On my way to dinner with my husband we passed a large road project and a construction site. Road and construction projects are not that unusual after the snow finally leaves Michigan. But it was 7:30 pm on a Friday. As we were off to enjoy a nice evening I wondered about the spouses or children waiting at home for their loved ones that were still hard at work. I’m sure the workers were just as anxious to get on with their weekend as I was.
My husband plows snow in the winter, so I’ve gained a new appreciation for the commitment these folks have to keep our roads clear or the stores open. They start at midnight and work until the job is done. If we are hit with one of those snowstorms that we are so familiar with in the Midwest – the kind that give you a one or two hour window and then start up again – they don’t punch out and come home. Many of them sleep for a couple of hours in their trucks and keep going. There have been many times when I barely see my husband for three days straight.
Every single day we pass by people that fix our roads, build our homes, and deliver products. The world doesn’t stop because it’s the weekend or 5:00. There are many people out there that are working 12-14+ hour days. Yet we grumble because the traffic is backed up or our favorite snack is sold out.
Your practice for this week is simple – acknowledge the unseen. Thank people that keep the wheels turning in this amazing country of ours. Be more aware of what it takes for that gallon of milk to be available when you head to the grocery store at 11:30 pm so your kids will have milk for their cereal in the morning. Or the road workers that work in hot asphalt in 80+ degree heat.
Many of you that receive these Tips work in these industries. Whether you are out there making deliveries or back at the office keeping things moving, on behalf of myself and all of us at Culture by Choice, I want to thank you. We do see you and appreciate you.