Gerald

Some people are working doubly hard during this pandemic while some of us are spending more time at home…much more time at home, unable to work. I saw a meme on Facebook something like – well you always wished for longer weekends and now look what you’ve got!

But I want to focus a minute on those who are out there making our world turn, keeping us healthy, safe and fed. This blog is a particular shout out to those who pick up our trash. Every week they show up, rain or shine, freezing cold or miserably hot and humid. In Wilmington, the two-man teams riding on the back of the truck are now limited to one man to honor social distancing rules. That means one guy does the work of two.

I read an online article in the Port City Daily by Mark Darrough about Gerald Williams. He rides on the back of a truck driven by Bobby Way. Bobby says this about having one guy instead of two on the back of his truck. “On a lot of other trucks it slows them down, but I have an exceptional guy on the back of mine.” Nice compliment and way to acknowledge a job well done.

What does Gerald have to say? “I just don’t think about it,” Williams said. “I just do it. It’s a job. I’m glad to do it; I love my job. Once you love doing a job it don’t become a job no more. It’s just like a hobby.”

I love finding wisdom from ordinary folks doing ordinary things. And while the work is ordinary I would say that Gerald’s outlook is not. I think it says a lot about who he is and how satisfied he is with his life. I bet it doesn’t really matter to Gerald what others think about him. I bet he doesn’t rely on others for his own happiness. I bet he has a healthy sense of self…he knows who he is and shows up that way every day.

Thanks Gerald, for reminding me that if I love my job, it’s really not a job anymore. And thanks for the reminder that how I show up to life makes all the difference. I appreciate it. And I appreciate the work you do everyday. Stay safe and healthy.

With gratitude
Paula