I’ve heard people in the CPS community talk about burnout. I’m aware that it exists and I know it happens to many technicians and advocates. They start off all gung-ho but then they do too much, too often and they just get burned out.
But I have to say – there’s no sign of burnout here. I’ve been heavily involved in CPS for about 9 years and I’m still in love with it all. For me, it just never gets old. That elated giddiness that I used to feel before a big check event is gone but the passion is still as strong as ever. Helping parents and caregivers keep their kids safe and sharing my knowledge is such a rewarding feeling for me. I just can’t imagine that I’d ever want to stop doing this in the future. DH thinks I’m addicted. I think he may be right but I don’t want to be “cured”! LOL!
I’ve heard of it too, but I hope it never happens to you! 🙂
Honestly Heather, with everything that you do for your coalition (strictly on a volunteer basis) I’m amazed that you haven’t burned yourself out completely by now. I work hard too but I think you’re nuts for taking on as much as you do. I just hope that everyone appreciates all your hard work and dedication. And I hope you can make it to KIM next year so we can hang out again!
I sometimes get tired, but not so much of the work itself, but of being pulled in a bazillion different directions because of the commitments I’ve made related to CPS. I suppose you could get burnout very easily if you worked with a highly needy population and were constantly underfunded–that could get old really fast.
Part of the reason I like going to conferences like Lifesavers and KIM is because I get a big rah-rah feeling from them. It’s a big spirit lifter and a mini-vacation away from life’s troubles where we hang out and talk about what we love all the time.