There are some things in life that you do that are out of guilt, pleasure, necessity, or self-preservation. Then there are things you have to do out of responsibility and necessity for existence, like a job or parenting.
Many times people like their jobs. They do enjoy what they do for a living, some may even say they are passionate about their job or career. And if that’s honestly how you feel about your job then I would consider yourself a very lucky person, because most people actually dread having to get up, get dressed and go to work.
And when someone feels like this they tend to be a little less productive or just not as happy as they could be in the work place towards their colleagues, which in time will begin to wear on them and those around them in the work environment.
About six months ago I decided to take on “another” job, in addition to my full-time job, and several other part-time jobs, and of course being wife and mom to the men in my life. I decided to manage the swimming pool at our country club. Now mind you this is a place I used to come to as a kid, then I was a lifeguard here as a teenager for my summer job, I started bringing my kids here about 10 years ago when I moved back home. So the joys of enjoying that pool and building memories here have become cyclical and generational.
But before the summer ever began, I decided to take on a new challenge, and that was to manage the pool this summer. Most of the people in my life thought I was nuts, taking on one more responsibility, one more duty, and loading my boat even fuller than what it already was. But I was actually very excited and looking forward to it. I was blessed with a wonderful group of kids that works for me as my life guards.
I didn’t know any of them very well when the summer started out, in fact some of them I had never seen before or even spoken to before. But then there were some, that I knew, mainly because I know their parents. My kids are just enough younger than my lifeguards that I don’t ever associate with these kids.
But as the summer has progressed I feel like I have gained 12 new babies, or kiddos, into my heart. They have made me feel young again, they have brought back so many great memories from working at the pool as a lifeguard, and they make me smile every time I am around them. They have truly become a part of my life, and my family. They look out for my boys and have been like siblings to them all summer.
Some of them have cried on my shoulder, some of them have needed college recommendations, some of them have needed pep talks; but all-in-all I am the one that is blessed, I have found some great kids to call my own. I have gotten to know them as a group, and as individuals, I have learned what makes them tick, and what pushes their buttons. But at the end of the day, nothing makes me happier than seeing or receiving a text from my guards saying they love me, or missed me while I was gone on my summer vacation, or that they love their job this summer.
Work should be fun, no matter your age; and if I haven’t been able to do anything for these kids this summer, I hope they have learned one thing…and that is to do what you love, and once the passion or admiration is gone for your job or those you work with, maybe it’s time to move on.
To my guards: I love you guys, and thanks for keeping this old lady young and grounded, and a smile on my face every day.
