to be more. What can we do to educate? What can we do to bring light to our education? How can we mentor a student who is considering becoming an athletic trainer? How can we speak with a parent to ensure them we will care for their child? We will get all of the credit we deserve? Probably not. Do we do it for the credit? We shouldn't.

Please don't think I write this from my high horse. I get frustrated almost daily at the craziness in my small world. I have screamed at my computer, shut my door and maybe once or twice said something less than sweet under my breath, ok, out loud. With all that being said. There is something magical about this time of year. Embrace it. Renew your passion for caring. If it is getting out and doing something in the community or bringing coffee to the teachers lounge, take the time to care. I know it is frustrating to be overlooked for what you do, but don't over look others. Let's be the bigger people who continue to rise up and care.

Go decorate your office in your holiday desire, or call a mentor and thank them for the gift of knowledge, or bake some slice and bake cookies for the coaches who questioned you yesterday. Whatever it is, let's continue the season of giving, not receiving. Let's show others why athletic trainers are such awesome people.

 

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Giving!!!!