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psyche29As I'm sure I've made clear several dozen times, I am by turns content and completely frazzled by my job.
It's not the job itself, really - cash is details, and details are most definitely my thing. I am loyal and reasonable and punctual, and I believe that getting the details right will make the big picture fabulous. I'm careful and accurate and learn quickly, I find shortcuts that not only allow us to work smarter, but are also correct, and I keep a light but firm grip on the reins of my coworkers and the things for which they are each responsible. I am well-versed in each component of the cash application area of my department, and the go-to girl for answers, be they questions asked by my team or by other people outside my team. There are two managers, two supervisors and ten or so people urging me to apply for one of the open supervisor positions because of what I know and what I can do.
However, I've been wanting to get out of here for quite a while now. I've been here for over ten years, and I've put up with a lot - A LOT - of garbage that other people in other workplaces don't generally put up with. Sure, everyone has bad days, there are always difficult (and even really fucked up) customers, be they internal or external. Everyone deals with petty ridiculousness in the workplace on a fairly regular basis; I'm aware of this, I acknowledge that I'm not the only one.
But my head is brushing the ceiling of my limit. I've been open, I've been willing to make changes, to roll with them and to find a way to replace existing procedures and thought processes with new ones. I can't stand the atmosphere here anymore, though, and am loathe to put any real effort into what I'm doing when I just don't care. I want something else, someplace else.
Last Saturday I went to a jewelry party. It was girly and fun, as it should have been, and I enjoyed myself. But I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was being held as a fundraiser effort.
There's an organization called Children's Lighthouse, and they offer child- and family-focused respite, transitional and end-of-life care to children with life-limiting conditions. There are something like 40 or so hospice homes for children in the UK alone, two in Australia and Canada each and many others around the world. If I correctly remember what Katie said, there's only ONE of these types of homes in the US. There are several hospice homes for adults, but none for children.
And my first thought was, "Here's something I believe in. How can I be a part of it?"
The foundation is being built right now, so it's still in the early stages; they are currently applying for non-profit status and searching for the right place for the home, which will be able to house six to eight children as well as room for their parents/families. There will be an end-of-life suite, and I forget the rest of what she said. It's so incredibly sad to think about, children with terminal illnesses - but I believe in the idea strongly enough to know I'd be OK with the realities of it.
OK, maybe not the needles and doctors stuff, but you get the picture, right?
Anyway, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I learned of it, and while their website (linked above) is still super basic, I still want to know if I could work for them from an accounting standpoint. It's what I do, and I do it well. I could learn the things I need to know that I don't already, and I could actually make a living doing something I believe in.
But...I don't know where to begin. The website is so basic that only their mission statement and privacy policy are on it, and a place to donate to the cause. I have Katie's card, but while we have finally met each other, we're hardly more than acquaintances.
A little background - Katie is one of Mikey's numerous cousins. I've mentioned his grandparents, John and Bunny, many times before. John has four brothers and two sisters; Katie is the daughter of his sister Mary. I knew Katie was Mary's daughter, and Katie knew I was Mikey's mom, but we only actually just met each other on Saturday - so seriously, the barest of acquaintances.
And she's the only person I know who's involved in this. I wish I knew how to approach it, because I am completely adrift, here.
Ideas? Thoughts?
Could you work for a place like this? Even if you don't have any sage words of wisdom for me, I'd be interested to see what you think of the organization, the purpose, and whether or not you think you could do it, and why you feel the way you do about it. :)
Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
It's not the job itself, really - cash is details, and details are most definitely my thing. I am loyal and reasonable and punctual, and I believe that getting the details right will make the big picture fabulous. I'm careful and accurate and learn quickly, I find shortcuts that not only allow us to work smarter, but are also correct, and I keep a light but firm grip on the reins of my coworkers and the things for which they are each responsible. I am well-versed in each component of the cash application area of my department, and the go-to girl for answers, be they questions asked by my team or by other people outside my team. There are two managers, two supervisors and ten or so people urging me to apply for one of the open supervisor positions because of what I know and what I can do.
However, I've been wanting to get out of here for quite a while now. I've been here for over ten years, and I've put up with a lot - A LOT - of garbage that other people in other workplaces don't generally put up with. Sure, everyone has bad days, there are always difficult (and even really fucked up) customers, be they internal or external. Everyone deals with petty ridiculousness in the workplace on a fairly regular basis; I'm aware of this, I acknowledge that I'm not the only one.
But my head is brushing the ceiling of my limit. I've been open, I've been willing to make changes, to roll with them and to find a way to replace existing procedures and thought processes with new ones. I can't stand the atmosphere here anymore, though, and am loathe to put any real effort into what I'm doing when I just don't care. I want something else, someplace else.
Last Saturday I went to a jewelry party. It was girly and fun, as it should have been, and I enjoyed myself. But I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was being held as a fundraiser effort.
