Black Women

There is something special about Black mothers. Looking back at slavery, we have had our bodies taken by the white slave masters while forcing our Black men to stand by helplessly and watch. We have mothered our children and that of our oppressors. We have taken care of everyone’s children, literally. We nurture, we care for, we provide, we work, we discipline, we struggle, we make a dollar out of 15cents, we suffer silently through sexual, mental, and emotional abuse. We are mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, cousins, godmoms, adopted moms, best friends, and so much more. And still, we rise! I cannot speak for another race or ethnicity. I can only talk about mine. It is not my intent to take anything away from anyone else’s fight, but I will always acknowledge ours. I am a Black woman. It can, at times, be hard to hold that title and all that comes with it. It is difficult to maneuver a world that offers no love to us. Sometimes the lack of respect comes primarily from other Black women and, more often than not, our Black men.

I always wondered why we are so hated? But others try so hard to mimic the very species they hate. How can you be racist, but tan your entire body to resemble the natural melanin in our skin? How do you get braided hairstyles when you make us cut our locs, natural afros, and hair claiming it to be unprofessional looking? How is it that everything that we’re blessed with naturally is hoarded by other races? It amazes me to think that we are so hated but so duplicated.

What makes me the saddest is the Black on Black hate that is so prevalent amongst us. We have been inbred to believe it is necessary to compete for everything. That you will lessen your success if you offer a helping hand to your sister. That you must dim, another’s light for your light to shine bright. It bothers me to see the contention amongst one another. If only we recognized that the power that lies within us is an excellent source that benefits us as a whole. What if we harnessed that selfish energy to build a united front, a consortium, a sisterhood that no one could break? Wouldn’t that be something to see? I cannot place everyone in the same pot, but I can make observations and bring us to a knowledge of said behaviors to bring us closer as a womanhood.

We bring young kings into the world who grow up to hate the women who carried them, birthed them, raised them, taught them, and turn to women from other races to love, respect, marry, have a family with, and build together. Dear Black men, please practice loving, respecting, and protecting your Black women. One thing I’ll say is Black women will stand in front of, block, and place herself in harm’s way to protect the Black man…if only that were reciprocated! I am so full of things that my mind is on overload. Therefore, I will leave the words of a famous song by a Black King and rapper who was murdered “Tupac” that seems to align with my thoughts tonight. “Keep Ya Head UP!”

Some of the lyrics:

And since we all came from a woman
Got our name from a woman and our game from a woman
I wonder why we take from our women
Why we rape our women, do we hate our women?
I think it’s time to kill for our women
Time to heal our women, be real to our women
And if we don’t we’ll have a race of babies
That will hate the ladies, that make the babies
And since a man can’t make one
He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one
So will the real men get up
I know you’re fed up ladies, but keep your head up

Aiyyo, I remember Marvin Gaye, used to sing to me
He had me feelin’ like black was tha thing to be
And suddenly tha ghetto didn’t seem so tough
And though we had it rough, we always had enough
I huffed and puffed about my curfew and broke the rules
Ran with the local crew, and had a smoke or two
And I realize momma really paid the price
She nearly gave her life, to raise me right

You know it’s funny when it rains it pours
They got money for wars, but can’t feed the poor
Said it ain’t no hope for the youth and the truth is
It ain’t no hope for the future
And then they wonder why we crazy
I blame my mother, for turning my brother into a crack baby
We ain’t meant to survive, ’cause it’s a setup
And even though you’re fed up
Huh, ya got to keep your head up

If, for some reason my words have made you feel uncomfortable, well then, welcome to my world.

