Working at the Beach

One of the perks of my registered behavior technician job is working at the beach. What is a registered behavior technician? In my case, I work with kids with autism. Each child has specific behaviors and skills they need to develop. During sessions we work on those behaviors and skills. It's the best job I've had since I worked at Bob's Drive In. Bob's Drive In is still the best job I've ever had.

Four out of the last ten days, I got to work at the beach. Each time I pull up to the beach, I smile. I take a deep breath. I throw out my arm and take a selfie. I text someone a picture of where I'm working. They text back, "Working? On what?"

Today, my client and I did a plank workout. I have to do it with him, because it motivates him more. I can't even be mad at him when he whines, because I whine during workouts too.

Then he swam. Normally, I swim with him, but today it was chilly. I know. I know. I am now a wuss. It was 71. But the water at 4 Miles is freezing cold. I sat on the rocks and watched him. Then we hiked through the jungle to another ocean spot. We sat down and did a meditation. He wanted to swim again, but he didn't want to swim alone. I inched into the freezing cold water with my hands down and butt up in the air, walking like a crab over the wet lava rocks. It was totally worth it. A huge Hawaiian sea turtle swam up to my stomach. His head was an inch from my stomach. You shouldn't touch them, so I just talked to him, and told him I wasn't a rock. I kept stepping out of his way and he kept following me. Finally, he said goodbye and swam toward the other turtles.

I left the beach after work still smiling. I got into my car, turned up the heat and cruised the scenic route. It's a popular local hangout. Today there was a line of BMW's backed up to the ocean. Their own little convention. I waved to the Uncles on the other side sitting in the shade drinking their green bottles of beer.

I rarely left my lawyer job smiling. I can count on my hands the times I left the court house smiling. If anything, I was happy just to be leaving. I loved my co-workers. I loved granting equal access to the courts. I loved completing tasks. I loved getting people's money back. I loved winning. But so much of it was really hard. The problems were so big and insurmountable. So many times the result was not what the client wanted or needed. It wore me down.

I am truly lucky to live in paradise. I am eternally grateful to my sister and brother-in-law for telling me to "move over," especially since they are new parents and have enough on their plates. I am grateful to my new boss for hiring a former lawyer and teaching me how to do ABA therapy, for being positive every day, and for being a good human.

A lot of people have ask me if I will take the Hawaii bar exam. I honestly don't know. Maybe someday I will miss being a lawyer, but I highly doubt it. I do miss working at a desk, because working with kids is physically demanding. But for now, I'll keep my job working at the beach.