Nursing isn’t all bodily fluids and taking vitals. In school we were taught a skill called “active listening”. It is invaluable in life as well as nursing. The idea is to be fully present when someone is speaking, being mostly quiet only adding acknowledgements that you are indeed listening. Most people long to be heard, their story is their life and in sharing it we often find ways to unravel the challenges and lessen the burdens we carry. Just the experience of being heard, being seen without judgement has an incredible healing effect.

The other aspect of nursing I adore is what I call “no judgement”. I listen and allow people to have their experiences without filtering it through my life experiences, I just allow them to have theirs. Ultimately their story isn’t about me, I am just a witness offering support. This is incredibly freeing. I don’t have to fix anything, take responsibility for anything, endure anything. I just acknowledge their situation offering compassion, support and love.

Sometimes someone just needs to be heard. We all have our bag of rocks- our challenges- loving and supporting each other in kindness and presence is a gift we can give each other.