As we all navigate new normals in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic, I am grateful more than ever to have faith. Faith means different things to all of us, but to me it is a trust and belief in something larger than myself. As a newcomer to the placement industry, this has been a particularly rattling and uncertain time. It’s easy to give in to the anxiety and uncertainty of the situation. But my faith in humanity along with my personal resilience compels me to charge forward. There are always lessons to be gained, and I know I am personally growing and learning from the sweeping changes that have hit us all.
The one thing I know to be true is that although testing, ppe, policies and procedures may forever be changed, what will never change is the passion and purpose with which I have witnessed everyone in the senior living industry meeting the challenge to serve and assist. I know that is not without personal sacrifice, as many are weary from the journey. But truly you are all heroes to the families relying and grateful for care. I have a deep and heartfelt appreciation for the time and energy that you have given day and day out since this all started in March.
My journey began when I was introduced to Scott Fischer by one of my dearest friends. After going through a divorce, I was looking to make the transition from stay at home mother of two boys, back into the workforce after 13 years. I naively was not worried in the beginning! I have a degree in Chemical engineering and had a successful career in industrial sales for 15 years before I stopped working to raise my children. But I very quickly was slapped in the face by reality… I had no network here and a massive void of work history, none of which was appealing to the companies I was seeking out in my old industry.
Scott was gracious enough to give me a meeting. Fortunately, he was willing to take a chance on me and believed in my determination and willingness to learn and grow in this industry. Little did I fully understand my good fortune to be mentored and associated with Scott and the rest of the Options for Senior Living family, but I somehow knew it I was meant to head down this road, so my leap of faith started there.
I have had the opportunity to serve families and learn a wealth of knowledge from my teammates and all of our industry partners. I recently had a client call to let me know her mother had contracted Covid and passed away. Through both our tears, she told me how she appreciated that I took the time to truly get to know and care about her mother. It is moving and humbling to have that kind of personal experience with families. I was not prepared for the sense of purpose and fulfillment that this would give me. Her call to me meant more to me than she probably realized, as I needed to remember that I do make a difference for the families I serve. I have had many accolades and awards for a job well done in the past, but nothing that can compare to this gratitude from families. To say that it is humbling and rewarding is an understatement.
I took a leap of faith a little over a year ago. I couldn’t be more thankful that I did. I want to learn and develop as much as I can to be the best advocate possible to my clients. I have faith in this journey, and I am hopeful and excited for where it continues to lead me. I appreciate the grace and trust that I have been offered and look forward to growing and prospering together.