Amy M. Schaefer
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From the Front Porch

I am an "accidental blogger". When I launched my writing career in March of 2014, one of the things that I decided to include was my journaling, which I have always found to be a comforting and therapeutic endeavor.  It was a big risk to open myself up in such a public forum, but it has taught me that, for the most part, we share far more experiences than we think. It's comforting to know I'm not alone!  (*the "Button Text" is the link to my first novel)
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Old School

1/10/2016

2 Comments

 
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Image from www.zazzle.co.uk
As I sat at my make-up mirror this morning, I thought about a post one of my sisters recently shared on Facebook about a veteran nurse whose sister-in-law was in the hospital in ICU for a brain bleed. When the nurse went to visit her sister-in-law, she was so grateful to see that she was, in fact, going to be okay. But while she was there, she noticed many basic "Nursing 101" issues that had not been taken care of for this member of her family whom she loved dearly. Determined to get to the bottom of the quality of care, or lack thereof, her sister-in-law was receiving, she began to investigate the most pressing issues of negligence she could see for herself. The veteran nurse became more upset as she realized just what shoddy work many of the nurses who where charged to care for her sister were doing. And worse, how arrogant and dismissive they seemed to be about it. She concluded that we live in a world that seems to have forgotten even the most basic levels of craftsmanship, quality skills and work ethic. I do not disagree.

Since my husband retired from the Air Force and we moved back to our hometown, over and over again we have seen a complete lack of ethics and business sense from many of the places in our local area. Examples such as numerous employers who do not get back to applicants in a timely manner (...or at all) in regards to job openings, quality of workmanship a by-product unmentioned in a slick, fast-paced rat race that appears to be more and more filled with "rats", and basic business relations and courteous principles that have become outdated. When I came down for breakfast and expressed these ideas with my husband, he nodded frequently, agreeing with my thoughts on this matter. He went on to say, "We have lost our moral fiber with good business practices now a dinosaur that permeates all levels of our society."  I mentioned one of my all-time favorite professors, an old school thinker and one of the smartest men I have ever met, telling my husband that one of the reasons he was often unpopular with students was because he held them to high standards, requiring them to actually think for themselves and articulate logical ideas in an academic manner. My husband responded to this by saying, "Well, babe, he was not popular because he didn't just let students check 'those' boxes on their list and move on like most other teachers would have done." 

I don't want to believe that he is right, that fundamental good practices and quality work have become 'old school', however increasing evidence supports his cynical assessment. It bothers me to think that we've become a people who collectively spout things like "quality education", "moral business practices", and "building strong customer relationships", while behind the scenes doing exactly the opposite. With this being an election year, those messages, those lies will be spouted more than I can stomach, especially knowing that it's a Wizard of Oz kind of act, i.e. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain". The "outside" appears shiny and glorious, and yet the underneath is full of rot. What ramifications does that suggest for our future?

Footnote: I want to add that while the above seems to apply more and more to the places we deal with in our every day life, there are still the rare few places, businesses, institutions for higher learning, etc. who are built on the foundation of "quality" and "high standards". From small local business owners to the students, alumni, faculty and staff at Wake Forest University and connected to Wake Med, we have found glimmers of hope that things we value are not dead. It is a comfort to find "right" in a sea of "wrong" and it's greatly appreciated!
2 Comments
Tammy Pokorney link
1/10/2016 12:54:38 pm

Sister-it is without hesitation that I second your view of the degradation of moral fiber in the business world. There is so little customer service or appreciation for 'special' skills of the provider by the provider-the reason the nurse doesn't take pride in the care is that he/she doesn't value their own contribution it is merely a time filler and way to pay bills, that the service rendered falls short of quality. Thanks for reiterating the facts of our lost humanity and hopefully some at least will reflect on their own value to add to someone else's life....

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Amy Marie
1/13/2016 01:24:58 pm

Thank you for inspiring me and taking time to read my article. Love and miss you, sister of my heart.

Always,
A.

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    About The Author

    I grew up in rural North Carolina. When I was only nineteen, I moved away and became a military wife. My only aspiration at that tender time in my life was to create an adult life that "fixed" all of the "injustices" of my childhood. Secretly, however, I wanted to reach for the sky! I wanted to be a writer and find ways to "save the world" (my mother used to say, "You have Save the World Syndrome".). Mostly, I wanted to matter.

    Since then, I have learned to reach well beyond what I ever dared to think was possible. I've learned not to allow fear to stop me from whatever future I want to create!

    What keeps me grounded? My Tribe! What provides the wind beneath my wings? A well of reserves filled with unstoppable passion!

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  • Amy M. Schaefer, Writer
  • Blog: From the Front Porch
  • Novels
  • Short Stories
    • Children's Books
  • About the Author
  • Contact
  • Photo & Art Gallery