Until Next Time,

ShesThatRN

Black Lives Matter

I was trying to figure out what exactly I wanted to say. Because quite honestly, Black Lives DON’T matter or else we wouldn’t be facing the constant injustices and murders of our Black and Brown sisters and brothers. When the life and well-being of animals supersede that of a human being. Well, Houston, we have a problem. See, I was wondering if the incident in the park with the White lady Amy who called the police on the Black man Christian was really about the injustice and hate at that moment. Because if you want my honest opinion, I think the lady got fired, and White people were in such an uproar because of the mistreatment of her dog. See, her dog appeared choking and in distress, and she did nothing to eliminate that dog’s pain. Much like the officer who occluded the airway of George Floyd and the other officers who further impeded blood and oxygen to other vital organs in Mr. Floyd’s body, they were all negligent in the untimely demise of this Black man. But who had to cry out and demand justice? The Black community had seen and had enough. It was time to fight back and pull a Nat Turner move on society minus the killing of White people.

You can’t understand why Black and Brown people are rioting and looting? It’s because we can’t understand why Black men and women are being murdered without reason. No one deserves to die because they’re jogging, breathing, walking, looking in the window of a house being built, driving down the street, or in more everyday language because we are Black. It is unfortunate that we have to use such drastic measures for other races to step up and use their privilege (White or otherwise) to call for change in this country. Undoubtedly, one must know that an uprising would be somewhere in the future. There has to be an understanding that you can’t cage a people up like animals with the expectation that they would calmly lie down and play nice. We, Black and Brown people are not animals. As I stated before, animals are treated with more respect and dignity than that of a Black man or woman.

Enough is enough! The time is now! There is no tomorrow if we can’t unite, and EVERYONE is afforded the same equality and rights as any other human being. We are human, so where is the humanity in the killings and where are the humanitarians who will stand and fight with us. Declaring that I am not racist is not enough. Taking a knee is not enough. Voting White supremacist and racist out of governmental offices, and changing the laws that condone the unfair and unjust treatment of Black and Brown people is what we need right now.

I think of the many ways Black and Brown people have had their airways occluded. Not being able to voice our opinions, being unable to voice concerns, being powerless and fearful of losing our jobs when we call out racist and racial discrimination, being silenced because of being placed in a specific category. All ways of smothering our voices and cutting off the air as if they are not vital to our survival as a people. STOP IT! And please don’t stand by and see the mistreatment of Black and Brown people and do nothing or say nothing. That is just as bad as actually putting your knee on our necks.

There is so much I could say, and I’ve had a relatively peaceful week, but my mind never rests. I have two Black sons, and I am Black, and my family is Black. So, there’s no time to take a break and think we’re in the clear. We will never be in the clear until it stops, and when things happen that are absolute, unequivocally WRONG, the perpetrators are brought to justice and sentenced as you would a Black person. Not the “White Privilege” sentence for crimes. If anything I say is hard to swallow, then chew on it a little longer so that it can go down and be properly digested. Okay. Now I’m done for today and …

Until Next Time,

ShesThatRN

Goodbyes

Today I said goodbye to some good people. They were nurses who taught me what I now know about Oncology. It is a specialty area, and it takes just as much of you as patients on the heart transplant list. When I say that, I mean that any area or most areas in nursing come with a diverse population of patients. Sometimes you love them, sometimes you don’t like them, sometimes you don’t want to take care of a certain one or work with particular others. When it’s all said and done as a travel nurse, I get the best of both worlds. I get to meet an assortment of people, whether patients or staff, but I’m not held to the same standards or have the same politics that come with staff nursing. I feel sad when I leave assignments because, in fact, at every job God has blessed me with, I’ve been asked to stay on permanently. Part of me would love to stay, but the other part loves that I have the freedom to come and go every 8-13 weeks, depending upon the assignment’s needs. I love what I do! I mean, I love being a nurse. My manager wasn’t there to sign my timesheet today, so I had to go to the Director’s office and sign for me. She began sharing with me what a joy it has been to have me there and that I have left my mark on them. That is some kind of nice to hear. That my ability to love, inspire, give out positivity and empathize with everyone from the Director to the housekeeping staff reinforces what God has placed me in this industry to be and do. Givers can become depleted. When you have mental health issues like depression, PTSD, anxiety, and panic attacks to list a few, it can make it that harder to stay afloat emotionally.

