Half-full or half-empty?

Being a nurse is awesome and I love my job, but it is a trying profession. The beauty of my 12 hour shifts is four days off a week and paid time off that equates to about a month each year. Vacation allows for a fresh perspective, renewed spirit, and prevents burnout week in and out. No matter how much you love something, it’s good to take a step back to remember to appreciate it and remember why you do what you do.

I spent my week off in the beautiful woods of Yosemite National Park, a place that has been my favorite destination since I spent summers there as a child. While I live minutes from the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains, there is something about the seclusion of the Yosemite Valley, looking up at the gorgeous carved mountains, that makes my heart happy and content.

In the midst of our biking/hiking/walking adventures, my mom, husband, and I decided to treat ourselves to a hot meal in the rustic dining hall of the park’s Majestic Hotel. This was where we met Paul. Paul was a soft-spoken man late 40s to early 50s who greeted us at our table and took our drink orders.

He moved with deliberation and carried out his duties with a spirit of contentment, of someone who enjoyed what he did. His job was simply to fill drink orders. He was diligent in his work and moved from table to table ensuring that each person’s glass was always full, apologizing when it wasn’t. He was attentive to the point where I feared if I took a sip of water he would feel the need to refill my glass.

He was pleasant and inquired about our home city and plans for our vacation. We learned that he had worked in the National Parks for most of his life, living in the simplicity of the natural beauty of the park. He had no family or former job, but had found his niche in the simple task of serving others.

I couldn’t stop thinking about our interaction with Paul. He was different than most people. He was simple, humble, and kind. There was purpose in every move he made, joy in his step, and kindness and genuine interest in each question he asked. Some might call him stuck in one place, but I saw Paul as a light.

What if each of us lived our lives to make sure that the glasses of everyone around us were full? What if we moved with deliberation and looked beyond ourselves at all times to build up the people around us? I wouldn’t call that stuck, I would call it life-giving and purposeful. In taking time to step back and reflect, Paul reminded me to live with a spirit that is life-giving and to keep my perspective and glass full.