but you do care!

I have a kind of similar perspective. I am a fundraiser. I go to my donors' childrens' events, spouses' funerals, housewarming parties. I'm cordial and respectful with all of them friendly with almost all of them, and become "real" friends with the ones that I click with. However, it's my job to ask them for money from time to time. Sometimes this is terribly awkward...often it is a real privilege to be part of serious decisions they make. I care deeply about some of them; I detest others. It's a real mix. There aren't the same "rules" as with therapists...no 50 minute hour, no talk of "ruptures." But like so many professionals, I have to navigate these weird waters. It's a blurry thing and as much as I might wish for perfect boundaries and rules, I find life is much more mixed up, blurry, confusing and uncertain than that. I could not be a good fundraiser if I did not care. But it is a way for me to make my living as well, and I do need to protect my time and emotional resiliency so there are times when I do need my distance. It's a negotiation on a day to day basis. And it remains a challenge, but well worth the effort.

thanks for listening.