“The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger and attachment, fear and suspicion, while love, compassion, and a sense of universal responsibility are the source of peace and happiness.” Dalai Lama
The last few weeks have been really rough. There has been major upheaval where I work especially in my department. I work at the local hospital and we are hurting financially because of the economy and people losing their jobs, because of insurance companies wiggling out of paying citing “preexisting” and retroactively canceling policies that were in effect the day of service, delaying payments with stalling tactics until it is past the time limit to file, and every other trick in the book to keep from paying. We are a County Hospital and can not turn anyone away from the Emergency Room. As a result our hours, benefits and jobs have been cut in order to keep the doors open.
Where I work has had problems for years. They abruptly changed managers and the new lady is trying hard to get the department in shape. She is not going to continue to put up with the rudeness and back biting that is the norm in the place. She keeps pleading with me not to quit but give her time and as soon as she can get the job reorganizations in place and working smoothly she is starting on the attitude adjustments needed in the office. She has already let go two of the worst offenders.
The hard part is not bringing the stress home with me. I have more then enough stress there. My Mom asked me to move in with her about five years ago when my old job was going through a major reorganization and it was clear that the older people there were being forced out. I put everything in storage and moved just the major of my possessions into the house. My biggest possession is Merlin, a 17½ pound gray and black tabby who continues to think that he is a little baby and I am his mommy and have been for going on 12 years.
We lost my Dad to a major heart attack 10 years ago. My Mom is now 83 and in very frail health. She has had multiple heart attacks. A couple of days ago she had a growth removed from her nose at the corner of her eye. It was cancerous and they ended up cutting down to the bone to get it all out. I have spent the last few days trying to get her to rest and not do the things that the doctors said not to do. I am thinking of putting Mom in the Guinness World Book of Records as the most stubborn person who has ever lived. Taking care of her is a real challenge.
One of the unique things I can do to brighten up my Mom’s life is my art work. I have always been an artist and when arthritis set in early making it impossible for me to do the etchings and paintings I use to do I discovered computer art and that I could do things with an ergonomic mouse. As the programs I use continue to improve I find I can do more and more pictures that come out how I had originally envisioned them in my mind. I did a couple pictures for Halloween and cracked up over Mom’s comments. Her reaction to “Pirate Halloween” was “is she going as a hooker?” I laughed and said no more like a can-can dancer. So I did one in my “Old Fashioned” series and she wanted to know why only the baby had wings. I explained the baby was going as a fairy and Mom and Dad as Romeo and Juliet. She thinks the baby should get her thumb out of her mouth. But it was last night’s picture that she fell in love with. Mom is so proud of being half Irish. The picture “Irish Princess” really moved her.
The last few weeks have been really rough. There has been major upheaval where I work especially in my department. I work at the local hospital and we are hurting financially because of the economy and people losing their jobs, because of insurance companies wiggling out of paying citing “preexisting” and retroactively canceling policies that were in effect the day of service, delaying payments with stalling tactics until it is past the time limit to file, and every other trick in the book to keep from paying. We are a County Hospital and can not turn anyone away from the Emergency Room. As a result our hours, benefits and jobs have been cut in order to keep the doors open.
Where I work has had problems for years. They abruptly changed managers and the new lady is trying hard to get the department in shape. She is not going to continue to put up with the rudeness and back biting that is the norm in the place. She keeps pleading with me not to quit but give her time and as soon as she can get the job reorganizations in place and working smoothly she is starting on the attitude adjustments needed in the office. She has already let go two of the worst offenders.
The hard part is not bringing the stress home with me. I have more then enough stress there. My Mom asked me to move in with her about five years ago when my old job was going through a major reorganization and it was clear that the older people there were being forced out. I put everything in storage and moved just the major of my possessions into the house. My biggest possession is Merlin, a 17½ pound gray and black tabby who continues to think that he is a little baby and I am his mommy and have been for going on 12 years.
We lost my Dad to a major heart attack 10 years ago. My Mom is now 83 and in very frail health. She has had multiple heart attacks. A couple of days ago she had a growth removed from her nose at the corner of her eye. It was cancerous and they ended up cutting down to the bone to get it all out. I have spent the last few days trying to get her to rest and not do the things that the doctors said not to do. I am thinking of putting Mom in the Guinness World Book of Records as the most stubborn person who has ever lived. Taking care of her is a real challenge.
One of the unique things I can do to brighten up my Mom’s life is my art work. I have always been an artist and when arthritis set in early making it impossible for me to do the etchings and paintings I use to do I discovered computer art and that I could do things with an ergonomic mouse. As the programs I use continue to improve I find I can do more and more pictures that come out how I had originally envisioned them in my mind. I did a couple pictures for Halloween and cracked up over Mom’s comments. Her reaction to “Pirate Halloween” was “is she going as a hooker?” I laughed and said no more like a can-can dancer. So I did one in my “Old Fashioned” series and she wanted to know why only the baby had wings. I explained the baby was going as a fairy and Mom and Dad as Romeo and Juliet. She thinks the baby should get her thumb out of her mouth. But it was last night’s picture that she fell in love with. Mom is so proud of being half Irish. The picture “Irish Princess” really moved her.
I use art as a way to relax and destress. I also use it as a way to brighten my Mom’s day. I have found that the gifts I have been given for art and photography can be used to help others even if only to give them a spot of beauty in an otherwise hectic day. I also continue to be politically involved to fight for health care, the economy, and consumer reform. I am always aware I am only one person trying to do what I can to make this a better place. I know I can’t do it by myself but as long as I can truly feel I have done what I can to help others then I’m content. Now I better go get that laundry done before Mom tries to ignore the fact it is on her don’t do list.
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