Directors_Message_Change_your_focus_Change_your_career

I hope you have had an excellent few weeks since the last edition of the RDH eVillage.

Here is a wonderful story, which I adopted for dental hygienists, that I would like to share with you in this Director’s Message! The author of the original story is unknown.

The 26-year-old dental hygienist who was well-educated and prepared for his new dental hygiene position was a proud hygienist, who was always groomed and ready for work by seven-thirty, with his hair fashionably coifed and face clean shaven. His scrub pants and shirt were always clean and neatly pressed, even though he knew he will be donning personal protective equipment all day during his clinical hours.

After many months of interviewing at a variety of offices and employment settings, he patiently waited in the reception area of his new dental office, and smiled kindly when told his operatory was ready. As he maneuvered his way to the front desk, and walked down the hall, I provided a visual description of his tiny operatory, which was in no way near having state of the art technology or high tech equipment. Yet it included his framed license and diploma on the wall.

"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Elliot, you haven't seen the operatory ... just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my operatory or not doesn’t depend on how much technology is there or the amenities. It's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have had with past employers, team members, and/or patients, or the parts of my body that get sore after providing hygiene care, or get out of bed and be thankful for the health and balance I do have. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away just for this time in my career."

So my dearest friends, you too can choose to be happy every day of your life!

The original story is:

The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. "I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. "Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room ... just wait." "That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged. It's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away just for this time in my life.”

So my dearest friends, you too can choose to be happy every day of your life!

Kristine A. Hodsdon RDH, BS
RDH eVillage, Director