Nurses are human. I know it’s hard to believe because we’re seen as Earth Angels, and that may be true, but we feel, have worries, have abuse, neglect, and varying degrees of lack in our lives. So, the next time you go to yell at, curse out, or act in a belligerent manner, just remember that that nurse is there despite how you respond to take care of you and/or your family. For the most part, nurses become nurses because they’re exceptional at giving and taking care of others. But who takes care of us? Ask yourself, “when was the last time I showed appreciation to a nurse when was the last time I told him/her that they’re doing a great job?” We do have feelings, and most of the time, we operate on autopilot because we diminish our needs to meet yours. I’ve seen this in every nurse I’ve met, including myself. So, to the ones I’ve left behind whether in travel or as staff, stop, do some mindful meditation and remember yourselves. Nurses are amazing, awesome, loving, kind, giving, nurturing, moms/dads, sisters/brothers, aunts/uncles, nieces/nephews, and I appreciate you to the moon and back. It’s hard to say goodbye, so I’ll say see you again soon ladies. Thanks for having me and taking great care of me while I was there. Have a great weekend.

Check out my online store at https://www.shesthatrn.org/; my podcast on Apple, Spotify, Anchor, Google, Breaker.audio, and radiopublic, and Shesthatrn on IG and FB.

Until Next Time,

ShesThatRN

What If God Needed Me

What if God needed me to be the vessel, I could not see myself being with the natural eye? What if my feelings of hopelessness weren’t meant for me to feel defeated but to be enlightened? I often question God as to my purpose and always welcome Him to use me as a vessel. But, what if being a vessel meant I had to go without. Or lose something or someone that means so much to me? What if, as if He really needs me for anything, but instead He chose me for such a time as this? How do I answer that calling and submitting to the Father’s will willingly as He submitted Himself to His Father’s will WILLINGLY? All the ugly things that are taking place are not for naught. Am I angry, yes, am I tired, yes; am I fed up, yes but I also genuinely believe that even the worse possible things happen because God allowed it to be. Now, I’m not saying that I understand it because I don’t and may never get it. But is His ways my ways and His thoughts my thoughts? They are not! So, when it gets too hard, and I don’t see the light, I have to trust Him. Sometimes I feel like God has forgotten all about me and us.

Today I thought to myself, God, I know you’ve gone through and felt every pain we feel, but since you paid the price, why must we continue paying the price for other people’s evil and hate? I declare unto you I don’t have the answers, but I am standing on the Word of God. That’s it, and that’s all. What I will leave you with this evening is one of my mother’s favorite scriptures. She would have us print it out and hang it above our children’s cribs when they were babies. She would remind us to read it and carry it in our hearts as a reminder that God will not leave us, and He will protect us. So, I share it with you to hide in your heart, and may it bring you much peace is such times of uncertainty and despair.

Psalm 97:7-16 New King James Version (NKJV)

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall [a]bear you up,
Lest you [b]dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will [c]set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With [d]long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

Until Next Time,

Be Encouraged,

Rest In Heaven Ma,

ShesThatRN

With A Heavy Heart

I am writing this evening with a heavy heart. I should be sleep by now because my intention was to work on my business then hit the sheets. Well, I did work on my business and so that you know you can find my “ShesThatRN” podcast on Anchor and Spotify under that name. It’s my name for EVERYTHING that has to do with me. God gave it to me, and I’ve held on to it strong ever since. Anyway, tonight I want to go to sleep, but my heart is heavy with the constant torture and killing of Black men, women, and children. I’ve cried, I’ve prayed, my dad prayed for me before we got off the phone, and yet here I am.

I’m taking my last-ditch effort to relieve my anxiety and heartache. EVERYONE should be outraged at the fate of Black Americans. I used to think that slavery was over, and we had come so far. BUT, the more I live, the more I realize that this is a lie I’ve told myself to try and remain hopeful in humanity. Black Americans are not regarded as human beings by many. They would just as much see us all dead, then forgive and spread love. Hell, what do White people have to be so resentful toward Black people? We have gone through HELL and more HELL since the beginning of time. I just want my head to not be filled with so much hurt and pain. While I recognize that not all White people fall under this umbrella, Black Americans are not given the same discretion. I know a lot of charming White people, but the good DOES NOT outweigh the bad nowadays.

I just can’t. I’m scared when my sons leave out, scared when they go to work, scared when they go to school or leisure activities… I simply live in fear for ALL BLACK people at this point to include myself. I don’t know how to change it. The lump in my throat, the sickness in my stomach and mental anguish in my head has me spinning on an axle. I feel like I’m dee diving into an abyss. I pray, which is all I can do right now, and trust God to fix this. So, God, when will all this end? This can’t be our “forever” it just can’t be. I feel so lost and out of sort and hope that if you are not Black or another minority, that when you see injustices take place, you will speak up, be angry, just don’t shut up. Things will never change if we don’t lift our voices and sing til Earth and Heaven ring. I tap out for the night…

Until Next Time,

ShesThatRN

The Importance of “Presence and Touch”

I thought I’d take a moment to stop and talk about how important it is to have a “presence and touch.” Many times we go about our day, and we take for granted our interactions with others. It’s just another day, another hug, another kiss, another look into someone’s eyes until it isn’t. I am definitely an introvert and prefer “most of the time” to be by myself. One, because I love myself and spending time with me, and second, I hate crowds, socializing and just having casual activities unless I’m with people I know. You have to remember that being a nurse places you in the presence of a ton of people all day. However, coming home to an empty house with no one there for almost 3 months can be a little taxing on the mental psyche even for an introvert. I really miss having my friends and family over to hang out and have that time to interact on a physical level.

Every day I talk to my dad and hear him express loneliness from being quarantined off from people. He is a mixture of introvert and extrovert. He likes to socialize and go to church and visit family, those types of activities. Now, it’s a silence that is unexplainable, and he can’t do anything about it. I caution him that his age places him at a higher risk of getting sick, so only venture out if necessary. I can hear the anguish in his voice and visualize the tears as he discloses how much this pandemic has taken a toll on him both physically and mentally. But hasn’t it done that to us all to some degree? I don’t know about you, but I’ve become very lonely during this time. I come home to a big empty house because both my sons have been away since it started. Of course, I have to protect myself because being an asthmatic places me at a higher risk for respiratory reasons. So, being by myself is what I’ve chosen to do until things get better.

I know the governors are opening up the states, but let’s just slow down a second and think about what that means for us all. I understand the financial hardship aspect, but we have to consider the whole picture and not just part of it. The government needs to develop other ways to help society meet its needs in terms of finances, etc. because the risks of having everyone out and about are far greater than the benefits. I’m on the fence. I look at things from a medical perspective and its impact on our society and country. I don’t wish anyone to live their lives in fear. If you must, and many will go out and about, please use common sense and discretion for the sake of yourselves and your communities.

I am coming to an end of my more than a year stent in oncology, and it’s bittersweet for me. I’m going to miss all the beautiful people I’ve met, and that’s nurses, healthcare professionals, doctors, and patients. It’s been an incredible ride and one in which I never thought I’d get through. Losing my mom to cancer made me wary of going into this specialty, but it has been the most fantastic time of my career. I’ve learned, I’ve loved, I’ve lost and conquered one of my fears. I am not sure where I’m off to next, but I hope it presents another great experience in nursing. I love to nurture and take care of people, but this experience taught me how to receive much of what I’m used to giving to others. I pray that you all stay safe no matter what you decide to do or have to do to move on in your lives. Be healthy and wise with a focus on being intentional about how you move throughout this pandemic. And of course…

Until Next Time,

ShesThatRN

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my website at www.shesthatrn.org for my latest custom design apparel and accessories for nurses. Thanks

What Happens When You Psych Yourself Out?

