How can I fathom that this is where I need to be?
We were finishing our morning dog walk (Nick, Nora, and myself), when we heard a flock of geese coming in the distance. We stopped in our tracks, and I wondered, Do I have time to take my camera out? I responded internally, No. Don’t take a photo. In the words of Ram Dass, “Be here now.”
A blink later, more than 50 geese trumpeted loudly overhead. The message to me in the cacophony was clear: “WAKE UP!”
Another blink later and the birds were out of sight. The dogs were on to their next bush, and I found myself silently arguing, Why? Why bother waking up?
I had experienced a challenging week on the home front. And for some reason, continuing our dog walk, I thought of my residents in the skilled nursing facilities where I work. Lately, the television news seemed to kindle a vicarious trauma.
Isn’t there a benefit from blocking out the turmoil in our society and in our own homes? I must admit that shutting down has been one of my own favorite coping mechanisms. Growing up, we called it “tuning out.” Can you relate? Continue reading...
