Mtu ni Watu

"Mtu ni watu" is a Swahili saying that literally states "a person is people." The meaning, though, is that no man is an island, everyone needs the help and company of others.

I love that saying because it ties so much into my passion and mission for life. I want to bring wholeness. Wholeness not only physically in my practice of nursing, but also emotionally and spiritually. I want to be there for my patients, family and friends, to be their "watu".

On my orientation day for my new nursing job, one of the executives came to speak to us. He asked us who was on our "list". Your list is comprised of those people that are your world, your support- those you love more than anything else. We all wrote someone down- husbands, daughters, sisters where named. And then he asked us to stop and remember that every patient we come in contact with is on someone's "list" and if we forget that for even one minute, that is a minute too long. That speech is going to be forever ingrained in my memory, and I plan to keep it as the basis of my practice. Nursing is hard work, 12 hour shifts are long, and seeing ill people day after day can be grueling, but we chose this and we promised to take care of people that are part of someone's "list". We cannot forget, I, for one, will not.

I changed the title of my blog for now- not because my heart no longer beats for Africa- because it surely does, but because for now creating beauty from ashes is my mission. I love that saying- and it is my desire to bring forth beauty where only ashes lay. Nursing is my tool. Bringing forth beauty is my passion. Wholeness is my mission.

I am so excited about starting my first nursing job, and I have chosen Oncology. When people here this they moan and groan..."that will be too hard," "how can you do that," "are you sure that this is for you." I want to tell the world that I am ready, and I am not scared. Oncology is going to be hard, some days I am going to come home and just cry, but it will not all be sad. Some days I am going to see doctors tell patients their cancer is gone, some days I am going to see families hold hands and share their love for one another. Other days I am going to be the only one sitting with a patient as they say goodbye. Some days I will take care of patients as they lose their hair, hear bad news, and decide they cannot go on. Some days the only wholeness I will see is patients leaving this life behind. But I am ready. I did not say it will never be sad. I did not say that some days I will not be overwhelmed. I said I'm ready. I am ready to be a source of joy, peace and comfort. I am ready to wear my heart on my sleeve. I'm ready to cry when I need to and laugh with all my heart. I am ready to take on the challenges that this life has for me. I'm ready because I am called, I am chosen, and I have been made for this mission. Beauty from ashes. Wholeness and restoration. Oncology...here I come!