Unit 7

I really wanted to meditate more especially lately but being here on the USNS Comfort and working everyday makes it difficult. I am just exhausted by the end of the day. If you can imagine being in the movie “Groundhog Day” that’s what I am currently doing and it can be exhausting. By the end of the day all my thoughts are swirling through my head and they won’t stop. In the end it really makes you realize what you have at home is pretty good and needs to be cherished. So I tried to play the CD and tried to listen to the “Meeting Asciepius” but really didn’t get much from it because I couldn’t relax or find a quiet spot. The whole ship is loud and something is constantly going on someone over the loud speaker, normal ship sounds so on and so forth. I feel I do need to try a little harder to concentrate on these meditative practices especially if I am going to make it through the end of July here in a sane mind. I don’t feel I have gotten the full benefits of the meditation practice to really change my psychological or spiritual wellness.

The saying “One cannot lead another where one has not gone him or herself” (P. 477) is a statement that reminds you that you as a healthcare professional cannot tell a client to do something you have never done. It is difficult for me to see an obese dietician or a healthcare professional that smokes. I feel these are the types of things that we need to consider when dealing with patients. I totally believe that as a health care professional I have the obligation to develop my psychological, physical, and spiritual health.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Tough Week

I can relate to the loving kindness exercise more because it gave more direction. The subtle mind exercise was a little long but he ocean waves were nice. The benefits of the loving kindness exercise were the direction and length. Both exercises can be frustrating if you are not totally ready and in a calm environment to listen to them. Spiritual wellness, mental wellness, and physical wellness all go hand in hand because with the three you can be at one with yourself. You can also be helpful to others that need to find center.

Currently I am working on all three areas to be at peace and find my center. I feel this may take some time but it will happen. Having just one or two pieces of the whole makes it challenging to become whole and centered.

On a different note it has been a difficult week. I just got aboard the USNS Comfort and it is going to be a long four months. L  Hope everyone is doing well.