I’m glad you asked that question because I have firsthand knowledge of the answer. I spend a great deal of time making myself physically sick by psyching myself out of things that haven’t even taken place yet. On the day of my launch, I was ready to call it quits. I told myself every reason in the book why I shouldn’t launch, go live, or promote my business. I said Sharon, you’re not young enough, you don’t have the business savvy, you don’t know how to even work live, and what if people don’t like or want to buy what you’ve created for them?

Now, If that’s not psyching yourself out, I don’t know what is. I ran into one of my patients today who I was telling her how confident, strong, independent, determined, and a matriarch my mother was. She looked me evident in the eyes and said well, that’s what how I’ve always seen you. She went on to say that I see you launched your business, you were so confident and sure of yourself, and I always thought of you that way. Of course, I looked at her in amazement because I view myself as a timid, shy, chicken who only becomes bold or assertive if I am pushed to show that side of myself.

What I realized is that I have been thinking too little of myself. My expectations had diminished about what God had tasked me to do. Even more important, my hope of the God of the universe, who sees all, knows all and can do all was shallow. I did notice that though and spoke to God about it over the weekend. When my first order came in, I was shocked. Then, the second-order came in before I went to bed from Etsy, and I was like OMG, WOW! Then I woke up and heard the cash register chime and repeated OMG, people are actually ordering my stuff. Needless to say, I was shocked and totally taken aback. Why? Because I psyched myself into not only believing I couldn’t be a success but that people would not support me.

I went to drop off an order to my sister Aisha (not biological, but you would never know it because she’s my ace). She is NOT a nurse, and I’m the nurse she knows. Well, when I sent her an invoice, I gave her a discount. She told me, “Oh NO, I want a new invoice for the full amount. You don’t give me any discounts. I will pay what you set for your products.” She went on to tell me that I do not need to dumb down myself, cheapen my merchandise, or give discounts. She told me I am worth every penny, and I have worked hard to get everything, so why should I just give it away. Thank you, sis, for the pep talk. God sends his earthly Angels to bless his children exactly when they need it.

I can’t leave out my biological sister, who is an extravert y’all. Erica is on 100 all of the time. She is always reminding me of what I don’t want her too. LOL! I remember calling her about finishing some work for me, and she was like. “Listen here, you need to go live either tonight or this weekend and start selling your merchandise. You can’t wait for other people to talk about and promote your goods. You have to do it and be consistent.” Honey, can I tell you that I got mad at her and she didn’t even know it.

When I get upset, or people challenge me, I get quiet. I agreed with her and got off the phone. But let me tell you I was fussing to God about her, and it went a little something like this “God, I don’t like when people try to force me to do something. I am not an extrovert like she, and I can’t do things like her. I can’t talk in front of people. I can’t just put myself out there because I don’t know how to do that.” She was not listening to that y’all, she was pushing me to my purpose, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t like it because it made me UNcomfortable. I don’t like being challenged and out of my comfort zone. I’ll come back to that point in just a bit.

What I found out through this experience is that even when you think small, if you know Christ as your personal savior, He will show you just how big HE is! I’ve spent time just pondering over it all. Thanking God for knowing the creature He created before my parents even did. So, I decided to talk differently to myself. I have decided every day, I will speak over myself with positive affirmations and spend more time believing in myself. What I know is that God didn’t make no junk when He made me. I am beautifully and wonderfully made. I have to be the one to believe and receive it.

Back to the point of being pushed into your purpose and being pushed out of your comfort zone. I know there is NO growth when you stay in the same place consistently. Even when your body grows, things move. Your bone elongates, you get taller, etc. You don’t grow in a position of stillness and comfort. Sometimes stillness, quiet, and relaxation are necessary depending on the place you are in life. But to move, you have to physically do something like put one foot in front of the other. I am so used to being comfortable, not that I want to be, but I’ve become complacent at watching others do what I want to do.

