Author: rightsandwhiskers
-
My Work Interviewed Me
This was a lot of fun to do because I was able to talk about compassion fatigue and resilience even more. Check it out below!
-
Flipping the Switch Article
I had the chance to do something really cool and life changing. I have been published! I was asked to turn my training called Flipping the Switch: Compassion Fatigue to Compassion Satisfaction into an article for the International Journal for Direct Support Professionals. Thanks again John, you are an awesome human. Check it out below and let me know what you think.
-
A Conversation with Grief
Grief: Good morning, today is going to be a rough one?
Me: Again, but why?
Grief: Because I need you to feel me.
Me: Haven’t we done this enough, can’t you move on? I’ve done this so many times, I’m tired.
Grief: Yes, we have spent many years together.
Me: No offense, but it hasn’t been pleasant.
Grief: I understand, but my intentions are good. You don’t need to hide from me.
Me: I just have shit to do, a job for one.
Grief: ALL of it can wait.
Me: Easy for you to say, you’re not in my head. Are you going to pay the rent?
Grief: Oh but I am in your head, I exist everywhere. Your mind, body, and spirit.
Me: That seems like too much access.
Grief: You will get used to me again, but we have a lot of work to do.
Me: Why do you hurt so much?
Grief: The harder you love, the more I hurt.
Me: Right, but that sucks, and I don’t want to do this anymore.
Grief: The only way is through, delays and running only make it harder.
Me: This better be the last time.
Grief: You know I can’t promise that. Death isn’t my department.
Me: I don’t really like you very much.
Grief: I get that, it’s lonely here sometimes.
Me: What exactly are you anyway? I’m sorry you get lonely, I understand.
Grief: I am a reflection of the love you had for your Mom. Each experience of me is different.
Me: Well, some of that is kind of cool, I love Psychology.
Grief: I think so, but I’m hard for people to understand,
Me: Now you’re speaking my language.
Grief: I thought you might relate.
Me: So, how long will you be with me this time?
Grief: As long as you need me, I prefer to not leave things unfinished.
Me: I understand, it makes it worse, I have run from you many times.
Grief: I’m too quick this time, and powerful. You loved your Mom deeply.
Me: She was an amazing person and she loved everyone. It is unfair the life she had.
Grief: I know, that is part of what we will process. She had many happy times too, especially with you.
Me: I wasn’t always patient towards the end, but I tried so hard to be there for her. I was having my own mental health struggles.
Grief: She knew how much you loved her, that’s what makes me even more difficult to me. A mother and daughter have a very special bond. You and your Mom went through a lot together.
Me: I’m not ready.
Grief: Nobody ever is, I come on fast but I am experienced differently by all.
Me: Why is death so hard for humans to process?
Grief: Death is complicated, even they would agree. They have a very dark sense of humor as you can likely imagine.
Me: I’ve noticed, I do too.
Grief: Many who have a close relationship with me do, I try to make it easier when I can.
Me: I appreciate that, you do come on strong and you are quite painful, no offense.
Grief: I get that a lot, but I do slow down in time.
Me: I remember, but this one really hurts.
Grief: When you feel pain, sadness, and me -grief- you grow in your resilience if you let me in fully and completely.
Me: Alright, but I am trusting you to lead me through. I don’t give trust easily.
Grief: I know and I understand. I will be your guide to the end.
Me: Deal, but just in case, do you have a refund policy.
Grief: Good one, there’s that sense of humor, but no and I don’t do layaway either. People always think I do for some reason.
Me: Humans can be stubborn. I have been told I know something about that.
Grief: I’ve noticed… are you ready?
Me: Is anyone ever ready for you?
Grief: No, but they eventually get used to me hanging around and checking in on occasion. I’m an acquired taste.
Me: I’ve never liked bitter things, but I know you have a sweet side to. Please be gental with my heart, give my mind strength, and help me set my spirit free. We might eventually be friends.
Grief: I would like that, I will do everything I can to make this ride smooth, but there will be bumps. No road is ever perfectly paved, we have to do the work to smooth them out.
Me: Well, luckily, I’m a good driver, just hang on because I like to go fast.
Grief: Noted, but I am also here to help you learn how to slow down.
