Benny got this letter from a postal employee and it made me proud. Read it and let me know if you feel the same:
"It seems that people are always taking pot shots at the USPS. Every time I read something negative, it hits me square in the chest. I get personally offended. I feel like all the schoolyard bullies can’t wait to kick me for what I do. Even my own family gets their digs, as they toss out barbs to remind me of what a 'horrible place' I work for. Life is all about the choices we make. I chose to take a test and say yes when I was called. How many of us gave up the dream of college to support our new families and then never found the time to go back?
"Every time I hear the term "junk mail" I feel small. I feel that my job and my life offend people.
But this is my life. Twenty five years of it and I’m proud to do this job. I'm proud to serve my customers. I like to think I make a difference to somebody, no matter how small my contribution is on a national scale.
I remember how honored I was I was when I did my paperwork on my first day. I remember when I took the oath to protect the mail. I remember when I cashed my first paycheck. I remember all the ways the Postal Service has provided for me and my family. I remember the pay, the benefits, the security, the vacations and the way of life I have. It puts a roof over my head and provides for my family. I try to keep that in my mind and never take my wonderful job for granted.
I cannot forget the Postal Service when so many want to malign her name. When they mock us, abuse us, and call us names I want to stand up and shout. I know better. I know what I do is important to America. And most of my coworkers feel the same way. Together, we work hard to make a difference.
So on this day, I will go to work, loud and proud. I love the Postal Service."
-- Lisa N., Spokane, WA
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11 comments:
Amen!! I too am hurt by the remarks people make about "us". I like to remind them of the millions of letters and packages that are delivered correctly without damage every day! I am proud to be working for the Postal Service! Pam Klatt Linn Grove IA Postmaster
I believe the USPS is vital to most Americans, expecially the letter carrier, whom they trust and respect.
Yeah Lisa! I too am proud to work for the Postal Service and am thankful for all the opportunities and benefits I have received in the 25 years I have worked here.
I too am offended with the same cruel behavior some of the public displays. I am proud of what I do and thankful for a great career. Stand tall and stand proud for what each of us does to move the mail and assist the customers is vital to the American dream.
I use to feel and think like them about the post office. Proud to be in an organization this big and diverse. But over the years, not so much and especially over the course of this last year. The postal service's main goal is not service and the people that work for them. The postal service that I started working for many years ago is gone. I know things change and evolve but newer is not always better. When you have employees with 25-30yrs of service that you could care less about the job that have or the job you are going to make them do, that's not right. What happened to the people that are hired in the last six yrs being the first ones to be let go. What happened to loyalty and seniority. Those things do not exist in this organization any more and that is sad. What happened to being able to work your job, being proud of the job you did, and knowing that some day you can retire from that job. That, too, is no more. There is always someone there to get onto you, tell you what you didn't do right today, you took too long,etc. and never thanks. Never thanks. I have a few years in this service and now only hope that I can hang onto a job, not necessarily my job, but a job in this organization until retirement. I hope that I have not wasted 30 yrs of my life in a job that won't have a retirement in it for me. I have given them my all and I have expect them to give me the same but at this point that is fading fast.
Here, here, Lisa!! I am proud of and thankful for my job at the U.S. Postal Service. I've seen a lot of change in my 31+ years. Unfortunately, the negativity I see and hear is mostly from within. The ungrateful whiners--employees who have an entitlement attitude have forgotten what this company does for them and their families. I for one can overlook and ignore the public's skewed perception of this great organization. The "snail mail" and "going postal" tag lines are just to sell newspapers and head-line stories. I know, and you know that we are the best and most trusted federal agency for many years running; that the Postal Service has made monumental strides in improved efficiency and cost reduction to remain viable while maintaining incredible service scores. In spite of the biased and self-serving media's negative characterizations of us, the general public and American business still count on us to deliver. And that's exactly what we do!
Touche~! I feel EXACTLY the same. I wish this could be posted in all the newspapers! Way to go!
Thank you for this letter, Lisa. You expressed my thoughts completely.
The Postal Service has given me & my family a very good life, put the kids through college and paid for their weddings. In return, I have given my customers the best service that I can. Many have expressed their gratitude, but we will always have those people that choose to shout out their criticizm. In most aspects of our society, the more important that a business or person is, the more they are criticized.
This only proves how important the Postal Service is to the American public.
Regeana, Atalissa IA
Thank you for this letter, Lisa. You expressed my thoughts completely.
The Postal Service has given me & my family a very good life, put the kids through college and paid for their weddings. In return, I have given my customers the best service that I can. Many have expressed their gratitude, but we will always have those people that choose to shout out their criticizm. In most aspects of our society, the more important that a business or person is, the more they are criticized.
This only proves how important the Postal Service is to the American public.
Regeana, Atalissa IA
I LOVED the letter, Lisa!! I loved what Mr. Potter wrote, too! We are an awesome entity and we do a good job every day consistently. I feel for the person who wrote all their feelings about bad things that are happening and want to encourage them to look at the positive, not the negative, no matter how hard that may seem and their Postal life will get better. We are all in this together and all need encouragement from time to time and need to open our minds to encouragement.
We are an easy target because we represent "the government" to most people who have no other daily interaction with a government organization. And because there are still a lot of misunderstandings about what we do, where our funds come from, etc. So I try to correct misperceptions as much as possible and figure some of the remarks are due to jealousy that we have jobs that others envy (although it's amazing how many new hires don't realize how hard the work is, the shifts we work, the holidays we work, the weather we work in, etc.) Yes, morale has taken a plunge in recent years and micro-managing and massive reports and paperwork are disheartening. The future sometimes looks bleak: will we still have a job in 5 years? Will we get excessed or have to move? Will I be able to retire when I want to? We aren't immune to the problems many Americans are facing but we still have good pay and good benefits. Each of us needs to decide if we want to stay here, and if so, we'll all need to adapt to ensure the future of the Postal Service. But, yes, we do need to be proud and speak up for our jobs and our employer.
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