I heard this interesting statement the other day. “It is hard to do the right thing, and it is hard to do the wrong thing. It is the result of the decisions we make that we must learn to live with.” I have thought about that over the last few days as I look back on my life and the decisions I have made. It is true that right or wrong each choice in the decision-making process has its own roadblocks. We must determine which path we will take and if we are ready for the results or consequences that will come from the decisions we have made. Let me share two stories with you that I hope will get my point across.
I had a job as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at a long-term nursing facility. I was twenty-two years old. I worked the 3 pm to 11 pm shift. We would do our last rounds and checks at 10 pm. I noticed that when I did my rounds, I would have a full laundry cart but a few of my coworkers would barely fill the bottom of the cart. I didn’t think anything of it until one of the 11 pm to 7 am CNAs approached me and told me that many of the patients on their first rounds needed total bed changes. They were finding dry pads under patients, but the beds were saturated. I was told I was one of the few who never had this on the patients I cared for. I asked if anyone said anything. They said no. They were afraid of the consequences from their peers. I understood that but I also understood the harm to the residents not only physically but the harm to their dignity. I said something and the result led to my peers ignoring me and refusing to help me and they looked for any little thing so that they could report me. I eventually left that position, but I do not regret the choices I made on that day because the result led to preserving the health and dignity of the residents.
I had a one-bedroom studio apartment. It was the first time I had my own place. I alone was responsible for the rent and all the bills. It was hard but the independence was amazing. I paid all my bills on time and even though I didn’t have much money left over I found time to do things like go to the movies. I started dating someone and she wanted to go out to dinner and go out to the night club every weekend. I began to make decisions that led to me not paying my bills on time and being late with my rent until I eventually got to be two months behind. The landlord gave me every opportunity to get back on schedule. He was a friend, but I made the decision that keeping the girl was more important than my responsibilities. Eventually I lost my apartment, my friend and my girlfriend all because of the decisions I made to avoid my responsibilities. It was a hard lesson that took me two years to recover from.
Both stories show that each decision I had to make had challenges, but the end results are what is important. In the first story I lost a job, but the residents began to receive better care, and I got a new job within a week. The second story I lost everything and was homeless for a short time and it took me years to recover. They were both choices I made, and each had a lesson for me to learn.
I am not perfect so as I walk through life I will continue to make choices. My hope is that I will be strong enough to stand up for what is right and if I make a mistake that I will learn from that and move forward.
“Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you.” John C. Maxwell
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 