From a Healthcare Worker: In My 12 Year Career I've Never Seen as Much Death as I Have the Last 6 Months

Reading this moved me to tears. Deep bow of love and respect and gratitude for my friend Cari and also to all those healthcare workers who are on the frontlines and engaged daily in the painstaking, traumatizing, heartbreaking, courageous and vital work that they do. It’s my belief that sharing their stories is deeply important. Breaking our hearts open to deeper truths and consciousness holds the potential to act as an antidote to that which seemingly separates us and instead serve as the impetus to more and more strongly engage in the deep work of compassion and love. Bless us all, no exceptions. 🙏 Molly

Vaccine booster done.

For me, for my family, for all the patients that we’ve lost. Mothers, brothers, people just starting their lives, pastors, authors, salesmen, homemakers, janitorial staff, business owners, young, old, everyone in between.

People my age.

For the breaks lost, and the Optiflow checks, and all the damn tears I’ve cried for pointless deaths. For my own personal anger, and their families grief.

And all the 2 hour head turns. And the people too tenuous and close to death to tolerate a head turn.

For the ones I thought were getting better only to die a couple days later.

For all of the hands I’ve held, and their denial, and their wishes to live. For all the CPR, and all the changes to DNR status.

For all the patients who have passed far from home after being flown to my hospital.

For all the families that have lost multiple family members, and all of their grief.

I’ve done a lot of research. And I’ve seen a lot of things. This work that I do makes a difference. This choice was right for me.

In a nearly 12 year career I’ve never seen as much death as I have the last 6 months. One patient asked me “Well what if one shot leads to needing many more?” I told him what I tell you. I don’t care how many shots I need, I don’t want to be in that bed, I don’t want my family to lose me before my time. The shots are safe and fully researched. He is gone and I am here to tell this story.

So I sit here today with much gratitude for this bandaid, and gratitude for the chances to care for them, and so much gratitude for my healthy life.

 

― Cari Piercy 

 

Joy Harjo: For Calling the Spirit Back from Wandering the Earth in Its Human Feet

For Calling the Spirit Back from Wandering

the Earth in Its Human Feet

Put down that bag of potato chips, that white bread, that bottle of pop.

Turn off that cellphone, computer, and remote control.

Open the door, then close it behind you.

Take a breath offered by friendly winds. They travel the earth gathering essences of plants to clean.

Give it back with gratitude.

If you sing it will give your spirit lift to fly to the stars’ ears and back.

Acknowledge this earth who has cared for you since you were a dream planting itself precisely within your parents’ desire.

Let your moccasin feet take you to the encampment of the guardians who have known you before time, who will be there after time. They sit before the fire that has been there without time.

Let the earth stabilize your postcolonial insecure jitters.

Be respectful of the small insects, birds and animal people who accompany you.
Ask their forgiveness for the harm we humans have brought down upon them.

Don’t worry.
The heart knows the way though there may be high-rises, interstates, checkpoints, armed soldiers, massacres, wars, and those who will despise you because they despise themselves.

The journey might take you a few hours, a day, a year, a few years, a hundred, a thousand or even more.

Watch your mind. Without training it might run away and leave your heart for the immense human feast set by the thieves of time.

Do not hold regrets.

When you find your way to the circle, to the fire kept burning by the keepers of your soul, you will be welcomed.

You must clean yourself with cedar, sage, or other healing plant.

Cut the ties you have to failure and shame.

Let go the pain you are holding in your mind, your shoulders, your heart, all the way to your feet. Let go the pain of your ancestors to make way for those who are heading in our direction.

Ask for forgiveness.

Call upon the help of those who love you. These helpers take many forms: animal, element, bird, angel, saint, stone, or ancestor.

Call your spirit back. It may be caught in corners and creases of shame, judgment, and human abuse.

You must call in a way that your spirit will want to return.

Speak to it as you would to a beloved child.

Welcome your spirit back from its wandering. It may return in pieces, in tatters. Gather them together. They will be happy to be found after being lost for so long.

Your spirit will need to sleep awhile after it is bathed and given clean clothes.

Now you can have a party. Invite everyone you know who loves and supports you. Keep room for those who have no place else to go.

Make a giveaway, and remember, keep the speeches short.

Then, you must do this: help the next person find their way through the dark.

― Joy Harjo 

From  Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings