Wayne’s Word – Daft

Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc.

It’s a little nod to Wayne’s World, but instead of ‘party time, excellent’ (if you are aware of the cult nineties classic) I will be diving into one WORD each day. It could be something I learned, something bizarre that happened, a favourite word that I have rediscovered or just a thought that won’t leave me alone.

If you’re joining in on today’s word, feel free to use this tag to connect your post to the series: #WaynesWord

Today’s word is DAFT.

Daft is a word we use a lot back home in Northern Ireland, it’s not cruel or cutting, it’s just a gentle way of saying that something is a bit silly.

I had one of those moments on my very first day working as a care assistant in an aged care home.

I turned up proudly dressed in a shirt and tie, thinking I looked very professional. What I hadn’t quite realised was that this job involved washing residents, helping with personal care, and getting properly stuck in.

I must have looked daft, I certainly felt that way!

Nevertheless, there was no time to overthink it. Off came the tie, my sleeves rolled up, and I got on with the job at hand, and thankfully I loved it. That was the beginning of my nursing journey.

Looking back, it still makes me smile. A daft start maybe but not a bad one. Feeling daft from time to time doesn’t define you. It just means you’re learning, adapting, and willing to get stuck in, and more often than not, those daft moments end up being the ones that teach us the most.