Long time no see.

I’ve spent much of my time since March tending to my plants and living my best #plantpapi life. Listening to music that feeds my soul... making more time for quiet moments and moments of nothingness. Rediscovering the freedom of Napping as liberation with the @thenapministry ⠀

Something I’ve been thinking a lot about since the pandemic are those sayings we have that tell us to make the best out whatever situation(s) we find ourselves in. You know, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” or “view the glass as half-full vs. half-empty”... I sometimes wonder if those sayings, as well-meaning as they are meant to be, encourage some not to truly face their reality. If, maybe, before making lemonade, you need to sit in the moment? Or what if it’s not lemons that life throws you, but instead, it delivers you something vile and toxic? What then? ⠀ ⠀

Poet R.H.Sin has a collection of poetry called “planting gardens in graves”. In that work, he discusses loved loss and confronting difficult emotions. So much life, literal and figurative, has been stolen from us this year, and I’m not sure if most folks have truly sat with that and have mourned liked they should. Healing is never an easy thing. Healing requires work. My work as a nurse has taught me this. ⠀

I hope that you all find your way to healing from this mess of a year. Pick up a hobby... take more naps... Lean into the fear of this time... I know you are afraid that the fear and the anxiety and the uncertainty will consume you... but maybe.. just maybe.. you won’t be consumed at all.. but be made new? The most trying think about 2020 is that it’s forced us to confront change, on a time table that none of us could anticipate or control. Here’s to planting gardens (literal and figurative) to fill the emotional and mental graves this year has no doubt left with many of us. ⠀

Happy Nursing! ⠀

Patrick