Winter's Coming

Writing this, I’m completely and utterly drained as I spent my weekend in Fort Collins with two of the most amazing people I have in my life right now. I went up for CSU’s Homecoming weekend and got to meet Raine and Carina’s parents. I adore them and had the wonderful opportunity to speak with them about the upward struggle of the career oriented world and gained valuable insight into my own path. The main message I took was that it’s really important that you do something that you find meaning in. In our economy, it’s tempting to look for high salary paying jobs with comprehensive benefit packages but it’s not worth it if you’re not happy. The economy IS SHITTY right now and there’s nothing we can immediately do about it…So do the best with what you’ve got and keep on pushin. In my situation, I don’t get paid as much as someone with a college degree should expect but I do have healthcare, dental, and vision. More importantly I enjoy what I do. I love working with my staff and the patients and I feel like I have a reason to get out of bed each day. I know that I’m making a difference in peoples’ lives and helping them find ways to cope with their insecurities and internal conflicts. I finally see that I’m beginning to be that Change…

It’s an exciting and uplifting transition and I’m beginning to discover perspectives I’ve never seen in myself. I’m happier and I see the world through brighter eyes. I notice more love and compassion in others and it motivates me to be an even MORE compassionate individual in this collective mix of working-class professionals. I think people are viewing me differently as well. I have a title and an institution behind me. I’m a Mental Health Technician and I provide structured treatment to community members who have fallen due to mental illnesses, chemical and substance dependencies, results of traumatic experience, and victims of violence, neglect and abuse. I care for the people who are discarded by society in hopes of healing them back to a point where society will accept them again. I am a healer, a teacher, a caregiver, a lover, a protector, an advocate, a guardian, a foundation, and a peace keeper.

Appropriately, the season is beginning to change here in Colorado. This weekend marked the early signs of the winter to come. Winter is quickly approaching and it’s going to be filled with beauty and awesomeness. Pikes Peak has revealed the season’s first snow on the Front Range. There’s been talk about the mountain towns already getting several feet of snow which means it’s going to be a great season for skiing. The aspen trees are shedding their leaves and displaying luminous variations of yellow and gold. It’s certainly a sight to see. With the season’s change comes an opportunity to change within ourselves. I think it’s going to be a great winter.