”I Was Just Doing My Job”

This is for all the people who say, “I was just doing my job.”

How many times have you thanked someone for helping you through a difficult situation and their response was, “Oh, I was just doing my job.” And while that may be true, I have always thought that, sometimes, it deserves a special thank you.

This came to light this week when I had a chance to sit down with one of my therapists from when I had my stroke. Can you believe that was almost 10 years ago?

This week I had a chance to interview Ashley Salvail for the next edition of “The Pete Braley Show.” It will be produced soon and I’ll post it on my YouTube page. Ashley is an Occupational Therapist working at Mass General Brigham Home Care. Ten years ago she was at Charlton Hospital in Fall River where I went for stroke rehab. The show is about her career, what an Occupational Therapist does and we get some tips on what help is available to those who need it.

At the beginning of the show I mentioned that I will be forever grateful to Ashley and her colleagues for getting me back on my feet again after my stroke. Her response was something like, “It was a team effort.” I thanked one of her colleagues once and she said, “Well YOU did all the work.”

While that may be true (I was the one doing what they asked me to do), I certainly feel like they had a big impact. They helped me get the work done even on days when I wanted to just stay in bed.

Over the years I have noticed that some people do their jobs while other people do their jobs well. Yes you can just get the job done or, sometimes, you can be exceptional at your job. You can just do your job or you can CARE about the job you do. 

We’ve all seen it.

The person who goes through the motions, does the minimum they have to do to finish a task. Then there’s the person who goes above and beyond. Maybe they do a little extra because that’s the kind of person they are. Maybe they do it with a smile no matter how long their day has been.

The waiter or waitress who cares about your dining experience as compared to someone who just brings the food.

First Responders might say, “I was just doing my job,” but we know they did that little extra to make our loved one comfortable or comfort them when they were scared. Or maybe it happened to you. I’m sure the job description doesn’t say, “Comfort them and hold their hand when they’re scared.” There are many times that this happens.

It may be a case that they are uncomfortable being singled out and I get that.

Years ago I had a hard time accepting compliments. I was never in healthcare but people would thank me at times or compliment me on something and I would answer back with, “Oh it was nothing.” One day I realized that I was trivializing their feelings. It might feel like nothing to me but it meant the world to them at the time.

I learned to just say… “Thank you.” That’s all. No “Thank you but….” Just those two little words that pack such a powerful punch. Either “Thank you” or “You’re welcome.” I feel like we don’t say that enough anymore.

Yes we realize you were “doing your job” but you know what? You did your job well. It really mattered to us. It may be just another day on the job for you, but it helped us tremendously! 

Let us spread a little praise. 

You deserve it. You care. And sometimes, but not often enough, we notice.

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