100   Points of Gratitude – Job

1)    A steady paycheck

2)    Health and dental insurance

3)    A clean building to work in

4)    Workable bathrooms

5)    Dining facilities and vending machines on premise

6)    Free parking

7)    Heat in the winter and cool air in the summer

8)    Credits toward my social security in the future

9)    Working around people I like

10) Working with people I respect

11) Using some of my natural talents

12) Using some of my education and experience

13) Adding value to the organization

14) Authority to create new outlets

15) Working in a famous building

16) Working for a famous/infamous organization

17) Adding value to residents’ lives

18) Adding understanding of issues

19) Offering insight into how things get improved

20) Offering insight into how government works

21) An office refrigerator and microwave for lunches from home

22) A state-of-the-art gym in the building

23) Security in the garage

24) Computers that work

25) Available research assistance

26) Yellow paint on the walls for cheerfulness

27) Blue carpet on the floor that’s soothing

28) A cubicle, at least

29) Voice mail

30) E-mail

31) Computer assistance available

32) A lap top to work on from home

33) Co-workers I can laugh with

34) Working with a leader  who works hard herself

35) Working with a boss who is very smart, impressively intelligent

36) Working with a boss who at 73 has the stamina of a 17-year-old

37) Working with a boss who is intensely passionate, however misplaced the passion sometimes

38) Working with a boss who is faithful although she’s not religious

39) Working with a boss who is resilient

40) Working with a boss who is flexible

41) Working with a boss who has adapted to the 60s, 70, 80, 90s, and turn-of-the century

42) Working with a boss who had taken public, embarrassing defeats in stride

43) Working with a boss who loves her job

44) Working with a boss who is tireless (because she’s an example of what’s possible)

45) Working with a boss who is clearly living “on purpose”

46) Working with a boss who is celebrated

47) Working with a boss who is loved by many

48) Working with a boss who has remarkable successes to her credit

49) Working with a boss who contributes to others’ successes

50) Working with a boss who speaks lovingly about her children

51) Working with a  boss who will send certain staffers notes of praise

52) Working with a boss who have given me and other young and middle-aged people opportunity

53) Working in a building designed by inspiration

54) Working in a building millions visit

55) Working in a building made of fine materials

56) Riding an underground train between buildings

57) Being a part of an historic Congress

58) Working in government during a historic time

59) Being in a position to tell the story from the inside

60) Being able to know the story from the inside

61) Being able to love the story as it happens

62) Being able to tell the story as it happens

63) Being in a position to help shape new laws

64) Being in a position to tell how new laws are shaped

65) Being in a position to understand how law is influenced

66) Being in a position to see earnest efforts of politicians

67) Being in a position to learn to trust elected officials

68) Being in a position to grow beyond deep-rooted cynicism

69) Being in a position to save toward retirement

70) Being in a position to receive matching funds for 5 % of my salary

71) Being in walking distance daily from the Library of Congress w/ free parking

72) Being in a position to meet people who love serving the public

73) Being in a position to work with people who love serving the public

74) Helping serve the public

75) Helping make sure government works for individuals and community organizations

76) Being in a position to help make sure public officials are honest

77) Being in a position to help make sure public funds and trust are spent properly

78) Being in a position to reach someone in the White House on the phone

79) Being in a position to help people I know gain access to resources

80) Being in a position to help restore public trust in government

81) Being in a position to help others grow beyond their debilitating cynicism

82) Having good physical health so I can focus on the tasks at hand

83) Having good mental health so I can focus on the tasks at hand

84) A boss who loves teaching young people

85) A boss who believes government should serve the people and who works to make that happen

86) Being in a position to listen to debate on legislation all day as I work

87) Learning new skills while being paid

88) Challenges that have pushed me farther than I thought I could go

89) Finding that I can work longer days that I have in my life

90) Finding that I can work long days for longer periods than I have before

91) Finding that I can adapt to difficult circumstances

92) Realizing that I need to adapt much quicker for greater success

93) Being in a position to help ensure others’ success simply by doing my job well

94) Having resources to maintain my living expenses and unexpected expenses

95) Having resources to maintain credit lines for emergencies

96) Being in a position to leap into a much better financial position

97) Being in a position to gather rich material for books

98) Inspiration for book titles and characters

99) Being in a position where others can see my talents and excellence

100)                Meeting new friends

I had been feeling over-worked and under-paid, taxed and exhausted.  But last week, the maladjustment to my current circumstances almost became debilitating. So, I decided to spend this week focusing, instead, on a question a friend of mine would ask me. How does God get the glory out of this? Whenever I complained, Chee-Chee would ask “How does God get the glory?” and encourage me to find the sparks of light, the reasons to be grateful rather than resentful of the same situation.  Today I set out to begin compiling my list, and was pleasantly surprised that the gratitude flowed.  Within minutes I was looking at 35 reasons to be grateful for my job. In less than 30 minutes I had listed 100 reasons, not including paid holidays. I could probably come up with 100 more reasons. But this is enough to take the edge off the four complaints I paid daily homage to in the last year or so.