I’ve had many jobs and internships over the past few years and there has always been one aspect that seems to never change; the work family. Before I continue this article let me first explain what a work family is. They are the people you see almost every single day, the people you get drinks with after a long shift, and the people you probably see more than your actual family. These people are your people and some of the most important aspect of your job and that is why I would like to take the opportunity to thank them.
Dear Work Family,
I would like to start off by thanking you. Thank you for accepting me as I am. There are days we all come into work a bit grumpy or a bit sad but the work-family understands that you aren’t perfect and neither are they. You’ve accepted me for all of my weird quirks and sometimes join in on them. There is nothing more important than establishing a relationship with the people you work with and I have definitely done so with all of you. There will be good days and there will be bad days but somehow the work-family always understands. Because you’ve shown me constant acceptance and love it has made such a huge impact on the way I work. You make me want to work harder and better, not only for myself but all of you.
Thank you for the constant support. When you work with people for such a long time you start to recognize signs of support. Whether it is support throughout the work day or even support in your personal life, work families make it possible to get by. There are times I constantly don’t feel like I know what I’m doing on a shift, but you all as my coworkers always reassure me that I am doing the best I can. You even support decisions I make even when the shift is over. Whether it's about small advice about a class to take or something big such as when my grandmother got sick you are all constantly trying to help. All the small gestures and words of support mean the world to me. So thank you for always making sure I have support because I try to do the same.
Thank you for making sure special occasions are celebrated. There is never a holiday or birthday that is not celebrated with the work family. We all spend so much time so much time together that I’ve started to notice holidays are just a part of the package. Whether it’s working an actual shift on Halloween to the annual office Christmas party, you all go out of your way to make any occasion special. There is nothing better than being able to go to work and know that any occasion will be special because I’m constantly surrounded by people who genuinely care.
There is nothing better than actually sitting down and realizing that the work family has become such a huge part of your life. I couldn’t imagine going into work and not saying hello or talking about the latest news. I truly think the most important aspect of the work family is that they ARE family. They aren’t strangers who you sit next to every day, but people who you’ve gotten to know over the time you have worked with them. Many people may not think about the work family, but I can promise you that once you realize it, you will never look at your coworkers in the same way.
Love,
Kristen
