Workplace Flexibility – Yesterday It Was Personal

I’m not big on sharing too many personal stories on this blog because they are just that, very personal. But so is the reason I’m starting www.careerlifeconnection.com. It’s because, as a parent I need flexibility in my work and personal life.

Yesterday I took my daughter for a routine exam at the pediatrician. Everything was and probably is fine. Except the doctor thinks she heard a heart murmur. I’m sure for many of you that would be a “huh, odd” moment and you’d get it checked out and move on from there. Of course we are also going to check it out…but it comes with baggage.

My father had a heart murmur that was really a leaky valve that was replaced too late after lots of heart damage already occurred. The heart became progressively worse until a defibrillator was implanted and finally as a last resort (and just in the nick of time) a heart transplant was performed. Sadly, the anti-rejection drugs also take away the immune systems of transplant patients and after 3 ½ great years my father developed and fought cancer…losing his battle last February.

So it was an emotionally challenging day for me. I put off doing my work until I had time to make the necessary doctors appointments and then I even took some time to breathe, relax and understand that my daughter is not my father. Her murmur was picked up at 3 years old, not 33 years old and that probably all is well.

But as for productivity during 9 to 5, yesterday was a disaster. However once I was able to take the time for my daughter and myself. I got my work done and done well – it just happened after the traditional workday was over.