subtle reminders

if i can be so bold as to say that last night was one hell of a shift, then here it goes...last night was one hell of a shift. between giving a blood transfusion, investigating unrelieved pain, correcting shallow breastfeeding latches, ruling out a newborn seizure, and witnessing the complete absence of a husband who was physically present, i was stretched. challenged. exhausted.

normally i can walk away from a shift feeling like i positively contributed to a patient's postpartum experience, but this morning i felt incompetent and alone. like i wanted to put that night in a distant place and forget about it.

but after waking up, processing, venting, and praying for clarity, i was reminded of the beauty of human limitations. that i am not alone in the murk. that i am growing and through my perceived ineptness, i am doing everything i can to love.


it's a funny thing how certain images are presented to us during times of reflection. for me, they were the following, taken during last weekend's hike. i think of them as subtle reminders, signs of hope...