Before Thanksgiving my nurse support group had our weekly meeting & the topic for discussion was gratitude. More specifically our counselor wanted us to discuss how involvement in monitoring improved our lot in life. A couple people there described how involvement in the program saved their lives and careers and I think that is a wonderful thing!!! More people were polite and said what they thought needed said to keep the counselor happy (I know this because we talk after the meeting). I told the counselor that my life was much worse in every category since being involved in the monitoring program. Literally nothing is better. Of course she hated that answer but it's the truth.
Anyway, I'd like to know if involvement in this program has made your life better. Are you happier now? More financially secure? Is your job better? Anything really. I'm simply curious
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Well what are you doing about it? If you have some sort of real world campaign going, I would be thrilled to take part in it.
I posted a call to action in Nurses/politics - It's a bit lengthy but give it a read. I am looking for nurse who want to be part of effecting change in this. We can not truly heal if we just sit in our anger.
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
I lurk on here because I think y'all are brave and wise.
Spanked, have you ever read "The Hobbit?" There's a part where the hobbits are in the thick of the forest and it's dark and pretty scary. Tolkein goes on to write that if they'd just been able to look up that they would have seen the blue sky above. That though gets me through the bad days. I'm not merry sunshining you - you are in the dark forest for 800 more sleeps. Hang in there.
HA!!! I did read the Hobbit as a young man when I was stationed the former West Germany. I don't remember that part but I will take what you say to heart!!!
I love this! I've read The Hobbit many times. Even read it to my kids at bedtime when they were young. That's a great point about looking up to see the blue sky. Isn't it also in that forest where Bilbo starts to show his previously undiscovered courage and ingenuity, and starts to lead the dwarves? He fights the spiders using Sting and his ring that makes him invisible, and also engineers the dwarves' escape from the woodland elves.
So I will try to look up when I get discouraged, knowing the blue sky is there beyond the trees. And I'll get out my ring and become invisible when necessary too :). I'm a huge Tolkien dork, sorry.
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
Isn't it also in that forest where Bilbo starts to show his previously undiscovered courage and ingenuity, and starts to lead the dwarves? He fights the spiders using Sting and his ring that makes him invisible, and also engineers the dwarves' escape from the woodland elves.
I'm a huge Tolkien dork, sorry.
YAAASS! You're right. I had totally forgotten the context of the book. I just remember the passage that moved me. I am a school nurse and I have a picture of Gandalf with his staff. Under it I typed "YOU NEED A PASS." #tolkiennerd
Specializes in Clinical Leadership, Staff Development, Education.
Absolutely, my life is better in all areas. Like others in this thread, I could not stop on my own. I wake up knowing I am just 1 drink away from being in the dark pit of addiction. I was no longer a functioning member of society and was unavailable to those who loved me. I now realize that my nursing license is secondary to my sobriety. The monitoring program requires that I do what it takes to remain sober.
"I haven't let this cancer spread to the rest of my life."
Hmmm, drinking too much,getting a DUI and being part of a monitoring program is a cancer? As a two time cancer survivor who may die before my children finish grade school, I will happily trade malignant conditions.
I'm truly sorry you have cancer. I wish you the best and I'm certainly not trying to make light of your condition. I make no apology for referring to this program as a cancer. If it offends you I'm sorry but that's about the best I can do without busting out the insincere platitudes & BS
RoyalTeaRN
24 Posts
Thanks to y'all for being willing to share.