Needs

**Disclaimer: This entry may sound a little self-centered.**

Today, my boss led me and my colleagues with this exercise of drawing a tree with:

1. Roots
2. Trunk
   
3. Branches & Leaves
4. Weeds on the ground
5. Bird (anywhere; can fly, can perch on branches, can be on the ground, etc)
6. Where is this tree?

I didn't scan what I had drawn this morning but this is about 99% similar:


Then, boss got us to name a few things for each component:

1. Roots: Without roots, the tree will never be upright. Question - whenever we are in need of someone urgently, who can we turn to? The Need for Love & Belonging
   
2. Trunk: A trunk is strong & sturdy. It's the part where the branches branches out at the end. Without the trunk, the branches will not be there. Question - what are our strengths? The Need for Power
   
3. Branches & Leaves: They are free, waving in the sky, etc. Question - what are the things we enjoy doing? What is the things we do that keeps us alive? The Need for Fun
   
4. Weeds & bird: These two interlinks. Weeds are not useful. They are things that needs to be rid off. Question - What are the things we would want freedom FROM? And in relation (to the bird), what do we want to be free to BE? The Need for Freedom
   
5. Think & share: I am the tree now, where am I located? (Boss shared that some may share that they look around them and find themselves in a cage) The Need for Security
   

Bringing it back to work, we related to how we can help the children nurture holistically noting that ALL 5 needs are very important, for without one of it, the children (& even adults) will be miserable.

After all the sharing, I made my way to lunch. Then, I received news that my colleague is unable to cover duty at the Home for me this Sunday, which means that I have to find replacement. I truly experienced today that the feeling of being rejected, not once, not twice & not even thrice, 8 times is heart-wrenching.

On one hand, I fully accept the reasons given to me (& I can't blame them for rejecting me cause to begin with, they are not from my department thus, it's really a favor I am asking) & resigned to the fact that I am working on Sunday again. On the other hand, I feel like a child who was given a whole lot of toys ONLY to be taken away all of a sudden. I was excited that I could attend my church service, I have plans to attend several meetings & finally, go home early to help out in my family's Chinese New Year reunion dinner. ONLY to be told that I could do none of it.

Then I realize that I am feeling miserable because my need for fun has not been met for a long time. *sigh* But at least one thing I can really thank God for is that after Chinese New Year, I will finally, after 8 months, have a partner at work! Which means that my weekend duties are going to be more structured. Which means that if no one else can help out on the weekend, I am not the defaulted answer people look at. Which means that I will finally have a 2nd opinion. Which means that I have someone to look out for my blind spots. Which means that I have someone to share my casework with. Actually, all in all, it means A LOT to me.

Hmm... Now that I have listed down, my heart don't seem to be that heavy after all.