IF

I've decided that I love working in a hospital. Its a great place to work, if you've ever wondered, probably one of the best. You get incredibly good benefits, and no matter what your position, you always know that you're helping others. You don't even need to be working directly with the patients. As long as you're working in and for the hospital, you're working for the good of other people. I've never been able to find satisfaction in a job unless I'm somehow helping someone, so this helps me to stay content with my employment (something not easily done.) Its all around me. Everyone is there to help someone. That is the point of our institution!

I'm reminded of that daily, usually by the time I set foot inside the building, if not before. The first time you see another person, you know why you're there. "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." ~Plato. This is the easiest phrase to remember while walking through a hospital. You have no idea why any one person is in that place, but you can almost guarantee that they are having to deal with something they'd rather not.. or at least something out of their daily routine. Now I am usually an impatient person by nature, especially with the public. I'm negative, judgmental, so on, etc. So many people are stupid and get in the way. But in the hospital, I've found it much easier to overlook and forgive minor setbacks. Nobody really wants to be there, and they're probably just as confused as the next person. Something that I probably say at least twice a day, if not more: "oh, it's fine. not a problem!" (I wonder if this demeanor is why random people have no problem addressing me in public.. ie: the old woman in O'Hare who stopped me b/c her cell phone wouldn't work. hmm.)

I also love the constant flow of action in a hospital. There is always something going on. I don't actually want to be directly involved with said action, but its exciting to see it happening around me. Tonight I was walking back from the cafeteria, and two cops came running around the corner from the direction of the ER, headed toward the main building. One had his hand on the gun at his hip. I casually took a step to the side, and kept walking. Sometimes its good to know that my department is locked down 24/7.

So I was thinking. If I ever wanted to move (and yes, I do want to relocate,) this could be a fun sort of plan. Pick a metropolitan area, look at the US News list of Best Hospitals for the highest awarded hospital in the area, and search and apply for a position at said institution. Even at part-time, most hospitals still offer full benefits, so I still do massage, if I so choose. Ah, it seems so easy.
I'd like to redo some of my past decisions, please.