Reflections

Hello again,

So this will be my second post of the day but since I was away from you all this weekend I thought I would play a little catch-up. As many of you know, I tend to be a sentimental person.... I love to reflect on situations and most of all, remember them. I always try to keep a record of meaningful events in my life, whether its through scrapbooking, photographs, journaling or writing notes. It is so valuable to look back on meaningful moments and learn from them for the future. So I want to include some reflections in this blog, just to give you all a little window into my mind and my heart. So here's a reflection that will provide the foundation for many more reflections to come....

Throughout the past year I encountered countless emotional situations in the hospital setting. Working with cancer and hospice patients definitely breeds challenging circumstances where people are faced with uncertainty, fear and an overall lack of control. Working with this patient population tugs at my heart in countless ways. I'm often challenged by patients grappling for the last bit of control (often manifested by trying to control you) or challenged by simply not having all the (right or wrong) answers. However, as you may presume, for as many challenges I am faced with, there always seems to be 10 times as many rewards. I often compare this work to my love for long distance running. While cross country is a grueling sport that requires intense training, discipline and determination, in the end there is intense satisfaction, fulfillment and reward that always makes it well worth the ride. Many people speak of a 'runner's high' (not only from the physical endorphins but also from the psychological satisfaction of completing a difficult task) and in the same fashion I often leave a day's work with a 'nurse's high' or a feeling of euphoria from the day's accomplishments.

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"In every difficult situation there is potential value. Believe this, then begin looking for it."
-Norman Vincent Peale