Four hundred and three.
That is how many years ago the first Thanksgiving was celebrated according to the National Archives. Thinking about how much has happened since then is enough to make your head spin, and still, it is relatively recent in the grand scheme of human history. But all societal changes aside, the spirit of Thanksgiving has always been focused on gratitude.
Yes, gratitude and being thankful are timeless self-reflections that challenge us to take a step back and account for the good things in our lives – a challenge that can be difficult or easy depending on the year that preceded it. So, with feelings of gratitude in our minds and thankfulness in our hearts, we are dedicating this year's November blog post to everything our line of work has given us to feel thankful for.
Thankful for our elders
First and foremost are our elders. Aside from the fact that they are the primary population we have the privilege of working with, our elders are vessels of wisdom and experience. Throughout time and across the world, there has always been a sentiment of respecting your elders. This sentiment makes perfect sense from an evolutionary viewpoint – elders have survived longer and experienced more than everybody else in society, and their guidance helps shape the path forward for all of us in the generations that have come after them.
Additionally, our elders are the people who sacrificed their time to raise us to the best of their ability. They were the ones who went out on a limb to try creating a better world full of people who wouldn’t have to suffer the same hardships that they did. Even if it seems miniscule in the grand scheme of things, their positive impacts have slowly moved the world forward into a better situation generation after generation. It can be easy to lose sight of how well-off we are these days, and even though we are still far from living in an idealistic utopia, we are well separated from some of the nightmares in the past; all thanks to those who came before us.
Finally, on a personal note, I am thankful that I get the opportunity to meet so many elders through this line of work. I have always been a collector of stories, and nobody has more stories to share than the elder population. From tales of war, child rearing, and life before modern technology; to understanding the impact that legendary historical events had on people who lived through them, I am tremendously thankful to have a job where I get to know so many elders and hear their stories. To offer help to these people who have helped so many people themselves is nothing short of an honor, and I hope everyone I’ve met understands how appreciative I am to get to know them through Noble Companion.
Thankful for our Companions
My second point of gratitude has got to be directed towards the companions I get to work with. Caregiving is one of the most commonly held jobs in the United States, and it is projected to continue growing for years to come. The work that caregiving entails is not easy: It can prove physically, mentally, and emotionally draining as you work with people helping improve their quality of life. Sometimes you get a big win, and you get to witness your client returning to baseline after a major medical event. Other times you are presented with the exact opposite scenario. No matter the person's trajectory, caregivers show up time and time again, ready to face the bad days and embrace the good ones, while serving as a rock for the people who depend on them.
With such variation in their daily tasks and so much effort put into improving the lives of others, you’d think that caregivers would be spent after each workday; but no, that is absolutely not the case. Most caregivers have families to raise, their own loved ones to care for (without pay), additional jobs in all sorts of fields, schooling to study for, and hobbies to tend to when they aren’t working as Companions. This drive and resilience further highlight the impressive ways that people working as caregivers juggle their responsibilities while keeping everything together for the clients they work with. Getting to know them personally is one of my favorite parts of working for Noble Companion, as they all have such different backgrounds, yet all of their paths have led them to work in the world of caregiving. Through good days, bad days, and the struggle when things become monotonous, I am endlessly thankful for my role working with our Companion caregivers directly. Collaborating on care plans for clients and keeping in touch is a challenge I always welcome and the payoff I get to experience when things go well keeps me excited for work every morning.
Thankful for the Families
Third on my gratitude journey is the families of our companions and clients. Of all the thankless roles that exist in the world of human services, being a family member of a person who needs caregiving services is at the forefront. Still, it is often a concerned family member who connects people in need with our services, and this connection might otherwise never be made if not for family. Continuing on this same thread, family members are often the people who fill in while services are being set in place, and they are the true rocks for the people that have found themselves needing a little extra help. Family members advocating for their loved ones effects more than just their person, it sends reverberations through care organizations and communities, while igniting a spark that can lead to major positive changes for everybody who is in a situation similar to their loved one. All the scheduling, advocating, communicating, filling-in, and more is usually tied to a loving family member who works tirelessly to create the best possible situation for their loved ones, and while being the family member of a client is often a thankless job, it is also uniquely important. So let this post be responsible for one less thankless day in the lives of the countless family members who work behind the scenes to create a loving caring environment for those people who are less able to do so themselves.
Of course, I would be remiss to not mention the families of the companions we work with too. These families demonstrate patience and understanding when a case comes in suddenly and our companions are called out into the field to help. They put up with variable end times to work days, changing schedules, and call off’s, all while dealing with their own life separate from Noble. Whether kids, partners, parents, or any other type of connected family members, they all deserve special recognition during this month of gratitude, and we are thankful for all of them.
Thankful for Noble Companion
Finally, I want to mention how thankful I am for Noble Companion. Every challenge, every victory, and every learning experience I’ve had working for Noble has been rewarding in one way or another. Human services like the ones Noble provides are not an easy field to work in, but as the cliche goes, nothing in life worth having comes easy. I am extremely grateful to have found a company that treats its employees and clients so well, and I feel a tremendous sense of honor in knowing that we always strive to be better and create a source of the best possible care. So, to all my coworkers, companions, fellow industry professionals, and everyone else I’ve gotten to know through Noble – Thank you! I am extremely grateful that our paths have crossed, and I look forward to the adventures that await us in the future.
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