Joy in our Practice

Sending out this reminder as we continually evolve and change to meet the demands of our many life roles in a pandemic when there is no road map for this.  When it feels overwhelming- Pause, Take a deep breathe or two, Re-center your self and Take a moment to find your Joy.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and in that spirit I offer you this quote today.  In these divisive times, imagine how the world could change if everyone offered grace and understanding instead of criticism and anger.

For today’s joy message, I turned to the Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalia Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu with Douglas Abrams. Abrams quoted Archbishop Tutu’s answer to a child at the Tibetan Children’s Village (page 293) that I find moving:

If we think we want to get joy for ourselves, we realize that it’s very shortsighted, short-lived. Joy is the reward, really, of seeking to give joy to others. When you show compassion, when you show love to others, do things for others, in a wonderful way you have a deep joy that you can get in no other way.

I am reminded again of the blessings and beauty of our work as nurses.