This has been a challenging week, which is why I am writing my Dignity Friday message on Saturday. It has been difficult to find the light in the darkness. We are bombarded with so much information, and much of it reflects the pain and sadness in the world. I often ask myself how I can feel joy when I know so many are suffering.
Usually, I can work through these feelings, but there are days when the struggle is real and hope begins to fade. These are the moments when our dignity is challenged because, when hope seems lost, nothing else appears to matter. It is a difficult place to be, and it is exactly where I found myself Friday morning, sitting in front of my computer, trying to find the right words to share with all of you.
It is amazing how, sometimes, when we put a question out into the world, an answer finds its way back to us.
Yesterday afternoon, I had the honor of speaking with someone who has lived a life marked by significant challenges and losses. Despite everything he has endured, he continues to fight his way forward. During our conversation, something he said caused me to pause and rethink how I was feeling.
He shared that, through all the pain he has experienced, he has found joy in helping others who have faced similar struggles. He spoke about how his journey has made him more compassionate and less judgmental. He reflected on the chaos that has marked parts of his life, but he also spoke about the moments of joy that emerged amid that turbulence, including the birth of his child.
I walked away from that conversation with a different perspective.
I began thinking about the positive things that have happened over the last few weeks and the incredible people I have met who have taken tragedy and hardship and transformed them into a mission to help others. One of those people is Ginny O’Leary, who lost her life partner to dementia. Together, they advocated for better access to resources and support for others facing similar challenges. Today, she continues that work, and I am grateful to be her partner in these efforts.
Earlier this month, I attended the Alzheimer’s Walk and met some truly remarkable people. Some were caregivers, while others were living with dementia at various stages of the disease. They gathered to raise awareness and funds in the hope that one day a cure will be found.
This week, I had the honor of partnering with Bart Church from QMOB (Queer Men of the Berkshires) and Jaymie Zapata from Berkshire Regional Planning to host a LGBTQ+ Roundtable event at the Berkshire Innovation Center with community leaders and healthcare professionals, all committed to strengthening relationships and improving understanding. I believe we took an important first step toward building trust and fostering meaningful partnerships.
Then there are our friends and families. I have been blessed with both. Through the difficult days and the joyful ones, there is no greater gift than the people we love and who love us in return.
Over the last two weeks, I have learned that several friends and colleagues are facing significant health challenges. If they are reading this, I want them to know that they are in my thoughts and prayers. Until they return, I will continue the work we do every day, supporting those who need our help and compassion.
I have come to understand that there will be times when we struggle, when we feel as though we cannot face another day and it seems easier to stay in bed. During moments like these, I often find wisdom in unexpected places.
I am going to quote a Hallmark Christmas movie. (Yes, you read that correctly. I watch Hallmark holiday movies, and I am proud of it.)
“Prepare for what you want and have faith it will find you.”
That quote comes from Who’s Coming for Christmas.
Now, Hallmark movies always seem to end happily, with dreams fulfilled and challenges resolved. I know that real life does not work that way. My point is that the people I have mentioned in this blog live by that quote. Even during difficult times, they continue moving forward. They remain committed to making life better for others.
What drives them is something greater than their own well-being. It is a sense of purpose. It is about creating a legacy.
And it is the kind of footprint I hope to leave in this world long after I am gone.
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