No more of that. No more of that mindset. If I’m going to talk the talk, then I must walk the walk. Besides, when you have a “why” for what you’re doing, you can stay more focused on achieving your goals. I have a short term “why” of being able to purchase my dad’s diabetic medication that costs more than $500 a month. That is unreasonable to any person, especially someone on a fixed income. He’s my focus, and I have to now have his work ethic. He has worked all his youth/adult life and deserves to ‘slide’ as he calls it. But I want him to slide without worry. To be able to pick up and travel with me when I say I booked us a flight out of the country for a vacation. I want to make sure he’s comfortable because he’s been uncomfortable for a long time, making sure his children’s needs were met. So right now, he’s my ‘why.’

In closing, if I could tell you anything, it would be to get UNcomfortable and STOP psyching yourself out of your blessings. Start doing the things that don’t feel so good, that make you nervous, that puts you in front of people, places, and situations where you are in the forefront. This, my friend, is how you push yourself to achieve your purpose in life whatever that is, or you want it to be. Mine is the ministry of healing, healthcare, advocacy, and providing what nurses and the nursing field need to achieve overall success in its industry. I’m heading to the shower then bed.

Oh and by the way, you can find my custom design products on Etsy. Just look for “ShesThatRNLLC.” Remember Nurse’s Week ends tomorrow so grab your special nurse a gift. If you don’t know a nurse, I’m available and will receive a gift from you. Thanks in advance.

Until Next Time,

ShesThatRN

Today I Launch

I’ve been working tirelessly for the past 2 years, trying to reach so many goals. I’ve been silently working on many projects. Many in the process but not completed. In the meantime, I’m having a Virtual Launch tonight with custom products I’ve designed to show appreciation to nurses. It’s for nurses who want to treat themselves and others who want to show “us” some love. I’m doing my virtual launch, and everything’s not right. I’m sort of a perfectionist, but I won’t let that stop what I’ve already planned. The show must go on!

The other things I’ll work on after tonight. Tonight my focus is to do what I planned to do, and that’s it. I’m also a procrastinator, so that makes things even more difficult for me. These difficulties are brought on by myself and the procrastination. I’m rolling with the punches tonight and will improvise where necessary. If you’d like, you can join me live on Facebook (Shesthatrn) and/or IG (Shesthatrn) as well. If not, I’ll come back and report how things went. Say a prayer for me, I’m totally uncomfortable with being at the forefront, but here goes.

Until Next Time,

ShesThatRN

Real Quick

I thought I’d come on to speak on how life’s been for me since this pandemic. Let me start off by saying, “I am safe, thank God.” Not all clinical workers, laymen, and others on the frontlines can say that. Everywhere now has a real risk for exposure, but at my healthcare center, we’ve managed to be as safe as possible by having and using PPE. I won’t say we didn’t have or face challenges, but we’ve been successful in “my” unit at keeping it at a distance. I always talk about how tired I am, etc., etc., etc. But the reality is I am tired, and this whole ordeal has added another level or kind of stress. It has made me cry myself to sleep some nights, fall on the floor prostrate praying for my sisters and brothers who are all fighting the good fight, and spend my entire morning drive in worship and praise. So, no, it hasn’t and still isn’t comfortable working in the climate the U.S. has found itself in. We have already lost so many lives over this virus, and who knows how many more we’ll lose. I have always been a loving person, but this pandemic has given me another perspective on loving people. By people, I mean beyond my own family. But them too because sometimes family is the hardest to love, but they are and or should be your first area of charity. So, forgiving and sometimes extending olive branches or rebuilding burnt bridges is necessary for a clear heart and mind.

I have to tune out the world and the constant noise sometimes because it becomes all too overbearing for me to deal with. So, no, I don’t watch the news, and I get plenty of updates all day long by many different sources. It’s a burden to continually hear about death, sickness, and loss. I can’t go into a lot of detail about all that I’m experiencing right now. Still, I wanted to jump on before closing my eyes to say, “I’m okay, and I’ve lived to fight another day.” I pray that you and your families are also okay. Please, please, please remember good hand hygiene, cover your face when in public, and don’t wear gloves out in the street. I’ll be back a little later, but for now I wish my followers and your families peace, love, blessings, hope and prosperity in health. Oh, and I’m still working out. I had to modify the lower body workouts because my knees are really paining me to the point it’s hard to bend them at all. But the important thing is to keep moving. Exercise is a great source of releasing stress. Stress releases Cortisol which can cause issues with blood pressure, weight gain, mood changes, anxiety and depression. So, try to find things to do while quarantined to help you relax. Don’t just sit around listening and worrying about the pandemic. This is a perfect time to read a book, catch up on your favorite shows, or find a hobby. Whatever you do, do something! Love ya guys:)

Until Next Time,

ShesThatRN

Pandemics Don't Stop Nurses From Nursing!

