And I do This Job Because......

I often ask myself what in the world am I doing here working in this often thankless job? It certainly is NOT for the money because I barely make it as it is. There's actually no place else"to go up-wards" in this position. I could go for a Masters Degree but frankly, at my age I really don't want to go back to school. Well...at least not yet. Perhaps I better not throw out that "bath water" quite yet.

I guess when I really think about it, if I can make some sort of difference in just one persons life, perhaps spark just a little healing to their troubled mind and soul, to give them just a glimmer of hope, then it is worth what I go through day in and day out. Most of my clients I wouldn't trade for the world and I love them all. Are some a challenge? Oh yeah! Maybe three quarters of them but they are all unique in their own quirky little way and each of them have an important piece to add to my life. When I see them and the struggles they face daily, I don't worry quite so much about "me". I take that little piece out of the equation and start to work on how I can make them smile at least one time a month.

The government makes the lives of the disabled and mentally ill so much of a nightmarish struggle. They give these poor folk pennies to survive on and when they get a raise to try to off set COLA, the helping agencies such as Food Stamps, Section 8 housing and others, take money away from their assistance so that they never get out of the hole.

I say, give them a good raise and boost up the assistance a little more. Allow them to save more than $2000.00 so that they can buy a home or have extra money for an emergency. Give them their food stamps and housing money while they start working so that they can get established and not have to be in poverty while they are trying to build a life for themselves and their families. It is this that brings dignity and a sense of pride in themselves.

I stand here on my soapbox and wonder, what do you all think of this? What are your opinions about the welfare system? Tell me your thoughts. Lets have a conversation.