GBS’s Esparra: Greater Appreciation for Family, Teachers

Rey Esparra, director of client advocacy at GBS Corp.’s healthcare business, is hanging tough. You can learn more about GBS as its website.

What are some ways the COVID-19 outbreak has changed your work life?

With the stay-at-home statewide order, I got to understand what my remote sales and support colleagues experience every single day.  Because of the lack of co-worker interaction and isolation, I found myself working and sitting longer hours at my home office.  The stay-at-home has been difficult to adjust to because my job requires me to visit, communicate and interact with my clients face to face.  A major part of my job is observing and noticing the facial expressions and body language that lead me to detect the client’s mood.  With limitations of text, email and phone, it’s become a challenge to read the customer.  The old norm was, “Did you hear what I said or did you listen?” Now it’s “Did you view my e-mail or did you read it?”

How about your personal life?

These are unprecedented times, the likes of which many of us have never seen.  My dad would always remind me saying “with everything bad, there is good that comes of it.”  I do believe that this world, our country and local communities will emerge stronger. I have personally witnessed these changes within my own family and circle of friends.  Mothers, fathers, grandparents and caretakers have now become full-time teachers, coaches and therapists. I have seen my daughters home-school my grandkids along, with videoconferencing with their teachers, and it has truly given me a fonder appreciation for all those who have dedicated their lives to work in careers educating and supporting our children.  We are empty nesters and my wife and I have worked all of our lives.  The last three months have given us a prelude to what retirement would look like and I now realize that I’ll have to exercise more because I’m not used to three meals a day. 😊

What steps are you taking to hang tough?

I’ve learned through the years that my spiritual life has always dictated my family, business and social life. During this time of unparalleled disruption and anxiety, I’ve tried to see this as an opportunity and not one of isolation. My wife and I have been able to share and partake in some deep spiritual virtual discussions and conversations with my family and friends.  Fifty percent of my family lives out of town, but we were able attend Virtual Mass together as a family on Sundays and share thoughts on the sermons and readings.  Any other time, with day-to-day hustle, attending to family and living out of state, none of this would ever have happened. 

What advice are you sharing with the people you love?

This too shall pass!  Understand with the gift of family and friends we still have everything. I’ve advised my daughters, my wife and family to see this pandemic as an opportunity to reflect on how you can improve yourself as a parent, spouse and friend to be a better person and help others. Don’t stress on the negativity and fears but be thankful for small things we so take for granted. Reach out and touch someone via phone or virtually and tell them you love them!  Take a moment at the end of each day to look back and see the moments that made you smile and say, “Thank you Lord for blessing me with another day of life!”