I Finally Feel Appreciated

After working for the same company for 18 years, and the last 8 years working under a very difficult boss, I am finally feeling appreciated for the hard worker that I am.

You see, the last 8 years, my last boss never thanked me for a job well done. He never said good job, keep it up, way to go. As someone that worked in management, I know all to well what those kind of words mean to an employee. A simple thank you is enough, although I would always let my employees know when they were doing a really good job with a thank you and a small gift/treat. That way they would feel appreciated, not just for who they are, but for what they do. My last boss played the favoritism game, yep, he had his favorites, and everyone knew who they were. So even if you worked your butt off, and you weren't on his favorite list, well, it sucked to be you. I was one of those. I don't know how someone that actually does their job ends up on the shit list, but it does happen. Believe me, I know all too well. I was miserable. I wanted out so bad, but could not afford a pay cut. Even if I could afford a small pay cut, I had a very hard time with change, and losing all my benefits. Unfortunately, my company didn't survive, but it meant a way out for me. I totally believe it was a blessing in a way. I got to take time to find a job that I really wanted, which was going to be a big change in this girls life.

I have been working at the Arabian farm for a little over a month now. The barn manager/trainer, my boss, has only been back at work for 2 weeks since I have been there. But last week my boss approached me to tell me that I was doing a wonderful job. He really appreciated how hard I was working and that I was doing a good job. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Here I have only worked with my boss for 2 weeks, and he is already thanking me? I went 8 years without a thank you at my last job. Then the other day, my boss tells me that I have a really good work ethic. He asked why I didn't tell him that when I first interviewed with him. I told him that I did. He said that everyone says that, which is true. Since I was in the management business for so many years, I did the interviewing and hiring, and know first hand that 98 % of the people interviewed say they are good workers, when in reality only about 2 % are actually really good workers.

The day after the last compliment, my boss tells me again how wonderful of a job I am doing, and he would like to have a meeting with me the next day to see how I like the job, if I have any questions or concerns, and to talk about more money. Wow! Where did all this come from? I know I am a hard worker. I have always been this way. I am just in shock by how many times I have been thanked, praised, complimented at this job, and not just by the boss. The head groom told me on her second day back, that I am the best groom she has ever worked with, she said "seriously, I have worked with a lot of grooms, and you are the best!" Wow. I really took that as a compliment, she is an extremely hard worker, very dedicated to her job and very good at what she does. So to be complimented by her, feels really, really good.

This is the first time in a long time that I have finally felt appreciated for all the hard work I do. I believe that if we get paid to do a job, then we better do our job. A simple thank you is enough, and now I am finally getting to hear those 2 words that I have yearned to hear for so long. And it feels so good!