A Note on Empathy
This picture of my homework represents how logical, structured and reductionist education and the corporate world is, focusing on physical symptoms with disregard for emotional scarring.
People expect you’ll just bounce back with enough time, and they often struggle to empathize with how much critical illness can affect personal progress and emotional well-being. Empathy, kindness, and understanding are essential to emotional healing. However, it is difficult to empathize when often people’s understanding of the ICU is limited and not personal.
Surviving a life-threatening experience does not guarantee automatic gratitude for being alive, and being told to be happy to be alive is invalidating.
The Disco Boots
I sometimes come across shoes hanging from wires, which I find interesting and often capture in pictures. Usually the hanging shoes are ratty old runners but these “disco boots” I saw while taking a walk in my neighborhood made me laugh because they are so ridiculous.
They reminded me of my own journey in recovery from my critical illness- things can become silly and funny again. One’s present circumstances may not define the future. I’m at a point in my life now where I find a lot of things fun, something I hadn’t experienced for quite a while.
Capturing Healing Words
I would like to share an idea with everyone particularly those in the field of nursing. It’s about implementing the practice of journaling in ICUs, specifically for patients and their families.
I believe it’s important to have journals readily available in every ICU, providing a means for family members to document their loved one’s journey and help fill in the gaps of their memory. Journaling can be a powerful tool for emotional processing, finding positivity, and practicing gratitude during critical illness and the recovery process. It could also serve as a valuable resource for medical professionals to better understand the patient’s experiences.
While I acknowledge the limitations and workload constraints, I hope this idea sparks discussion and consideration for the benefit it can bring to both patients and their families.
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
I have visited Waterton National Park multiple times, including before and after a devastating wildfire in 2017. The landscape underwent a remarkable transformation, with dense forests and the visitor center completely destroyed.
The picture I captured showcases the imprints of the fire on the trees, which I found incredibly beautiful and stunning. It symbolizes to me that from tragedy and devastation, there can emerge a sense of beauty and resilience.
Although I am still in the process of finding that perspective in my own journey, I have witnessed how difficult experiences can lead to personal growth, a changed outlook on life, and a deeper appreciation for the things that matter.
Leaning Into the Unknown
This picture captures my eldest daughter skiing on a volcano at Mount Hood, Oregon. She embodies bravery and serves as a reminder for me to be the best version of myself, especially as a mother inspiring her daughters. Through her competitive skiing, I am able to share the lessons from my own life and witness her fearlessness.
The image symbolizes life after the ICU, where each gate represents a new challenge, and she confidently leans into them while the gates adjust to her stance. It reminds me to trust the process and embrace the fearlessness as we navigate from one challenge to the next.