It’s time for a fresh start

letter of the week

DEAR LUKE I HAVE been in my job for 10 years but things have been going wrong.

I served a lady and her special needs son. Where the trolley was sitting I thought I was smiling and being nice and she said I was looking at him. Same thing happened the other week.

Nobody in management speaks to me about it, leaving me wondering if I’m in the wrong. What’s next for me? Can I turn this around or is this the end? Yours, W.V HI W.V. AS I held your letter in my hands, I could sense the emotion with which it was written and the love and kindness behind your words. You’re a very sensitive person, someone who takes pride in their work and places great importance on relationships you build. You make a tremendous effort in every area of your life, and nothing short of your very best will do. At times, when others are busy or too absorbed in themselves, you can feel your kindness is overlooked, and it’s hurtful. To live with a heart full of love in a world that can be cold and harsh is difficult but the confusion and sadness you feel at times is because of the deep compassion you have for others. The world needs more people like you. You describe two situations in your letter where you were doing something kind and you felt misunderstood. I wonder what kind of day that lady was having with her son – doing the shopping, having to cope with a day that just kept getting harder. Your kindness touched her, but she was too tired to appreciate it. You’ve been in your job 10 years. Ask yourself if you’re still motivated and rewarded by the work you do and, if not, get ready for change.

Look out for new opportunities over the next six months and you’ll slowly make your way to a fresh start. You’re perfectly placed in a role helping people so make sure there’s an element of that in any job you do.

Keep smiling – for every person who doesn’t appreciate it, there’s a hundred who do. You’re a wonderful human, continue to shine your light.