Every day, I message anywhere from 25-50 people in a day. I ask how life is treating them, and I often am met with skepticism and distrust for reaching out. Some assume I was referred to them for a negative reason. Reaching out doesn\u2019t mean there is a problem; it means I care and want to get to know you.
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People have difficulty accepting that a Care Counselor wants to proactively say \u201chello.\u201d Maybe it\u2019s the facial hair in my profile picture? Perhaps it\u2019s a sign of the times and our lack of trust in people because our car\u2019s warranty is always expiring. We are quick to put up walls towards a stranger. Whatever the case is, it takes most of my time at work to build trust with people. My role is about availability, but it\u2019s also about pre-emptively caring for people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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I\u2019m most effective and utilized by someone when they know who I am and that I genuinely care. I do this by direct messaging people, engaging in community chats, attending company get-togethers, and even with these weekly posts. They remind people that I exist and am here for them. I write these blogs and get several private messages apologizing for leaving my message to them on READ from earlier in the week. I never want people to feel like they owe me a response, but I want them to know that I genuinely care for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Monday night, I received this message, \u201cDo you have time to talk?\u201d It was 7:30 PM and I was getting the kids ready for bed. I let my wife know I had to step away. She understood and handled the rest. The fruit of my labor is a moment like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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It\u2019s the type of person who never says much back when I message them. It\u2019s the person who has too many meetings to ever sit down and exchange pleasantries. It\u2019s the person who fears sharing with me what is happening in their life. It’s the supervisor or owner who thinks I am only here for their team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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But over a year and a half of showing that I care, I was able to prove it to this person. They had a real need and knew who they could call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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A moment like Monday night reminds me to remain consistent. It reminds me to not take the cold shoulder personally. It reminds me to be thankful for the privilege of serving people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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No matter what happens, I\u2019ll be here for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Every day, I message anywhere from 25-50 people in a day. I ask how life is treating them, and I often am met with skepticism and distrust for reaching out. Some assume I was referred to them for a negative reason. Reaching out doesn\u2019t mean there is a problem; it means I care and want …<\/p>\n