I've always loved Halloween the most of all the holidays. I suppose it's because I could be anyone, or anything I wanted for but a moment in time. For someone who used to always look for belonging and acceptance, Halloween provided a time to do just that. We were all freaks and weirdos on this day.
This Halloween was a bit different.
I messed up. Bad. I messed up so badly that I cost my boss and his family $15,000. I put a cow's milk into the tank that was supposed to be separated, and that caused a fine of $15,000 for a first time offence. First time in 15 years of milking. Ouch. I can't even begin to explain how sick this made me feel. When I mess up in my own business with dogs, I have no one to answer to but myself. I think you can imagine the amount of "oh my gawds" and "how did I miss thats" that went through my head. But all that didn't matter, because it happened and there were consequences.
Now, that being said, I still have my job. I believe that personally this is because of three things:
1. I was honest in admitting I forgot about the second of two cows that needed separating.
2. I didn't shrug it off. I was extremely apologetic and knew exactly how big of a mistake this was.
3. I was it. The training was put in, and there was no one else readily available for the job.
Boy, am I grateful for number three. More than grateful for number three, I'm grateful for such kind, understanding and rational people to be employed under. I've learned SO much about how to treat others from this family. Were they choked? Yes. Were they likely a little angry? Absolutely. But they are also forgiving, graceful and humbling to be around.
This job has taught me many lessons on patience, hard work and commitment. But today, it taught me the biggest lesson in life: love. Whether or not my boss realizes this, what he displayed was a big, fat display of love. He's shown an enormous amount of love by handling the situation with stoicism and mercy. In fact, after a long shift of making sure I did everything EXACTLY right, he handed me a bag of candy, and cheerfully exclaimed, Happy Halloween!
This Halloween was a bit different.
I messed up. Bad. I messed up so badly that I cost my boss and his family $15,000. I put a cow's milk into the tank that was supposed to be separated, and that caused a fine of $15,000 for a first time offence. First time in 15 years of milking. Ouch. I can't even begin to explain how sick this made me feel. When I mess up in my own business with dogs, I have no one to answer to but myself. I think you can imagine the amount of "oh my gawds" and "how did I miss thats" that went through my head. But all that didn't matter, because it happened and there were consequences.
Now, that being said, I still have my job. I believe that personally this is because of three things:
1. I was honest in admitting I forgot about the second of two cows that needed separating.
2. I didn't shrug it off. I was extremely apologetic and knew exactly how big of a mistake this was.
3. I was it. The training was put in, and there was no one else readily available for the job.
Boy, am I grateful for number three. More than grateful for number three, I'm grateful for such kind, understanding and rational people to be employed under. I've learned SO much about how to treat others from this family. Were they choked? Yes. Were they likely a little angry? Absolutely. But they are also forgiving, graceful and humbling to be around.
This job has taught me many lessons on patience, hard work and commitment. But today, it taught me the biggest lesson in life: love. Whether or not my boss realizes this, what he displayed was a big, fat display of love. He's shown an enormous amount of love by handling the situation with stoicism and mercy. In fact, after a long shift of making sure I did everything EXACTLY right, he handed me a bag of candy, and cheerfully exclaimed, Happy Halloween!
This is the kind of person I am working towards becoming. One who looks past the details of a situation, and looks at the big picture. Who can see the forest for the trees. Someone who doesn't get caught up in emotions, and can come to a rational discussion before addressing an issue.
This job has taught me much more than how to a milk a cow. It's taught me how to be a better human being.
This job has taught me much more than how to a milk a cow. It's taught me how to be a better human being.
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