A Person First

Before anything else, we are a person first. Before we are a teacher, lawyer, doctor or any other profession. On Friday, I received a call from one of my doctors saying that a close friend of hers had died. She was distraught. She was sobbing and asked me if she could go home. She was scheduled for a few patients that day but was so upset she did not think that she could sit with them without crying. I told her to try to have another doctor fill in for her and if not just tell the patients that she was sorry for the inconvenience. She did that and the patients understood. Later that day, I received another call from that doctor telling me that our director contacted her to say that she was angry that the patients were cancelled. The doctor felt even worse now. I consoled her by saying that what she did was correct. If she could not be effective in giving therapy that day, what was the sense of having a session? I reminded her that before she was a doctor, she was a person and that always comes first.

Great Dinner

Last night I had my birthday dinner. It was as nice as expected. We went to a small neighborhood restaurant that I had to make a reservation for a week in advance. The service was a bit slow. There might have been an issue in the kitchen. Normally I do not care, but when you are with a toddler
every minute counts. The place was very loud which was great, because you could not hear my grandson. He was very well behaved, except for a few screams. When the food finally arrived, it was worth the wait. Everything was delicious. I had a hamburger, topped with pulled pork, served between bacon grilled cheese toasted bread. The order came with truffle oil parmesan french fries. I took half of it home. After dinner we had coffee and canoli cake at my house. This was the exact type of celebration that I wanted.

Dinner

Next week is my birthday. It is my 60th, although I do not feel any older than I did years ago. I guess they are right when they say it is only a number. I did not want to have a big party. That is just not me. I wanted to have a small dinner with the people that are closest to me. My son picked out the restaurant, one that I had never been to before. He thought that would be special. There will be eight people plus my grandson. I am looking forward to it.

Structure

Everyone needs structure. Structure is safe. Structure is less stressful. This week in my office, I am seeing how a lack of structure is leading to poor morale. I am in charge of the front staff. The lead doctor is in charge of the professional staff. There was never a clear plan as to what responsibilities the doctors have so it has become a a free for all. That is when I was asked to step in. I am the structure queen. I have begun to revamp the policies that were never really in place. I am setting guidelines and rules. Everyone will be clear as to what is needed to do. I spoke to each doctor to explain that things are changing and at first it may be upsetting, but after the routine is in place for a while they will settle in and things will run smoothly from then on. They all seemed relieved.

Positive Feedback

I have just sold a second item on eBay. My previous item was already delivered to the buyer and I was awaiting feedback. Since this was my first sale, I wanted to make sure that the person who bought it was as happy as I was to sell it. She was. I got a rave review. That is all anybody wants in life. Positive feedback. Whether it is in work, in what we wear, the food we cook or just being a good person. Positive feedback does not cost a penny but is worth a million.

Speaking My Mind

I always remember my mother telling me that the things she said at eighty years old could never have been said at sixty years old. You can get away with certain statements once you are old enough to not care. Yesterday I became old enough to not care. I always buy holiday gifts for certain doctors. My receptionist and I chip in. We get for five of the more established doctors, who give us gifts, and the three receptionists. This year without telling me, my friend gave to three of the newer doctors. Had she mentioned it, I would have chipped in too. She never told me what she was going to do, so I was blindsighted when three young doctors ran into the office to hug her and thank her. I was so embarrassed because it looked like I either forgot them or was just plain cheap. When the girls left the room, I asked my friend how she could do that to me. I never would have given any gifts to other people without telling her. She started to make excuses and that is when I told her to stop talking to me and get out of the room. I never speak like that, but that was how I felt, so I am now at the age where I do not have to hide it. I ignored her all day and I knew that I ruined the holiday party for her. Next time she will know to never go behind my back and do something that will make me look bad.

Holiday Party

It is time, once again, for the annual awkward holiday party. When I arrive at work this morning, I will start to set up the room. Each hour food will arrive. Since we have no kitchen and only a coffee nook area, everything will be cold. We will be treated to macaroni and cheese, spicy samosas, Turkish spinach pie, rice and beans, oxtail, meatballs, baked ziti, bagged salad and a few other surprises. I have chipped in for a platter of chicken wings. That should be tasty. We will fill our plates, take a seat, and sit silently staring into space. No one talks. After the awkwardness gets to be too much for me, I usually tell some funny story, so at least there is the sound of laughter in the room. Towards the middle of the party, the doctors begin to talk about their patients. They review strategies for treatment. That is when I pretend to hear the phone ringing and exit the room. I hover in the front office until it is time to go home.