I hope you will indulge me today but this is ALL about my sister. Many of you have heard me talk about the “tough gal” AKA my mom, who has endured, persevered, suffered and been so resilient through medical issues, loss of family members and just living…. Well, she demonstrates many of these same qualities and she makes me so very proud to call her my sister.
After 30+ years, she has tendered her resignation to seek another employment opportunity. For many, they would be announcing a “retirement”; but, as is often so true in the world we live in, working past a certain perceived retirement age is not always financially feasible or even good for one on a variety of levels. I don’t know many people who work jobs until the time to receive the proverbial “gold watch” recognition. I have seen and remember attending retirement events and being so touched at how folks were so committed and dedicated to the “company line” and literally gave them their all, day in and day out.
I have been privileged to observe her work ethic personally as we both worked together for about 7 years in early 2000. It was also during this period of time that I saw her in a very different light – she endured cancer treatments for weeks and had a stellar attendance record of being at work through it all. During this period of working in the same organization, I had the joy of eating lunch with her often, having a break with her, seeing her in passing the hallways and relating as colleagues and not “family”. Yes, it can happen when one understands “professionalism”. It would always make my heart just swell when I would hear compliments of her work, her attention to detail and her commitment to the company and a contributor and team player. I can even remember how excited she was when she first went to work with this company – their vision, commitment to employees and to our community – they made a believer out of her that an employer really can care about their employees.
It is not easy to be a job-seeker today. I am so proud of her efforts to recognize that she has a desire to contribute her talents and expertise to another employer for some good years yet. Leaving the security of the known is never easy. I am excited for who she is and what she will bring to a new work environment – her optimism, her heart’s desire to be willing to learn a new “business” and processes and procedures and just as importantly, sharing what she has learned and make this next journey of employment one that will be better for having extended her this employment opportunity.
Blessings to you sweet sister and spread your wings and soar far and wide! You are so loved and many will miss you.
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