Windows

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.

"That laundry is not very clean; she doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap." The next day she looks out her window and says, “Her laundry is filthy, maybe I should offer to show her the proper way to do laundry.”  Her husband looks on, remaining silent. Every time her neighbor hangs her wash to dry, the young woman makes the same type of comments. 

A month later, the woman is surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and says to her husband: "Look, she's finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?" The husband replies, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows." And so it is with life... What we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through which we look.  ~ Bob Prehn

Be The Spark!

One of my favorite quotes comes from Dr Albert Schweitzer.   Reflect upon this for a moment..."At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." - Albert Schweitzer

Bill Morrison was my spark.  Bill was the President & CEO of the New Hanover Regional Healthcare system in coastal North Carolina for 23 years.  He gave me my first job as a psychiatric hospital administrator in 1985 although I was only 31 years old at the time.  When I told him I was anxious about leading my first hospital, he said:  “Don’t worry, I won’t let you fail.”  For the next 10 years, he supported me, coached me, challenged me.  He is a big reason why I’m still doing this after all these years. 

For all of us there is someone who keeps us going. As healthcare folks, I think this is even truer. Think back on times, in your healthcare journey, when you thought, "I can't keep going!" For some of us it was in school. Remember those days? Maybe some of you are in school right now. There was that friend, or peer, or instructor that said, "You can do this. Don't give up."

Think back on any time when you felt like throwing in the stethoscope (or tool of your trade!). Maybe it was when you were training for a new job, your first job, as a charge nurse, an assistant manager, manager....it goes on. There was someone there for you. When your light was fading, they "rekindled" that flame. Sometimes it was with words. Other times it may have been through a helping hand. Whatever it was, it made a difference in your life. Maybe that person continues to play that role today.

The question I have for you is; "Do they know"? Do they know the impact that they have had on your life? Do they know that, maybe, you would not be in healthcare if it weren't for them? If they don't, here's your challenge. Tell them. It is simple. Let them know! Write them a letter. Send them flowers. Drop them an email. Call them. Go and visit them. Let them know that they were, or are, the spark that lights your flame when you feel like you're going to fade.

This gratitude that you extend will serve two purposes. It will help their flame to burn brighter and it will fill your heart and increase your inspiration. After you've done this ask yourself one more question: "Who am I a spark to?"  Be well. Stay inspired.