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Judith Whitehead from Amherst N.Y is back guest blogging about the concept of kindness. Judith has worked as a health-care care professional for over 25 years.
Gifts are appreciated by everyone...
I work full time in a medical office as I have for the last 25 years; each day tends to blend into the next, as many of you can attest to. Once in a while, a special day stands out above the rest; it is when someone performs a simple act of kindness towards another person that makes all the difference.
There are hundreds of people that pass through our office every week; each one most likely apprehensive about their medical appointment. Some people wear their feelings on their sleeve while others just clam up and withdraw from within. Each one is seeking the same end result, a good report and someone to be kind to them; it only takes a few minutes to lend a willing ear. No matter what the end result is of their appointment, it can soften the visit by just being kind and spending just a few minutes to really listen to them.
This concept of “kindness” also works in reverse. Just imagine that you are working on patient number 50 at the end of the day. Health care workers are human as well, and a pleasant patient can also make all the difference in our day. When holiday time approaches, don’t think for a minute that we don’t appreciate and cherish those home made “goodies” that you bring us. You may not know it but that act of kindness makes
our job all the more pleasant, knowing that you cared enough to think of us.
Recently we had a very crafty patient bring us Bunny Easter pins, one for each employee to wear. In fact when any holiday nears, he brings us a pin to celebrate that holiday. We love the fact that you thought enough to remember us. We health care workers feel the strain after a long day of listening to peoples health issues. Taking just a few moments to really listen to some ones woes can make all the difference in their day as well as ours. If you start out with some kind words to a person, it comes back to you two fold . It can make all the difference in your day as well as their day. Many people come for their medical appointment for more reasons than a health check up. This is a social event for many. It is a planned outing for them if they are in the senior age group; you may be the only adult they will talk to in several days. It is their connection with the
outside world especially if they live alone. A simple act of caring and kindness can make a tremendous difference in their day.
As adults, we can get very easily caught up in our every day routine and families lives. If you work in the health care field, you need to think of your patients as an extended family and be mind full of their needs as well. People enter into the health care field because we want to make a difference in peoples lives; we know it’s not for the money alone. We put in long, busy days with sick people hoping we don’t catch what they are
carrying. With the way our insurance structure has been in this country, people don’t seek medical care until they are really sick. It is simply dollars and cents; people are living paycheck to paycheck with little left over to care medically for themselves.
At this time during our countries’ trials and tribulations, it is ever more important to exercise a little kindness towards each other. Spend a few seconds listening to some one else and you may feel rewarded as well. Make a difference in some ones life by simply lending an ear, it’s one of the few free things we can still do.
If you would like to express yourself about any subject you feel passionate about, please feel free to submit a guest blog to dakinetalk. Please limit guest blogs between 200-500 words, along with a short bio and photo of yourself. Send all blog submissions to; jrsensei@hotmail.com who knows your blog could go viral
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