A Calling, Not Just a Career

After so many years working in the field of Nursing, forty-six to be exact (yawn!) in many healthcare settings, I have come to realize that substance use disorder treatment is a field that stands out in my experience.  I believe that what keeps people here is not the routine of the work, it is the meaning behind it. This is not an easy profession by any measure, but for those of us who have stayed, it is because we have found something that nourishes our souls.

Each day, we meet people at a crossroads, often carrying a lifetime of pain, shame, or loss. Yet somehow, alongside that brokenness, we see the flicker of hope, the very spark that brought them here. Bearing witness to that moment, to someone’s courage to try again, remains one of the most profound experiences I know.

Many of us were drawn to this work for personal reasons. Our CEO, Mark Epley always tells me, “People work here for a reason.”  Many have traveled the road of recovery themselves; others have watched a loved one take that journey and some experienced profound loss. Still others simply have a heart that feels an unexplainable pull toward service. Whatever the path, there seems to be a common thread running through us all: the belief that people can and do change, and that compassion, paired with accountability can heal what once seemed impossible.

Over time, this work has become so much more than a set of tasks or responsibilities for me. It expanded my sense of vocation, a way of being in the world. The days can be very demanding, and the rewards are not always visible or immediate,  but they are real: a grateful smile, the first laugh from someone who has not smiled in years. Those moments fill my heart in ways that no paycheck ever could.

In serving those who are sick and suffering, we are reminded of our shared humanity, how fragile, yet how strong we all are. And if I have learned anything, it is this: when we give of ourselves in this work, moments of grace come into focus.

At Seafield, this belief is at the center of everything we do. “The Client is not an Interruption of Our Work but the Purpose of Our Work,” is a quote displayed throughout our hallways. “Healing with compassion” is not just a phrase we say, it is our daily practice, expressed in every group, every medication pass, every conversation in the hallway. Each time we come together to care for someone in need, we reaffirm our collective commitment to the greater good, to walk with those still finding their way, and to remind them, and ourselves, that recovery is possible, and that no one walks this path alone. I am grateful for this opportunity to serve.