I am sending prayers out to my father and my brother Tracy. My father is back in the hospital and is not doing well. It has been nine months since our mother and Pop’s wife passed away and my brother Tracy has stepped up to care for our father. It is hard sometimes because they live 16 hours away.
I will tell you that today knowing he is in the hospital is having an effect on me. I am not at my best today. How many times do we hear that we need to leave our troubles at the door when we enter work. We are struggling with the challenges of life and the expectation is that we can shut it off for the 8 hours we are at work. Is that a realistic expectation? I am that classic case of a person who will try to shut out what is happening outside because I have a job to do. I have responsibilities. Sometimes that is the case. Things happen in life, and we have to figure out how to move forward. Most days we can but what about the days when we can’t? I am having one of those days today, but here I am at work.
I have talked about selfcare and how important it is. It is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength when you can recognize that you need to take a moment and do what you need to do to take care of yourself. I still struggle with that. I have people depending on me. I have deadlines to meet. I have commitments to keep. I know in my head what I should do but it is challenging because you are worried about disappointing yourself and letting others down. I am not sick. I am healthy. I can go to work. Are we ok when our hearts are heavy, and our minds are not focused? I don’t think we are. It is no different than having an illness like the flu. Sometimes the symptoms are the same without the temperature.
There is still that stigma and bias some of us have about the struggle with depression or just having a day where the challenges of life have weighed you down. “Just pull yourself together.” “Things could be worse.” are some of the phrases you might hear. Is it wrong to take a day to care for yourself? Just a moment to gather your thoughts so that you can move forward. I tell people this all the time, but I have a hard time listening to me. Maybe today will be different. We will see.
I want to take this moment right now and ask that you send good thoughts to my father Mr. King and my brothers Tracy, Ken and our entire family. I pray for a speedy recovery for Pop and strength and healing for my brothers and my prayers to all of you who may be struggling today.
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 