Security

Within the past few months I've come to realize that every human need stems from

the need for security, or the need to feel taken care of.

I'm not saying we're dependent on others, I'm suggesting that life is a whirlwind, constantly changing, and these changes alter our trajectory. These are the times I feel like I'm walking through a dark tunnel with no idea where it leads. These are the times I need someone to hold my hand, I need someone to take care of me.

The fact is, we will all have moments like these, times when the future is foggy and the present feels impossible. Being able to hold another person's hand has shown me how significant the human need for security really is, and the incredible impact taking good, genuine care of a person has on their life.

Without security, without help, I feel so unsafe, I feel stranded,

and there is no room for love, loyalty, compassion, or empathy.

* * * * * * * * * *

So, when you go to work, have a smile on your face and your job on your mind.

You didn't wake up at 5 AM, scarf down your breakfast,

and frantically search the parking lot for a spot to sit at a desk and talk about your weekend plans.

Your job is to serve, it is to care, you are the person who another person,

one with less control and more vulnerabilities, relies on.

No matter what the job, going through the motions is insufficient. Don't get lost in the shuffle of the process and forget the importance of human connection and empathy. Take the extra minute and actually listen. Continually monitor yourself for desensitization.

As often as you see a certain case, or a certain condition, the people you are working with may be experiencing this for the first time, and they need you to encounter them with a focused mind, open ears, and an empathetic and compassionate heart.

Take care of all the people in your life - those who are extremities of yourself, and those who appear as strangers. Put yourself second in an attempt to be their guiding hand, and as a good friend of mine would say, love the people you love the right way.