Leaving A Place Better Than You Found It

I retired from the Veterans Administration, A VA Medical Center in October 2018 on Halloween, Certainly it was bizarre in a way, Trick or Treat, my expedited retirement was largely due to tending to my health and my sanity. I thought it was a temporary speed bump in a long career and when I got better, I would return to full time work.

Most of us like the illusion that we left a place better than we found it. It may be a delusional moment but its nice to think even if your weren’t recognized in a big way that you did your best. It wasn’t about you! If anyone had said to me that my retirement had anything to do with who was President I would have said absolutely not. In case your’re wondering who was President, it did matter in October 2018.

A peaceful transition of power sounds great and all that, but if there were subtle ways in which you didn’t feel like you were in alignment. You kept your head down and in some ways felt protected by common decency and whatever protections a civil service job would have afforded you.

Many non-profit organizations and other non governmental associations motivate you with mission statements that make you feel good . it is not just about you. You are a part of a whole; a team on a force for good.