Appreciating the Simple Things in Life

The reassurance of knowing what you've done for your life at the right time is a blessing and God's gift to your sanity.

AI-Generated Image: A Black woman with locs stands outside a medical building, looking up to the sky and raising her hands in reverence to the Lord.

Decision-making isn’t always easy, but when you’ve made the right one, your whole body knows it.

And I made the right decision coming back to my company as a direct rehire. Wednesday, May 21, 2025, was my last day with the contracted company. Do you want to guess when someone was finally assigned to come and get the rest of the equipment and testing supplies that belong to them? Anyone? Just a quick guess… No?! Friday, June 13, 2025!

You got it! An entire three weeks and two days later. It wasn’t anyone of higher ranking or any of the trainers with that company, either. It was Intelligent Black Woman #3 because she, at that time, had still not found the job she wanted. However, the following Monday, on June 16, 2025, she issued her resignation.

When I received a text message on Friday, June 13, 2025, at 10:15 AM from her, I immediately tensed up. I knew she was still holding on, working for the contracted company, taking their shit, and trying not to lose herself as she waited for the perfect offer. So, when I saw the message stating, “Hey, Tre! How many testing kits do you have, and where are they? I am going to come and get them.” I almost lost my sense of professionalism.

On that day, we were short-staffed, and the bulk of my work was taking place at the front desk. I responded to her… I had no clue of the number of testing kits I had packed up, and I did not have time to count them, but she could come by and retrieve everything on my lunch break, which she did.

The fact that the contracted company did not have the means to send someone of a higher ranking or one of the trainers to collect the items let me know that this organization still hasn’t gotten its act together.

Intelligent Black Woman #3 also stated that my old company (the one for which I am currently working as a direct rehire) has given the contracted company until Friday, July 4, 2025, to collect all items, remove any technological equipment and devices, and finalize their payment to sever the contract between the two. She stated that when she heard this (even though myself and my two other co-workers had tried to warn her that this would happen), she knew she had no choice but to get out of there.

Thus, the job offer coming from the company when it did for which she wanted to work, the expected compensation, and the role she had been looking for was a blessing in disguise. Holding out as long as she did opened up the door through which she wanted to walk.

Standing guard as a witness to what she has had to endure since we left further cements my decision to leave when I did. I am less stressed, and I am performing tasks with which I am familiar and with people who know me and have adapted to who and how I am.

I haven’t looked back in the direction of where the contracted company lies. They have plenty of work to do to regain any other professional medical entity’s respect because, from what I am being told… loose lips are sinking ships. Their reputation is preceding them, and that is always hard to counteract.

Thank God I acted when I did. I have no regrets.

Adjusting to others while they adjust to me.

I have high-functioning autism; typically classified as “Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder.”

High-functioning autism (HFA), also known as Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder, describes individuals within the autism spectrum who have typical or above-average intelligence and language skills, but still experience challenges in social interaction, communication, and behavior. While they can often perform daily tasks independently, they may struggle with understanding social cues, maintaining relationships, and adapting to change.

I was assessed in my early 40s and reassessed just under four months ago. Although I can be and am most likely (on my good days), a people person, I have trouble picking up on minor things when involved in social interactions. I always have. Writing has been a great way to communicate, bring characters attempting to break free from my mind to life, relate to other creatives, and express myself.

However, I cannot always write something down, and when there’s a difficult moment of interaction with another, I do not always think of the best thing(s) to say. I may blurt out what’s on my mind at that time, and then I struggle to clear and/or clean it up.

Two of my co-workers who sit at the front of the office with me brought something to my attention, as I had not been aware of it previously. They both know I am on the spectrum, so their way of presenting this information was kind yet stern, and then with some humor splashed in, too. Most times, I have to ask for clarity on the way something is being said to me, but in this case, I did not. I heard them both loud and clear, and I made adjustments accordingly, which not only benefited me, it helped them as well.

Throughout the rest of my day yesterday, I was cognizant of that adjustment, and I tried my best not to obsess about it. I did, though. But I will continue to work on it, knowing that the changes made not only brought about positive reactions, but they will also help my future patients, too.

I am not afraid of learning. If anything, I always want someone to make me aware of something that would be helpful to me and others. But I also need that communicated to me in a way that is not offensive or derogatory, because if it is, I am definitely not going to listen or make any adjustments, either. I will end up seeing it as a full-on attack and probably make every effort to steer clear of that person or people.

I’ll also obsess about it so much that I may end up spiraling and eventually be unable to see things clearly about it, and break it down into portions that can be digested. This ends up causing more harm to me, and I become depressed.

I am adjusting to the current women at the front desk on an entirely different level, and they’re adjusting to me. If we continue to be open, honest, and helpful to one another, we will not have any issues. I have always been leery of changing jobs/switching up where and with whom I work because adaptation is hard for everyone involved, but a bit harder for me.

Again, the right decision has been made, and I am excited about our future as co-workers.

I can feel my nervous system slowly releasing its anguish.

When life is not lived walking on eggshells or threading needles with pins, one can breathe so much easier. Every day with the contracted company had become taxing on my nervous system. I had not realized how many days I lived in fight or flight mode, and with that, came headaches, nervousness, and changes in my mood and behavior.

There Is Something So Sexy About "Standing Your Ground"

Now that the proverbial monkey has been removed from my back, the weight I was carrying no longer exists. I do not wake up during the week fearful of logging into work because I am constantly anticipating the worst or something to take place that shouldn’t. I arrive at work with a smile on my face and greetings in my heart. I know my paycheck will arrive every other Friday, and I do not have to play mental chess assessing all entities around me who have not gotten paid—thus becoming so concerned about whether I would get my check.

I am moving through each day feeling hopeful and with less doubt around me. No one could have prepared me for just how much of a change all of this would be. I knew things would be better. I foresaw fewer problems and more happiness. And I knew the environment would be less toxic, more inviting, and better suited for me mentally.

The decision has given me a more solid nervous system. I feel as though I am functioning on all cylinders, and I do not have to jump through hoops and leap over daily hurdles.

I am in my lane, running at the pace suitable for me, and becoming a better person, too. Appreciating the simple things in life is making a maximum change in me.

I’ll take all of this any day over the madness of a toxic working environment.