Back from holidays and feeling refreshed. I’m actually quite proud of myself for fully unplugging and not thinking about work at all until the day we travelled home. There was a time when I would use vacations to brainstorm new and innovative ways to try to “change the world.” This trip was different. It was time with my family, time without chores or responsibilities, and plenty of sunshine along the way.
I’m not someone who naturally slows down. There is always something to do in day-to-day life, but somehow, I managed to read six books in ten days while also swimming, eating, laughing, and exploring.
Being the kind of nurse who is fully invested, who allows herself to be vulnerable and truly know the clients she works with, can be incredibly taxing on the mind and soul. It can be difficult to step away from treating chronic wounds knowing many clients may not seek care elsewhere in your absence. There’s also the reality of wondering who may have died while you were away, not because you believe you could have saved them, but because loss is such a common part of this work that you learn to value every interaction as though it could be the last.
I know many colleagues still stuck in the mindset that they can’t take time off or turn off their phones in case they’re needed. I used to be exactly the same, but it wasn’t healthy. Eventually I realized that constantly being available was actually preventing me from giving my best at work because I was burning out.
Over time, I’ve also realized that I’m not responsible for other people’s choices, and honestly, I’ve started applying that lesson to my personal life too. For years, if someone crossed my mind, I would immediately reach out for birthdays, anniversaries, difficult dates, all of it. But this past year, especially since moving into our little oasis of a home, I’ve started living more intentionally and putting my energy into the people and things that truly bring me peace and joy. Does that mean there are longtime friends I rarely see or talk to now? Absolutely. But I’ve also never felt more at peace than I do right now.
I came back from a beautiful holiday in Mexico feeling rested, which was probably necessary considering how quickly life ramped back up. Sunday was Mother’s Day, and my amazing family let me spend the entire day in my garden. Monday was straight back to work during the day and council meetings at night, and then full speed ahead from there.
This work is heavy most days. It’s also difficult to explain to people outside the field, partly because the realities of it are hard to fully understand unless you’ve lived it, and partly because in such a controversial area of work, words can easily be taken out of context.
So, here’s to vacations, balance, boundaries, and creating a life, both personally and professionally, that fills your cup instead of emptying it.
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