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As a nurseā¦I have had many patientsā¦some I rememberā¦and many I donātā¦there was one home health patient several years ago who will forever stick out in my mindā¦even thoughā¦I donāt recall her nameā¦
She was elderly and disorientedā¦she was confused most of the timeā¦which made teaching her about her breathing treatmentsā¦and diabetic dietsā¦challenging at bestā¦
The interesting thing isā¦she knew that she was confusedā¦she knew things werenāt rightā¦she struggled to make some sense of itā¦
One day when I arrivedā¦she brought out some memorabilia for me to examineā¦as best I can recallā¦she had her driverās licenseā¦expiredā¦I hopeā¦a picture of her with her twin sister when they graduated from high schoolā¦some 60 years earlierā¦and a cookbook from her home townā¦that included pictures of businesses, Churches, and schoolsā¦
Nowā¦all of this was very distractingā¦I had a schedule to keepā¦I had tasks to performā¦butā¦she was very insistentā¦that we look at each itemā¦and let her tell me about themā¦and we didā¦
It may seem strangeā¦that I would recall such a seemingly unimportant eventā¦all these years laterā¦wellā¦it wasnāt what she did that made me rememberā¦it was what she saidā¦
She said that she wanted me to look at these thingsā¦becauseā¦she wanted somebody to really know her before she diedā¦
Yeahā¦thatāll make you forget about your tasks and schedulesā¦when nothing else willā¦as I recallā¦we took a while to discuss each of her life piecesā¦
In looking back at that dayā¦Iām not so sure if it was meā¦or herselfā¦that she wanted to really know who she wasā¦I think it was herā¦I think she wanted to remember who she wasā¦and why she matteredā¦I think I was just there to help her do thatā¦
Bertha says that truly knowing who we areā¦is what all of us really wantā¦and I think sheās rightā¦I know that the more I get in touch with myselfā¦and live my truthā¦the more satisfied I am with my lifeā¦
Not a small lessonā¦taught by one the world saw as confusedā¦
Jane
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The best one yet.
This one hit me right in the heart… in the good way.
I've spent the last 34 years trying to get back to who I am. I've been questioning lately why it's so easy for us (well some of us anyway) to give up who we really are… why do we so easily let ourselves go in favor of external validation from others…
Hmmm… I may jump off of this and do a blog post about it… š
Thanks, Betty!
Jenn…the theme seems to keep coming up for me as well…just peeling the layers off! I look forward to your blog on the subject!
It's like the biggest damn onion I've ever had the pleasure of peeling… and by pleasure I mean sometimes-fun-but-sometimes-the-hardest-freakin-thing-ever-in-life…
I actually see 2012 as being HUGE. HUGE!
Jenn…we're in the same kitchen…tearing up at times…but…getting it done…LOL
I can't wait to see your HUGE 2012…I know it is going to be exciting for all of us!
Nothing like a good heart-felt cry on Sunday morning š
I think we all need a constant reminder that it is the 'I' in me who must first be accepted and validated-then our life can truely begin.
And…they are your rules-you decide if and when they have been broken.
The best of Sunday morning to you Jane.
Bea…you are so right…we all need to be accepted and validated…
Thanks for always validating and accepting me!