I work in the field of healthcare. I did not intend to, at least when I was one of those teenagers who thought I knew myself well. I was great at math. I think it was because I could follow that type of direction. Do this then you get this. Easy. I was going to get into engineering...but I really didn't know what that meant other than people told me that is what I should do. Then I heard accounting was all about math so I went to college at Oshkosh for that. And I lasted one semester. I am sure a big part of that was just being homesick...actually lonely. My friends were leaving- one was pregnant and the other was leaving because of the pregnant one leaving. Todd was at Marian- totally not far away but far enough for me...and the classes clearly weren't filling a need I had at that time. Yes, I reflect now and think how awesome astronomy could have been had I paid attention. And I barely remember a cool english writing class. Calculus sucked. I use to love it! The mind of an 18 year old.
I decided in 1 day that maybe I could goto school for nursing. My sister did it (and she is brilliant at it) but she had not been a stellar high school student and, of course, at the time, I thought I was better than she. I had been a nursing assistant on an Alzheimers Unit in highschool, a job I thought I hated at the time but had taught me such important life lessons. I completed my associates degree and started my first real life job the day after I turned 21. I went from being hung over on my first day to excelling at floor nursing to working in the ER knowing there was something missing in primary care to being an independent healthcare provider...an expert practitioner of nursing.
So how has nursing tied in with the legacy of "creativity"? In some ways it has...don't have insurance, how am I still going to give you the best healthcare you deserve? How do I motivate you to make a change? How do I do your pap and still hand you your ringing phone that must be answered for fear of missed call??? Love it! The one thing I love more than anything in my job is that I get to spend time, 1:1, with extremely authentic people...
And that is where I appreciate more than anything that everything is a team effort.
The I in illness is isolation, and the crutial letters in wellness are we- Author unknown
When people are in that room without anything else...no job, no family, no worldly events, I get to see YOU, not busy doing... just present... being.
Another part of that creative piece is working with others on being well. I think the easier part of my job is to treat illness and disease. I have algorithms that tell me what to do and with 12+ years experience in the clinic plus all that dating back to 1988, though I am always learning, I've seen a lot. But truly being well...now being overzealous on wellness, that is no fun either. But what about just being mindful of the 7 components of wellness. Social, spiritual, occupational, intellectual, emotional, and environmental. Anyone of them, if off, causes imbalances which can lead to stress which sets off this big oxidative process...thus illness.
I think I am getting closer to my desire to carry out "creativity" as my legacy or gift. My whole intention may not be to make the entire world a better place. That just sounds a little too overwhelming to me. Legacy, one of creativity, has inspired me to even more deeply appreciate others and why they are in my life. I also remember a time in my life while at Saint Francis Cabrini that I was able to free hand the best Garfield, next to creator Jim Davis, that I had ever known. My creative self is there, always has been, and with continued discovery, will be.
Hmmm...what is your gift?
How are you expressing it?
What step will you take toward it?
Who in your life helps support that?
Be well.
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