I Just Can't Win

And I'm not sure if I should try anymore...

Driving to work one day, I passed an elderly woman sitting outside her nursing home, basking in the sun. She looked so peaceful that I turned around and pulled in the drive near her bench to ask if I could join her. She invited me to sit and to my surprise asked, "What are you avoiding on this beautiful day?"

I was shocked. How did she know I was dreading my next appointment? I'm a social worker, and I'd been on my way to visit a client who had made me feel physically and emotionally drained for months with deceit and manipulations. It had gotten to the point where I dreaded each day I worked on the case.

When I told the woman about the situation, she said, "Sit for a little bit, then go home and turn this case over to someone else. You've done all you can do." I'd never given up on a case before, but I saw right away that she was right.

That very day, I made changes in my caseload that made my work rewarding again. I'm grateful for her wisdom - and for helping me to recognize when to let go.