Finding Our Balance

We spent the whole day yesterday working in the studio. Recording two full-length interviews and three Connection Moments took over six hours. It was a long day. Writing script outlines, researching guests and their bios, adjusting the equipment to ensure we capture the best audio (that’s really Jerry’s job). It’s work.

I always enjoy recording, but I’ll admit it wears me out. I want to do my best and pull my weight to contribute to the podcast. It’s rewarding and exhausting at the same time.

Each of the recordings yesterday included a guest. A couple of the guests were industry experts we were meeting for the first time. Others were colleagues returning for an encore episode to share updated information and stories.

Even with our new acquaintances, there seemed to be a feeling of camaraderie, a concern for each others’ welfare. Questions came up first about safety and health, about the status of family and work. No matter how long it had been since we last connected, there was genuine interest in how we were all doing.

One guest shared challenges with family members who’d been sick with COVID-19, thankfully recovering after a brief time. Another guest described a recent death in the family, along with a partner’s cancer diagnosis. They were waiting for further test results and staging that would determine next steps for treatment. We talked about pets, children, self care pitfalls and successes.

If I had to describe the day in one word, I would choose “gratitude”.  There was a general feeling of thankfulness for every connection.  I was glad to see them. It wasn’t just because discussing hospice care is something I love to do.  It was also because our isolation has made me feel so disconnected from friends and colleagues.  Seeing their friendly faces made my day.  (Hearing about their adventures with homeschooling made me profoundly grateful that my kids are grown.)  Learning of recent grief and heartbreak gave me an opportunity to offer comfort and support.  

I like to think of myself as a realistic optimist. I’m currently learning a hard lesson about finding the optimism in a season with a lot of reality thrown in. What that means for me is that I know the hard things are there. I can identify them, and it’s ok to name them. Then I figure out what the possibilities might be. What opportunities might come with the tough situations?

Photo by Helen Bauer, The Heart of Hospice

It takes grit and resilience to find the optimism in difficult situations.  The pandemic is probably the hardest situation modern healthcare has faced.  For many people, it holds both personal and professional hardships, grief, and loss.  I’m not saying that we should act like the difficulties don’t exist – far from it.  You have to acknowledge what’s wrong. Name the problems and the grief.  Wallow for a while if that’s what you need. 

Then look for the possibilities. If a healthy life is about balance, then realistic optimism works. Yesterday’s time spent on podcast recordings held a lot of possibilities blended in with the work. I’m grateful for it all.

Keep looking for the possibilities and the opportunities. 

You are The Heart of Hospice. 

#balance #TheHeartofHospice #YouaretheHeartofHospice #JerryFenter #hospicejourney #selfcare