There's an organization called Children's Lighthouse, and they offer child- and family-focused respite, transitional and end-of-life care to children with life-limiting conditions. There are something like 40 or so hospice homes for children in the UK alone, two in Australia and Canada each and many others around the world. If I correctly remember what Katie said, there's only ONE of these types of homes in the US. There are several hospice homes for adults, but none for children.
And my first thought was, "Here's something I believe in. How can I be a part of it?"
The foundation is being built right now, so it's still in the early stages; they are currently applying for non-profit status and searching for the right place for the home, which will be able to house six to eight children as well as room for their parents/families. There will be an end-of-life suite, and I forget the rest of what she said. It's so incredibly sad to think about, children with terminal illnesses - but I believe in the idea strongly enough to know I'd be OK with the realities of it.
OK, maybe not the needles and doctors stuff, but you get the picture, right?
Anyway, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I learned of it, and while their website (linked above) is still super basic, I still want to know if I could work for them from an accounting standpoint. It's what I do, and I do it well. I could learn the things I need to know that I don't already, and I could actually make a living doing something I believe in.
But...I don't know where to begin. The website is so basic that only their mission statement and privacy policy are on it, and a place to donate to the cause. I have Katie's card, but while we have finally met each other, we're hardly more than acquaintances.
A little background - Katie is one of Mikey's numerous cousins. I've mentioned his grandparents, John and Bunny, many times before. John has four brothers and two sisters; Katie is the daughter of his sister Mary. I knew Katie was Mary's daughter, and Katie knew I was Mikey's mom, but we only actually just met each other on Saturday - so seriously, the barest of acquaintances.
And she's the only person I know who's involved in this. I wish I knew how to approach it, because I am completely adrift, here.
Ideas? Thoughts?
Could you work for a place like this? Even if you don't have any sage words of wisdom for me, I'd be interested to see what you think of the organization, the purpose, and whether or not you think you could do it, and why you feel the way you do about it. :)
Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
WOW...a note for you from a fellow volunteer for Children's Lighthouse!
Date: 2010-03-17 06:31 pm (UTC)I currently serve as a volunteer for Children's Lighthouse of Minnesota (CLM), and I'll tell you that has been the most incredible journey, even though we are just taking the first steps of an incredibly large mountain, and there is so much more to do! I can relate to your post about your position, and finding a larger purpose in life. Those people like Katie that can serve in the social services environment when at times it is the most challenging role you could ever imagine, give me strength to do what little I can to be involved. Volunteering for a cause like CLM for the past 8 months has provided me educational opportunities and networking with my community that I would otherwise never have had the chance. Dreaming big about providing this kind of service to children and families in my community, while it can sound a little scary at times, you almost have to consider how those families get by now without a place like CLM. And that, and Katie's passion, keeps me grounded and pointed north.
So as you think about getting involved, think of what time you have to devote, as most organization would work with you to determine your interest and level of time you have. Who knows, if you are good at your current job, you can keep it, and find meaning and fulfillment through volunteering like a wonderful cause like CLM, under the most amazing and driven director, Katie L. Think about it, and don't hesitate to contact us to learn more!
Thanks again for spreading the word, and watch the news for more -- because while we appreciate all those have donated so far through various events, as far as communications go, you haven't seen anything yet! :)
Re: WOW...a note for you from a fellow volunteer for Children's Lighthouse!
Date: 2010-03-17 07:05 pm (UTC)Time is such a difficult commodity to come by lately, but I'm trying to be patient in awaiting more communications about it, because the more I stew about it, the more I want to see what I can do beyond monetary support. And if it's something that, once established down the road, I can do as my job, so much the better. But getting involved is hard when there's so little to go on at the moment, and the time available to one is fickle and fleeting. I've always been one of those people who don't quite know where to begin; I may end up just diving in and emailing her, but I'll definitely stew about it for a while, first.
And I had NO. IDEA. that there were no hospice homes for children! I suppose it's something most people don't generally think about, because hey, kids have their whole future ahead of them, and only adults need hospice care. But, sad as it may be, I'm sure there are just as many children with life-threatening or terminal illnesses as well, and I am floored that there is no place for them to go except the hospital. I want to help change that, and make it my job if I can, because every little bit has to help. There will be - down the road, obviously - a time when a home is built and people are using it, and I can't imagine why there wouldn't be somebody to take insurance payments and the like and make sure that part runs smoothly so that families have one less thing to worry about. More goes into it than that, of course, but the main point of it is "one less stone on the burden." I'd love to be in on it, if I could.
And as a side note, I think it is SO cool that you found this particular post on DW; it helps me to know I'm not just spouting off randomly and that I'm NOT the only one who thinks about this - it so often seems that way, like I must be the only person in the entire Twin Cities who knows about DW and people are so far away - it's awesome to realize that's not the case. Go, DW! ;)