I have a pretty amazing grandmother. Straight out of high school she was accepted to Nursing School – which back then meant rooming with your all-female classmates and three years of non-stop education without a summer vacation. She came to stay with me a few weeks ago when I was laid up with a sprained ankle – and she shared stories of the lessons she learned, and the lives she touched during the years she wore that white uniform. After asking my 175^th question about how she handled different situations, my grandmother began to smile. “You know darling,” she said, “Those were the best years of my life.”

There are so many days that we can get bogged down with the “weight” of our job. We get frustrated with what should be, what could have been, and what might have been had we not done x,y, or z. We find ourselves at odds against an education system in need of funding and great leadership in many cases. All of this can lead to stress (or in my case one too many cups of coffee) and a realization that the enjoyment and passion we had for our job seems to be a distant memory.

So let me pass on the love and encouragement of my grandmother – who has faced far more trials in her life than I have. This time, right now, when we have an opportunity to share your skill and work within the field we are passionate about – may be our best years. It’s our responsibility to recognize this and protect our “Best Selves” from the enemies of exhaustion, stress and frustration. Like my grandmother, you have a gift, a talent that someone else needs today. So handle the things that may arise, but resist the temptation to let the day-to-day pull you from the passion you once had.

Feel like reading more? Check out this blog from FastCompany “Work/Life Balance is a Myth”.