This week has been a week full of challenges, and not all of
them were fun.
The most amazing challenge was the VOE Poetry Challenge,
called Missing Piece. The poetry shared has been so beautiful and full of
heartfelt emotion. They all spoke to me in such deep spaces and getting to know
the poets from that part of which they shared has been good for my own soul.
I must have read and re-read each poem hundreds of times and
so wanted to comment on each and every one of them, but I had to read in brief
passing moments. This gets to the other challenges of the week.
I work part time as a therapist/practitioner at a center for
adults with special needs. Many are low to mid-level functioning experiencing
autism, Down’s syndrome, have experienced some kind of brain trauma in their
lives leaving them with emotional and mental challenges that they work with
each and every day. What I and the other therapist do to help is offer massage,
energy work, yoga, meditation, acupressure, reflexology, and sometimes, just a
hand to hold. The work is challenging and difficult, but always fulfilling.
One group we service is an elderly group. Most are low
functioning and have been institutionalized for the greater part of their
lives. They are just now getting to be integrated into group homes and
experience being with loving and caring humans for the first time in their
lives. Most in this group are past their 70s and have physical illnesses as
well. I admit that I do get attached and have to really work at not getting
overly attached.
Two of my dearest, sweetest elders passed this week, and one
is in hospice. It was hard knowing that I won’t see them again, and remembered
how much they meant to me. I play the Native American flute, and one always
requested I play. When I did, he would smile – something he very rarely did. He
also had built trust in me through the flute to allow me to hold his hand. And
he would hold my hand and kiss it each time after I played. He was meant to be
at our group this week, and wasn’t. I took my flute expecting to see him, but
he passed in his sleep overnight. He was 97 years old, and I loved him so.
The other challenge? My colleague, the other therapist, had
to leave unexpectedly. Her father was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in
November. He was in remission, but passed suddenly on Tuesday. So, I took over
for her on her days while they got a substitute to help. Remembering losing my
own parents, losing my special elder 97-year old friend, and knowing what my
colleague was experiencing threw me for a loop.
This morning, I finally had the opportunity to re-read the
poems in the VOE Poetry Challenge and experience the emotions shared. Finally,
I could listen to the podcast. Finally, I could let each poet know how much
their words touched me.
I am reminded of something Amanda, VOE Editor-in-Chief,
said. You never know what others are going through. I smile through it all
because I know that someone else is experiencing far worse than I am. I don’t
negate my own feelings and emotions, but know that love and understanding go a
long way to healing ourselves and others.
So, today, I ask my readers to take the time to tell those
you care about that you love them and thank them for being a part of your life.
I thank each of my fans, followers, and readers here, on Twitter, on Facebook,
on VOElla, and in life! Thank you for being a part of my life!
