On a recent Friday I spent the day with Johnny G, one of the residents at our Foothill group home who is currently at a rehab facility.

While accompanying Johnny to his daily occupational therapy appointment, one of the therapists approached me. She said, "Excuse me, we've all noticed how well you work with John over the last couple weeks, and of all the patients that have been here, the way all your staff work with him is by far the best."

It was one of those times that puts our work in perspective.

In residential we work day in and day out, see the same people, and cope with the same challenges, making it hard to see the gradual progress of skills and amount of advocacy we actually do. Being recognized in the community for all that makes it all worth it 10 times over, because it's at that moment you remember you're making someones life better.