Cool, Calm, and Collected

Someone once said, ~There is no doubt - we face trying times at work, at home, and with those who are tested by factors beyond their control. Some days it's hard to get out of bed, much less "leap tall buildings with a single bound!" Yet, there are also the times to discover what "stuff" we are made of and to fulfill a purpose that is often bigger than ourselves.~ Working in a place that is nicknamed the insane asylum, there are days that I love coming to work, there are days I don't, and some days it's in between. Over the past 8 years, I've been involved or associated with situations that are either expected or unexpected, and it's within those particular situations that are considered the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Good - Every person has been in a situation where as soon as you walk through the doors of your workplace a certain energy is felt from within. For it's not only the energy that one is giving off, it's the people around you as well that makes it a fun and/or memorable experience. During my tenure in the insane asylum, I have had some fun and wild times to the point where I tend to forget that I'm in a position of authority and rather than helping to squash the mischief; I'm actually contributing to it. A person can't help but feel like a kid again due to being surrounded by so many kids that have endless amounts of energy, which can rub off on adults who need the energy during a hectic day.

The Bad - Let me ask you this question, have you ever walked through the doors of your workplace and felt the tension within? A type of tension so thick that you can cut it with a knife and if one pushes the right button or buttons armageddon will ensue to the point where words or fists will fly. Every person has their limits when it comes to pushing his or her buttons; the consequences can either be expressed outwardly or not at all. It's all in how one deals with the particular situation at hand. From personal experience, I've had my buttons pushed many times but one time in particular had my fellow co-workers see a side of me that they had never seen before, which in reality needed to come out and I'm glad it did.

The Ugly - With kids they go through the usual bumps and bruises, which are dealt with the proverbial tender loving care. Yet, nothing can prepare a person when a child breaks a particular body part, such as an arm, or gets one's head busted open doing something totally foolish. I've witnessed both of these and much more than one could possibly imagine as one minute they are fine and the next minute they are down for the count, in a manner of speaking. For that's when our training kicks in and we respond with professionalism...most of the time. In a way, it's like being in a real life emergency room because at any given time a child, as well as an adult, will need emergency assistance.

In retrospect, you can't prepare for what life will throw at you, so to speak, each and every day. You simply have to adjust for whatever comes your way whether it's planned or unplanned. In some aspects, going through the experiences that I have gone through has somewhat prepared me for when I become a father one day. In a way, life is like a small child, you never know what he or she might do to either embarrass you, make you angry, make you laugh, make you cry, make you smile, or make you absolutely proud to be where you are. In the end, when you have days that are considered good, bad, and ugly, a person needs to keep a level head and just stay cool, calm, and collected.