Be Kind to Those Who Showed Up

So, if you’re anything like me, the stuff you care about most arrived courtesy of the people in your life who’ve meant the most.

And for the past 16-months or so, many loved ones, advisors, mentors, and colleagues have been way beyond arm’s length.

My parents, brother, and Centenarian production manager Aunt Clara never had the chance to experience a Zoom square. But the core values listed on the white board in our lunchroom are mostly the product of four people I miss and listen to every day.

The white board is also home to our purpose and morning huddle quote of the day. I share the room, the values, the purpose, and the quotes with my team; they’re my family; they didn’t apply for that job.

Don’t know about you, but when we were away for over three months in 2020, I thought maybe the pandemic was a sign; it made me think at least twice about throwing in the towel. Would my dad have called it quits? Would he have given up the chance to continue owning a business and serving others? Would Dad have given some thought to ditching his purpose and his family? Seriously?

I’d never placed any of my family on “Temporary Unemployment” before. We’d never cancelled patients’ appointments week after week or planned how to find the safest route for walking through the front door and then into a treatment room. The future had never seemed so unpredictable. I’d never before experienced any loss of sleep nor sign of hypertension. The isolation was painful; it was a challenge.

Truth is, serving my team and patients has always been more important and heartfelt to me than keeping up with the “Whoevers.” The story of our business comes straight outta my mom’s journey through U. S. healthcare; we shared the journey for some ten years. Our Mom/ Son journey is why pronouns are illegal within our four walls and community. Handwritten notes are every day, not yesterday. We don’t treat, we provide care. Disappointing co-workers and patients hurts me the same way letting my parents down always did.

When I think of my brother and aunt, I appreciate how cool it was having a personal cheering section who always offered an understanding ear, honest feedback, and closed with an encouraging thought, even after every conceivable screw up I could manufacture.

Have you been surprised by how we’ve responded to the stress of the pandemic? Don’t know about you guys, but I’ve been driven to spend some time in front of a mirror- and that can be painful even under ideal conditions. Human behavior seems a lot less predictable these days. And it’s not them; it’s we.

I share quotes every day in an attempt to inspire myself, my team, and even my colleagues. I think I’m searching for something to help me get over the literal and figurative loss of friends and family. I’m looking for a path to get back to life just the way it was before March 12, 2020. I’m fairly sure my sense of reality and empathy has suffered in the process. And I promise I’ll be spending some serious figurative time in shoes that belong to y’all.

Our purpose remains. We still see you as family. We want to make a world-class difference. And we still aim to make dentistry fun and help you become your own best complete health advocate.

I saw a quote on Facebook a few days ago. Turns out the quote came off a sign posted outside a little café in Oregon; it reads:

“The whole world is short-staffed. Be kind to those that showed up.”

True that.

Time for a virtual family conference, some active listening…and sharing some face-to-face honesty and gratitude.

I appreciate we’re all doing the best we can. Time to say so.