Surrounded By Heroes
Surrounded By Heroes
There is a nagging question for many of the readers of this blog. In the past I have enumerated the issues I have with the medical profession. I have talked about the toxic environment in which we build and train doctors. While undoubtedly my pride in this identity continues, there is no question that I was ready to flex my financial independence muscles and slow down. But why not quit completely? My bank account could have handled it?
Hospice work is deep, fulfilling, important work. But I probably would have eventually left if that was all.
I continue to work because everyday I am surrounded by heroes. And that is a reason to get up every morning and get moving.
Deep Work
There is no doubt that working in hospice and palliative care is incredibly fulfilling. I get to help at one of the most critical times in people’s lives. To have answers to some of the difficult questions. What I do matters. Everyday. Without exception.
Yet, with the above paragraph already written, I have to admit that it doesn’t matter. I suffer from habituation. The importance of the work fades over time. Maybe not the importance, but the joy that importance brings.
It no longer feels special or new when you do it everyday.
What never seems to dull, however, is the awe is the people that I work with. I am surrounded by heroes. Nurses. Social workers. Chaplains. Volunteers. Nursing assistants.
It never gets old.
Salt of the Earth
Those who work in this field are salt of the earth, good souls. The hands on nitty gritty of helping people die peacefully is only undertaken by a select few. While I make decisions from a meeting room or remotely, these people are those knee deep in humanity.
They are the ones changing dirty bedding, holding family members hands, and being the first face in the door once someone dies.
They are the voice of experience. The hand of reassurance. The shoulder to cry on, and the smile to brighten the most horrible of days. I am surrounded by heroes. Heroes who give of themselves tirelessly. Even on days they aren’t supposed to be working. After hours. On weekends.
The Financial Independence Struggle
Anyone who reaches financial independence will struggle for a time. For some it may be weeks, and others years. There is a need to further define what purpose and meaning lie behind financial freedom. There has to be more than just reaching retirement at an early age and then slowing it all down.
In my personal journey, I have continuously tried to plug the gaping holes in my life with achievement. The achievement treadmill has been a crutch in which to prop myself. If it was not some audacious goal or another, than it was reaching financial independence.
This marathon often brought me moments of happiness, but not long term contentment.
Final Thoughts
I continue the search for the illusive goal of personal peace and fulfillment. I feel like reaching financial independence and taking a half retirement are carrying me closer. Moving away from achievement and towards people and relationships has added another layer.
I have also decided to spend my time surrounded by heroes.
A good enough reason, in my book, to keep working.
“In my personal journey, I have continuously tried to plug the gaping holes in my life with achievement….This marathon often brought me moments of happiness, but not long term contentment.”
>I feel like this is the season of life I’m in at the moment so it’s interesting to look down the road to your life experience and see that even someone as successful as yourself was still searching for something.
“I continue the search for the illusive goal of personal peace and fulfillment.”
>As the old saying goes, ‘there’s more to life than money’. You’ve certainly optimised the money but now you’re optimising life. It reminds me of baking; you bring the ingredients together (family, friends, career, finances etc…) and keep experimenting with and combining the ingredients until you can create something just to your taste.
HH
I like the baking analogy.