I had accumulated almost sixty leave days worth because I didn’t know how not to work.
After two years, however, I was forced to take my leave days.
My wife suggested I use my skill and financial ability to give back to society. The most recent natural disaster had left most people disheartened, and to put a smile on their faces, some of the HVAC repairmen and I decided to help with the HVAC maintenance in the shelters and individual homes. We provided free labor to the customers. When my bosses at the HVAC company got wind of what we were doing, they joined in to provide help with indoor comfort and set up a fundraiser to help families whose houses were destroyed by the disaster. Different companies provided HVAC systems at subsidized prices. The collective effort brought in more well-wishers, especially since the fast-approaching cold season. Even people who were not HVAC technicians joined the wagon and, in the process, learned more about heating since they were assisting in installing the HVAC equipment. It brought joy and smiles to people’s faces after the devastating disaster. In some homes, it was as simple as checking the furnace and replacing the furnace filter; others needed furnace/heater repair. There were extreme cases where the family had lost everything, including the house, which meant we had to install a new heat pump. Luckily those cases were few; most needed heat pump service and repairs. I felt better knowing I had helped someone in a desperate situation achieve quality heating for their family. By the end, I had only eight days left. Nonetheless, I felt rejuvenated and ready to return to work though I had worked through my vacation