First of all, let me shout out all my nurses out there. We are some freaking unbelievable, unstoppable, reliable, dependable, loving, and caring individuals. While I know that not everyone has these characteristics, I’m showing love for the ones who do. We rock it out every day for any number of hours. We leave the safety and comforts of our own homes to tend to other people’s loved ones. We are sometimes mandated (during a crisis) to stay and work around the clock. We sacrifice our bladders, hydration, sleep, mental stability, emotions, and lunch breaks, but we keep going. Koodos to us ALL!!!!

This morning I started out off-balanced. I left out the house, took the trash out, got in my car, and started driving. I was going to stop at Wawa to get my coffee since we’ve gotten rid of all the snacks and drinks at work that were out for consumption. As I was driving, I reached into my bag to get my wallet and noticed it wasn’t there. I pulled the car over and double-checked, but it wasn’t there. So, I had to turn around and go back home because it had my license as well. I got back and retrieved my wallet and made the decision to go the WaWa by my job because that turn around set me back on time. I hate driving in the rain, but I began saying my prayers and being grateful for being a part of a new day. I thought to myself you want to complain, but someone didn’t wake up today because they had COVID-19 and died. That quickly put things into perspective for me.

I kept going and reached my destination, Delaware. I had about 15 minutes to spare, and the lines were long. Not to mention, I had to wait in the coffee line for the person to make each coffee individually. I got to the register line and was waiting again. I thought, Lord, I’m gonna be late. There was a man in front of me who I asked which line was he in. He said I was trying to wait and see whichever moved the faster. Well, sir, I don’t have time for that, so I began walking toward the line on the left. He said you can go ahead, you look like you’ve got to get to work and I can take my time. I said thank you, and then it was my turn to be rung up. The same man said, “what do you in your cup, coffee?” I said yes, and he said: “don’t worry about it, I’ll pay for it, you go ahead and get to work and thank you for all you do.” I had a big smile on my face as I said aww thank you so much, I really appreciate that. Now, if you’ve been following my post, then you’ll know I’m a cry baby. Well, sure enough, that brought tears to my eyes. First, because I was being so impatient and fast. Next, because this gentleman didn’t have to do this act of kindness, but he did. And lastly, because he recognized the work, I do as a nurse. My day just got restarted off to a better start.

This picture touched me deep down on the inside. For me, it signified how we give unconditionally daily. Our patients are scared, we’re afraid, and the world is in an unsettling place right now. However, we get up, put our scrubs on, and sometimes without notice, we forget to put on our crowns. We are so busy considering the needs of others that we forsake our own. Someone comes along and gently places it on our heads, reminding us of who we are the sacrifices we make, and the care we give. Dear Nurses, I know this is just as hard for us as it is the rest of the world, but thank you! Thank you for showing up, not calling out, ignoring your own personal thoughts, considering your coworkers and patients, cutting your lunch break short, forgetting to pee, and for just being there. Your and my presence make all the difference in the world.

We are the most trusted professionals out there. So, if we stopped coming, the world wouldn’t be in hysteria, they would be far worse. They would lose hope, lose their will, and possibly their faith. I’m not making us into gods, but I am saying that people depend on us to take care of them even more than the doctors. So, know your sacrifice is appreciated. If no one else tells you, you are a fantastic group of professionals who are loved and adored. Don’t let all the news media, administrators, or anyone else get you down. You are the ISH, PERIODT!!!!! Now, make sure you take care of yourselves today and every day.