Reflecting on blessings, allow gratitude to help us move through our challenges
We are entering the busiest time of year, with shopping, cooking, festivities, performances to attend, and much more filling our calendars.
The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays both have special meaning to me, and I am sure to each of you as well. It is not the gifts, food, and gatherings, (well, maybe the food!) that make this season special, however — even though they all populate the positive memories we associate with this time of year. It is the intangible things I think about that are truly meaningful — the warmth that fills my heart and the joy I feel when I see an opportunity to be a blessing to someone else.
The holiday season seems to change our perception somehow, and we tend to see and feel more deeply. November is all about being thankful for our blessings, from family and friends to our jobs, homes, and many more. The best gifts that we can give aren’t wrapped up in boxes and paper, they’re simply our hearts and hands, when we engage in selfless gratitude and giving.
Not everyone is able to see and feel this season in the same way that I and many others do, unfortunately. This season is often a reminder of difficult memories, feelings of loneliness, or traumas we perhaps have long buried.
Many times, these feelings that bring sadness are related to not having grieved fully about an event or relationship in our life. According to the research by renowned psychiatrist and grief researcher Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and many others, there are five stages of grief: Denial, Bargaining, Anger, Depression, and Acceptance. All these stages have to be accomplished in order to come to some type of resolution, but not everyone goes through these in any particular order or completes them. However, to truly and fully accept loss in a healthy way, we must navigate through each one. If we don’t, we end up lacking closure.
Why is grieving so important? Because it helps us maintain a healthy mental balance before, during, and after suffering a loss. There are grief themes and examples of people dealing with grief throughout the Bible, for example. These accounts note that grief is — and should be — met and acknowledged with kindness and compassion. Biblical and modern research share many things, and both find that even though everyone encounters grief and approaches it differently, we do have to deal with it if we are to heal.
I apologize for presenting this topic during an often joyous and transformational time of year, but part of celebrating what we do during this season involves accepting impermanence, like when we see the beautiful multicolored leaves drifting off the trees at this time of year. As the anonymous quote states, “Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.” To improve our health and overall wellness, we should celebrate the beauty of letting things go in our lives and minds.
I am so very blessed to live in this community, work with so many wonderful people, and enjoy the freedom that has been afforded me. Thank you to all the veterans and current military personnel who fought and sacrificed so that I might enjoy freedom. Be sure that our veteran’s service is not forgotten by thanking them when you see them and showing your appreciation through your actions.
I cannot let the month of giving thanks go by without expressing my appreciation for the hardworking and incredibly caring team at Angel Medical Center, as well as all those who serve our community on the front lines in the battle for wellness. These include our EMT partners, local nonprofits, fire safety and law enforcement teams, teachers, and those who serve the community in countless ways. We should always recognize their service with praise and respect. They continue to put their hands out in service to our community, and we need to hold those hands with hearts full of gratitude.
Happy Thanksgiving from the Angel Medical Center Team to the community we are privileged to serve.
Clint Kendall, FACHE, MBA, MSN, BSN, RN, is Chief Executive Officer/Chief Nursing Officer of Angel Medical Center. He started his career as a nurse, and that perspective still informs his work and passion for the patient experience. Clint holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Nursing, and Health Care Management from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Carolina University. Clint has also earned the Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) certification, and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), and the American Nurses Association (ANA).