Do you believe a single moment can change the entire trajectory of your life?

It was recently my Birthday. I become reflective and introspective when I am reviewing a year of life and looking forward to starting another one. Each of my years has been dotted with moments and choices that have maybe seemed insignificant at the time and yet when added up have landed me smack dab where I am today. There are big moments too. Ones that I can definitely name and describe and feel the exact moment when my life shifted in a new direction. These also feel like moments when labels were placed for the. first time or changed. Wife. Mother. Nurse. Divorced. Business Owner. Sad. Happy. Devastated. But most of these moments were still things that I anticipated or was not surprised by; and although they were momentous and memorable they didn’t change me from the path I was already going down.

The ones that turned me around on my course ,or created a new path for me, are moments in time that connected my personal life with my professional. Choices that came “from out of the blue.” I remember one such moment a decade ago. Ten years ago I had just closed a staff meeting and was sitting at my desk. A new opportunity came to sit in front of me; one that changed the course of my life. I remember the way the soft lighting from my desk lamp lit up the space around me with a soft glow. I remember noticing the space in front of the mural, I had painted on the wall, as I sat at my desk listening. The office was quiet because all other staff had left for the day. I could allow this moment to define me because it led me down a new path that ended up being the beginning of the end of something; OR I can look at it as a way I got on the road that led me to my current relationships and career opportunities. I made a choice that smacked my personal and professional together and I moved forward in it. .

What are the things that have changed your path; either turned you completely around or made you veer to the left or right and start on a completely different journey?

Are you aware when you are making life-altering choices; or are you only aware after you make them and see the results?

As nurses, or any healthcare worker, we face many different life-altering choices in our careers. We make split second decisions and well thought out plans for our patients and for ourselves. Do we alter the course of our lives every day? Probably not. But the potential is there.

With the Pandemic winding down perhaps you are getting a bit of breathing room and are able to look back and recognize some of those life-altering decisions you made or didn’t make. Maybe you let the Pandemic sweep you along on its path and you have landed further down the road because of no fault of your own. You may have had decisions made for you by administrations and leadership teams. You may have allowed fate to work her magic and you just went along for the ride. The thing with fate is that she holds her cards close to her chest. She won’t show her hand; she will wait to play her cards. Do you force her hand? Is this the time to decide to do something different? Is this the time to say “yes” to that opportunity that keeps knocking at your door? Is this the time to stop, look around, and change directions?

Is this your moment in time?

What new directions are you taking your nursing career? New Path. (click on the link)

Whatever choices you are making or direction you are taking, may you find some breathing room as Covid and its rules exit the building. May your nurse’s soul find rest along the way.