Sometimes, I Hate My Job

[pastafreak]

Particularly when a client dies...
Two weeks ago, one of our long term clients was found dead in his flat. He had consumed so much alcohol over the years that he was never very coherent, yet he was always good natured and we all found the patience to listen to him. Today we learned he is to be buried in a paupers grave. We all find that devastatingly sad....
And today we heard of the death of one of our much younger clients...a girl barely out of her teens.
Life ...is not life, sometimes.

[pixie374]

That is really sad. Sometimes you just have to concentrate on the positive things you did while they were alive xx

[Tilly2]

Do paupers' graves still exist? Are they known as paupers' graves? How horrible!

[wolf63]

Often people say that to help the homeless there has to be more homes. I wish that it was as simple as that.

At least you are helping to give them a decent meal and some sort of routine. A place where they are treated as a human being and not just someone to avoid in the street.

I am sorry to hear about the young girl - she was very young.

[Mamyalynne]

You can only do so much , there is indeed much sadness for many.


People like yourself make it better for those you help.

[Tilly2]

That's the nature of the job you do, Pasta. You have to expect these kinds of situations and steel yourself. You are doing the very best you can for them but more often than you would like, all your endeavors come to naught. Try to concentrate on the positive aspects. There will be successes as well as failures.

[-SharonA-]

Pasta, can I ask what it is you do??? Your job sounds very stressful.

[pastafreak]

Hi Sharon...I'm a cook for a homeless charity. It's an open environment...they see me working, I see them interacting...chatting, dealing with their problems, having temper tantrums, sleeping off whatever they might have taken. They can come to me with minor problems, and there are several who help with bigger issues. Many I've known for years, and now we have a lot of needy and difficult young people. Its very easy to feel a bond with so many of them.
What I've described happens at least 4-5 times a year...the unexpected deaths are particularly heart breaking. I'm not sure any of us get used to it. We just continue to do the best we can for them. Yes...its very stressful.

[Old_Geezer]

You may be sad, but surely helping those in need while they are here isn't something to hate, but to be proud of.

[Peter Pedant]

one of my neighbours died so I rang his n-o-k
whose first reply was : we cant afford to bury him
( so we did )

[ducksie]

That's so sad to read, that's not just a bad day at the office, looking at this on latest posts I was thinking someone just having a rant about the boss or something, I'm so sorry some of your clients were lost this week, you must remember they have very complex problems, where you work is a sanctuary for them, no matter how hard it gets or how many don't make it, think, of the little chat, smile or something they may have shared with you because they trusted you. You're on the front line of a very sad social problem, you must get some kind of debriefing or have very strong shoulders to cry on when at home. I do hope that when you go in tomorrow, remember those that have sadly passed but look on the your regular clients and pull some strength from the good that you and others working with you do so selflessly. Keep strong, I can't even begin to think how hard it can be for you sometimes xx

[jourdain2]

It's hard, but you must remember the help you and others gave. There is a local organisation which we are involved with so I can understand your feelings. You can't make the world right on your own, just do the best you can. ARK is an acronym our vicar used yesterday - Acts of Random Kindness - and they make so much difference to lives. I posted recently about the immense amount of help kindness gave to me.

Life - is what happens and how we handle it an its consequences. :) x

[Patsy33]

Hard to deal with I'm sure. You do your best Pasta, which must make a huge difference to these unfortunate people. As sad as it is, you can be very proud of yourself. xx

[anneasquith]

Not the easiest job pasta, I do admire you . sadly you're clients are going to be ill and die prematurely, something will help you face the situation again tomorrow, Take care ,Anne .

[gness]

Pasta.....I admire you for lots of reasons.....and I like you....you're a special and lovely person.......x

[marval]

That is sad two of those you helped have gone, but you help a lot of people Pasta.
Remember that many people's lives are the better for what you do.

[pastafreak]

Thanks for all the comments and encouragement....and particularly Gness...how sweet :-).
As I said...*sometimes*. Most of the time I love it...it's rewarding and extremely gratifying when people get better or are able to see they can improve their lives. Especially the rude teens who come in with an attitude that needs one of mintys wet mackerels, only to be joking within days. Yep...I love it ( in spite of the extreme fatigue it induces )

[hereIam]

PP at 20:58 - good for you x

[andy-hughes]

It`s a simple and hard fact of life that if you start to care for anyone or anything, there is going to be pain at the end of it.

That`s an agreement we make as caring humans, and we understand it, but that never makes it easy to accept the pain when it does come.

Your job obviously gives you huge rewards, and the downside is huge sadnesses, and you wouldn`t be the caring person you are if you didn;t hurt over the losses you have to accept.

Tomorrow will be better, because knowing that is what helps us to get through the todays when life is just not good to us, or those around us that we care about.

[albaqwerty]

Pasta, am so sorry, words fail me, all that can be said in support of you in the job you are doing has been said

((hugs)) xx

[mallyh]

I like to think there were people like you when my son was homeless (he is a drug addict ,recovering now thankfully )he lived rough a few times when it got impossible for him to live here ,you do a great job xxxx