Thursday, November 7, 2013
Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN
Monday, November 4, 2013
Control and Communication
Justice walking has been a new experience for me because it has forced me to think about the reality that I will not be here forever. This is a novel concept for me, and it is easy to ignore this reality when I am surrounded by young people in college.
Spending time with my hospice patient has also given me the opportunity to discuss life without judgment, which may sound weird, but because my patient is a stroke patient, she can no longer speak well, so I never know if she understands what I’m saying or not. Because I’m not sure what she does and doesn’t understand I just kind of ramble to her about life as a college student. I tell her about that new guy I met last week, about the genetics class that is kicking my butt, and about how excited I am to graduate and discover the rest of my life. I think she understands more than I think she does. One day, I told her about how it was my birthday coming up and about how I would soon be turning 21. I had no idea if she understood me, but as I got up to leave, she looked right at me and said, “Happy Birthday.” I thought perhaps I was hearing things, but it turned out I wasn’t. She repeated it again, “Happy Birthday.” My patient teaches me how important it is to listen to people in life. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in speaking that we forget how important it is to hear what other people have to say. I have greatly appreciated having someone around to listen to me without judgment. My time with my patient reminds me how valuable I can be to others when I choose to listen to them the same way she listens to me.
I think a lot of times, we take things like the ability to communicate for granted; I know I do. Seeing my patient each week reminds me to be grateful and patient in my own life. It has taught me that in the end I am not in control. God is. It is so hard for me to let go and have faith that God will take care of me, but I think in a lot of ways, my patient and I are alike. She seems incredibly strong-willed and stubborn; just like me! However, at the end of the day, even her strong will had to surrender to old age. I will have to surrender eventually too accepting that I am not in control, that I have never been in control, and that God is holding me in His hands.
-Christian Andreen
Spending time with my hospice patient has also given me the opportunity to discuss life without judgment, which may sound weird, but because my patient is a stroke patient, she can no longer speak well, so I never know if she understands what I’m saying or not. Because I’m not sure what she does and doesn’t understand I just kind of ramble to her about life as a college student. I tell her about that new guy I met last week, about the genetics class that is kicking my butt, and about how excited I am to graduate and discover the rest of my life. I think she understands more than I think she does. One day, I told her about how it was my birthday coming up and about how I would soon be turning 21. I had no idea if she understood me, but as I got up to leave, she looked right at me and said, “Happy Birthday.” I thought perhaps I was hearing things, but it turned out I wasn’t. She repeated it again, “Happy Birthday.” My patient teaches me how important it is to listen to people in life. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in speaking that we forget how important it is to hear what other people have to say. I have greatly appreciated having someone around to listen to me without judgment. My time with my patient reminds me how valuable I can be to others when I choose to listen to them the same way she listens to me.
I think a lot of times, we take things like the ability to communicate for granted; I know I do. Seeing my patient each week reminds me to be grateful and patient in my own life. It has taught me that in the end I am not in control. God is. It is so hard for me to let go and have faith that God will take care of me, but I think in a lot of ways, my patient and I are alike. She seems incredibly strong-willed and stubborn; just like me! However, at the end of the day, even her strong will had to surrender to old age. I will have to surrender eventually too accepting that I am not in control, that I have never been in control, and that God is holding me in His hands.
-Christian Andreen
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