Thankful: Day 39

Today I was able to help with Oklahoma Mission of Mercy.

I will be candid. I feel like I am a pretty compassionate and caring person. I want to help others. These qualities and the desire to help fit well with my social work degree and they also fit quite well with dental hygiene. BUT, I was not looking forward to this. My classmates were posting to Facebook how excited they were to help out, but I was tired. I had spent the entire week doing homework and studying for tests and quizzes. I gave up several hours that could have been spent with my family and devoted them to school. Then I had to send my kids to Grammy and Poppy's house for the weekend while I drove out to Tulsa to volunteer my precious time to people other than my own family. I didn't have the best attitude.

I'm still tired, but spending the day helping others and having quality conversation with them, and teaching them was amazing. I didn't get to assist any hygienists. I spent the entire shift at the oral hygiene instruction table, but it was still amazing. I got to look in the eyes of people so in desperate need of dental care that they stood outside all night long, for a chance to receive care. It was a fantastic day!

To top it all off, Matt went with me, so we got to make a date night of out little Tulsa trip. We ate at a "sit down" restaurant where there are hostesses and waiters...and you have to tip.  (In case you couldn't tell, we don't do that much...) We did a little shopping and a lot of talking (with no interruptions) and just got to be together.

Sometimes you just need an attitude adjustment.