The Smile that Changed Everything

[The_Optimist]

Sometimes we put labels on people or we have preconceived ideas which may or may not be wrong. But perhaps, a better approach would be to keep a blank slate and go into a situation without any expectations and then form opinions as we go. Of course, every situation is unique and we have some wisdom so we should be able to decipher.

I think I found my writing streak..lol

Grouchy old woman she was, I was told

Everyone her care was quick to thrust away

Every step in her room was always timed

For haste had to be made to get away from the grouchy old woman

Then my turn it was to care for this person

Gory tales I had already heard

Looking forward to this task, I was not

But the job had to be done

And there I was to do it; excited I was not

I delayed as much I reasonably could

Slow to attend to this patient I was

Save the best for the last?

I saved the "worst" for the last!

Like a hangman to the rope, I walked

Prepared to do my best

Expecting the worst

Knocking on the door, I bravely walked in

And in a moment of repose caught her

A faraway look in her eyes there was

Asked I of her, "Is everything okay?"

And out poured a poignant tale of a loved one gone by

And tales of a life gone by

Pictures were shown of dear loved ones

A connection we had made

That put this "grouchy old woman" in good light

Grouchy she was not

Her expressions though wrong

Concealed a broken heart

Weep not, dear person

"It is better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved"

I smiled and she smiled back

Tis true; a smile begets a smile

I walked out the room, ashamed of my thoughts

I almost did not give this woman a chance

From opinions already made

A promise I made, to go henceforth

With no opinions made

A blank slate I would be,

A chance I would give

To my next, "grouchy old woman"

-The_Optimist

[SmackerNurse]

So true, so true! This was one lesson I learned even before I became an RN. I was working as a nurse-extern at the time. It seemed like every time I received report I was told, "this one is mean and grouchy" or "this one gave me hell all day, beware." What I found was that it was not the patient who was the grouchy one and if you approached them with compassion and an open mind, they were not what you were told.

Great post!!!!!