In my professional life, I have had the extraordinary good fortune to work with amazing people. I don’t know if it is because we work in healthcare and these special folks are drawn to this work or that I have just been blessed, but I know that it is true.

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I have had some challenging staff over the course of time. I’ve had people who frustrated me, people who were not a good fit, people who just could not do their jobs. But they are a small number of the many individuals I’ve had a chance to work with and get to know.

There are so many stories of staff who step to the plate and are remarkable, not just once in a while but every day. Today was a perfect example. We took elders to be a part of the Israel Day parade in New York City. We had staff from many departments who volunteered, staff who gave up their well-deserved day off to be with us. Each of them jumped in to do what needed to be done, whether it was push wheelchairs, load the bus or make sure folks had water and snacks. It was a big parade today and we had a long wait until it was our turn to march. The smiles of the team never faded, they did what they do every day—enhanced the quality of life for our elders.

I was moved by so many things today, by the joy of our elders to be a part of the parade, by being a part of the largest show of support for Israel ever. But, more than that, I was moved by the pride I felt in each member of our team. We had nursing assistants, rehab staff, members of the finance team and management staff and everyone pitched in with equal energy and enthusiasm. Everyone pitched in with absolute heart.

There are so many faces and so many names when I think about staff with whom I have worked. What a privilege it has been, and is, for me to see such remarkable people in action. What a gift it is for our elders and our community to have people pour their hearts into care and caring.

I often reflect on how fortunate I am and how grateful. I think about my husband and our family first as well as our friends who are family. But, at the same time, I think about all of those spectacular people with whom I have the honor to work. They humble me with their greatness, they bless me with their presence, they truly fill my full heart.