Every weekday, any time from 9-5, the team is ready to work, even Dr H, the sweet and efficient team director. There are no days like the previous one, although the location is still the same.
Every hour or so, a different person visits- maybe with similar struggles, physically talking, but with totally different challenges in their everyday life. The ones you and I face too.
In spite of these differences, Andrea and her team make no difference between them. Everyone’s looking for the same, the hope of a better future, with less imbalance in the “humours”.
When you have been there more than once, you know the way to the small ward, that’s what Dr H said when we were walking down the aisle. Yes, you’re right, I know it, I know it, was my comment. We sat down in the mini-ward, where questions and explanations were shared. In the background, in the other ward, Andrea and the rest of the team -one woman with lovely blue eyes and another one with beautiful curls- were preparing everything.
Are you ready? Shall we start? There we went!
At that point was when I met the tiger face to face.
I want to share with you now, what the definition of “tiger” is in Carl Jung’s psychology: The tiger is a potent symbol, it symbolises power, strength, and courage, embodying the psyche’s primal, instinctual, and feminine aspects. It can also represent the shadow side of the personality or the unconscious forces that we may not be aware of.
Andrea was the tiger next to me! A woman sharing her power, strength, courage with me. Showing every single feminine aspect of a real woman when life is difficult to cope with. “I’m just doing my job” were her words when being offered my gratitude. I don’t think she realises the unconscious forces she transmits when she’s ‘just doing her job,’ as she puts it—humbly unaware of the strength she offers.
I think every manager, director, team leader needs to have an Andrea in their team. I have to admit I love this personality. They have such a strength that you become magically infected with power which helps you to cope unexpectedly with things you thought would be a real struggle for you.
The most amazing thing about Andrea is that she’s also a human being, a woman, a daughter, a mother, an aunt, a co-worker and I could continue with a long list, just like any human being. By this, I mean she also has struggles in her life, maybe bigger or smaller but they are part of her journey. Her choice is what makes her powerful. She chooses to be the tiger every day.
I am thankful for her example; I also loved her strong and sincere hug at the end.
Together as a team, you’ve turned dedication into impact — proving that doing your job with heart can truly make a difference.