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finding joy YOUR
Writer Annie Dillard famously said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” For many of us, a large portion of our days is spent at work; in fact, the average person will spend about 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. With that said, making our career choice is understandably a monumental, life-altering decision. Those who arrive at that realization before laying the educational groundwork and pathway to a specific career, instead of regretting the decision after spending years in a job that doesn’t bring them joy, are indeed fortunate. After all, isn’t that—the joy—what we are all searching for?
If you have that, you are blessed. If you don’t, close your eyes for a few minutes and imagine a life that includes joy in those long work hours. Feels good, right? It’s often said that if you love your job, it will never really feel like work. Erica Rauss, dental hygienist at Waterside Dental Care in Denver, is one of the fortunate ones – her work brings her real heart-warming joy!
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Erica was born and raised in Warrenton, Virginia – a small, horsecountry and vineyard town at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, just outside of Washington, DC. She studied microbiology at Old Dominion University and then went back home to study dental hygiene at Northern Virginia Community College.
“When I was in dental hygiene school, I volunteered at a free dental clinic through the health department so I could get some hands-on knowledge about dentistry,” Erica explains. This allowed her to network with local professionals at the clinic and eventually led to even greater opportunities. “A couple of years later,” she continues, “I was offered a full-time position with the official dentist of the Washington Football Team (formerly the Washington Redskins). The practice philosophy was to give our patients the ‘Ritz-Carlton’ treatment.”
The knowledge she gained from this rich experience has followed Erica ever since. “Even after 18 years of practicing dental hygiene, I continue to know each patient’s name when they walk through the door … it is important to make that personal connection, and it is one of the many reasons I find so much joy in my work.”
Like many, Erica and husband Ron grew tired of the long winters and congested 9-5 lifestyle and knew it was time to make a change, so they packed up their two young boys Aiden and Jaxon and moved south. Having visited Lake Norman previously, they fell in love with the area. “As a child, some of my fondest memories were spending time with my best friend at their lake house in Virginia,” Erica recalls, “and I wanted my children to have those same experiences.” After moving to the area, Erica found a new work family and home too at Waterside Dental. “I am so proud of helping my patients understand the benefits of great oral health,” she says. “With patients who are apprehensive about dental work, I try to ease their fears by listening to their concerns.” Erica treats every patient as a unique individual and tailors her approach with this in mind. “I think the most important thing I can do is help people want to smile,” she says.
With holidays off and opportunities for flexible schedules, Erica is grateful her job is so conducive to maintaining a proper work/family balance. “My priorities are my kids,” she smiles, “and spending time with my husband and being successful at work … everything else can wait until I get around to it … even housework,” she laughs.
The boys are now 8 and 11 and love spending time on the lake or at the pool. Becoming a mom has been one of her greatest joys, and she makes an effort to give them some of the same memories she had as a child. “We also love to fish,” Erica shares. “It was something I grew up doing – getting away for a moment to enjoy nature and the calmness of fishing … it’s great family bonding time too.”
Finding your joy can be difficult sometimes, especially when we are being tested with new threats and unrest but let this not blind you to the joy that is still in the world. Erica’s advice for young people is to find out what you love, never stop learning and growing, and always keep a positive attitude with a smile. She is grateful to her mother who pushed her to pursue her dreams and find a career that would allow her to support herself financially. “My mother wanted me to try different things, and she encouraged me with everything I tried,” Erica adds. “She encouraged me to find my joy … and I did!” w
women move ON THE
The Mooresville Downtown Commission (MDC) recently announced that their board chairman, KIM SARAGONI, was recognized as the “2020 Downtown Mooresville Main Street Champion” by the North Carolina Main Street Program. The program, a part of the NC Department of Commerce, presents the awards annually to individuals who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to downtown improvements and the betterment of their communities.
To adapt during the pandemic, three LKN businesswomen who work in different industries, but still have the same customer base, joined together to form an alliance:
PATTI WHITTAKER
(owner of Cardinal Rents with flagship product A Prettier Potty); ANNE BURESH (awardwinning full-service interior designer and home stager); and TRACY PETROSKY (real estate professional specializing in Lake Norman properties).
JESSICA EVANS runs a local farm in Mt. Ulla that sells products direct to customers in the Iredell and Mecklenburg County area. They offer subscription boxes, home delivery, and sales through the new Uptown Farmers Market in Charlotte.
In addition to working full-time as an executive assistant for Morris International in Davidson, HILARY CUMMINGS is growing her side business where she makes homemade, personalized party decorations and centerpieces for all occasions. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram.
AMY REGISTER, owner of Fit Inn Fitness & Wellness Retreat (Goat Yoga and Wild Workout) in Mooresville, is an LKN fitness trainer who has adorable pet goats and a pet pig for yoga. She offers weekly in-person and Zoom classes.
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