As a nurse, I see kindness daily from the healthcare workers. Even if they are short-staffed, they still treat their patients with utmost respect and care. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ache in my heart was eased by the kindness of the staff to their patients, and to each other.
In my previous hospital, a night nurse stayed beyond her shift to provide emotional support to an anxious, elderly nursing home patient awaiting surgery. I have always known that a heart of gold lies beneath the tough, no-nonsense exterior. She went above and beyond that day, recognizing that the feisty, belligerent patient was just scared.
Last week, a patient with explosive diarrhea slipped on the floor. He was morbidly obese, and he needed help to get back to his bed. He was obviously embarrassed, but a group of nurses and techs reassured him and cleaned him up quickly, without any fuss, and treated him with respect. When his family arrived, they saw a smiling patient, his dignity intact.
Despite the troubling news of crime and violence, some
stories tug at my heart when I read about simple acts of decency and humanity. After a hard day's work, I do not want to read more of man's atrocities against their fellow men. I prefer to read feel-good stories. Maybe it’s a mindful exercise to positively fill my life, despite the
challenges and adversities. Just like the personal protective equipment we use every day to protect us from contamination, I think that a daily dose of kind thoughts gives me the moral fortitude to carry on.
Last month, my friend Rosemarie wrote this when she
picked up her son at the train station: “While I was sitting in my warm car, I
noticed an older couple lying on the bench. The woman ensured the man was
snuggled and wrapped tightly in a blanket and then secured herself. I have
never seen homeless where I live, and seeing them struggle broke my heart. But
watching their compassion for each other and knowing they were sitting in
30-degree weather. I realized I was sent to this train by my dad. I told them
if they could walk a few blocks away while I waited for my son, I would make
sure they would be safe at a hotel for the night with food. Twenty minutes
later, when the room key was handed to me, I knew my dad sent me as he would
always help anyone in need”.
Somebody messaged me yesterday on LinkedIn. I don’t know
what I did precisely to merit such, but I appreciate the unexpected message
from my former nurse. I was her head nurse in the ER 27 years ago. She thanked
me for my kindness to her when she was a novice nurse in one of the busiest ERs
in New York City.
When I came home today, I found a Thank you card from a former patient care technician who struggled to complete her nursing education while working. Because I saw her potential to be a compassionate nurse, I approved her request for flexible scheduling. In two years, she completed her accelerated program, graduated with her Bachelor’s degree, and later joined the ER as a full-fledged registered nurse.
Kindness matters. It is a gift to another human being; a gift that anyone can pay forward. I have received benevolent and selfless gestures from family, friends, and sometimes strangers. Angels in disguise, my lifeline when I needed support.
A random act of kindness can mean a whole world of difference to somebody at their saddest point. To a lonely person, a simple smile and a caring touch mean they matter. For someone in need, a helping hand may give them that fighting chance.
I resolve to make kindness a daily presence in my life. As
other special people changed my life and showed me that there is light at the
end of the tunnel, I want to be part of the wave of kindness for someone else.
I am human, just like everybody else. Perfectly imperfect, but I try to live a good life. I make mistakes, but I will not consciously be unkind to somebody, nor I will I intentionally cause harm to anyone. I believe that for everything I do, blessings come back tenfold.
Yes, kindness does matter.
