Your Path to Success, Week After Week, All Year Long
Workplace Wisdom
Workplace Mental Health Certification | OHSA & AODA Compliance Training Ontario | Diversity Equity & Inclusion Training
I Could Have Been Him
A couple of weeks ago my husband and I dropped off food, clothing and toys to a local Salvation Army for distribution at holiday time. As we left, we passed a middle-aged man. He held two empty bags in his hand. His face was gentle yet drawn, his demeanor sad and tired, his clothes neat and clean, but worn.
How little would the kaleidoscope of life have needed to turn for me to be him, and him to be me? To not have enough money to pay for rent and food? To feel the humiliation of walking into a food bank, bags in hand? To be depleted in body, mind and spirit just trying to survive?
A client of mine recently shared how he is trying to shift his perspective from
“I have to…” to “I get to…” He gave examples such as:
I have to pick up my kids vs. I get to pick up my kids.
I have to visit my parents vs. I get to visit my parents.
I have to go to work vs. I get to go to work.
I have to buy groceries vs. I get to buy groceries.
I have to cook dinner vs. I get to cook dinner.
How blessed we are if we “get to” experience some of the basic gifts in life. And how fortunate we may be to enjoy good health; to share the support of family and friends whom we love and who love us in return.
Over the last few years the world as we knew it has mutated into an organism we no longer recognize, leaving us anxious, confused and disoriented. And yet, I believe if we quiet our souls, we can find a way through.
Back in 1943, during World War II, when the entire world was excoriated by barbarism, genocide, famine, terror, torture, upheaval, death and utter destruction, the poet and essayist T.S. Eliot shone a light in the darkness when he wrote:
“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
Through the unknown, remembered gate
When the last of earth left to discover
Is that which was the beginning;
At the source of the longest river
The voice of the hidden waterfall
And the children in the apple-tree
Not known, because not looked for
But heard, half-heard, in the stillness
Between two waves of the sea.”
If we can still ourselves, look inside and not outside, perhaps we can grasp some universal truths to prod us forward. Perhaps if we focus on the good we will see how blessed we are in the midst of the turmoil.
How blessed we are if we have the resources to give to food banks and charities.
How blessed we are if we do not go to school or work hungry.
How blessed we are to live in a war-free country.
How blessed we are…
As an ancient prophet said,
“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
By Donna Marshall M.A., Counselling Psychology, RP CEO and Co-Founder Workright
To support you in leading your team to experience greater mindfulness in your workplace,
we recommend you get certified in Workright’s Mental Health Certificate Program,
and earn 8 HRPA professional development credits.
WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH & PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY
GET CERTIFIED – HRPA 8 CPD Credit
Learn More
Unlock Weekly Workplace Wisdom
Subscribe to our Newsletter today!
Endorsed by
Donna Marshall
M.A., Counselling Psychology, RP
CEO and Co-Founder
Dr. Stephanie Bot,
C. Psych., Psychoanalyst
President and Co-Founder
Upskill Your Team.
Let's Talk.
CONNECT WITH US