She Doesn’t Suffer Fools

I was out to dinner with my great and insightful friend a couple weeks ago. He mentioned the title of this blog to me. Of course it resonated. Everything does lately. I now feel when people apply themselves to make me a better person, I am more in tune, more focused, and I really take their words, and define their meaning. Now, you can take this blog title two different ways: One, she doesn’t listen to people when they are faking through life or two, she is present and can remain hopeful for people who have hurt others in life to gain for themselves. Take the one less traveled by. Toxic relationships. What do you get out of them? I am guessing stress, anger, and fear due to the fact you want to confront them, however, you can’t. Why do you fear the outcome? Let me tell you. Because, you truly deep down inside think they can be a better person and you remain hopeful day in and day out. Awesome!? Good for you for having a kind heart, but don’t let them fool you. If you are putting way more effort into a friendship, and it’s not getting YOU anywhere, cut the ties, my friend. Or…charge them for a counseling fee. If you are not getting positive vibes or feedback from your relationship, time to find someone who does. They are out there.

Now, this goes for patient’s as well. As nurses, we are continually trying and striving to help people get better. We want to fix, and fix so bad ALL THE TIME!! We cannot fix if people don’t want to better themselves. Now, I am not saying to not try, I am merely saying to give them advice, hope, and a good tool set. Stay positive! If they want to stay in the negative arena, that is on them, they do not want to be roped out of there. However, all you can do is stay positive and true to yourself, and maybe, someday, they will mirror it. If not….you did your best! YOU DID!

So, 353. Becoming one of my favorite rooms. I had a patient who suffered an overdose. I was wearing a long sleeve shirt underneath my scrubs, which makes my arms look like I have tattoos. Thank goodness I wore it this day. I received many life stories because he trusted me due to the shirt. I’ll take it. I had a lesson on why people use drugs. It’s an escape from reality. During our many conversations, I learned the ins and outs of drug use and how you obtain it. He started getting emotional and telling me, “I want out.” I told him, ” You can do it, if you obtain a different mindset.” Guess what college degree he had? Sociology. He was using it for his benefit, to make his life better. I informed him , he had the tools to switch, “his work,” for the positive. Do I think he switched his outlook around after he was discharged? I remain hopeful. As he was crying, I obtained some paper and a pen. I told him to write his feelings down. “Nurse, I have never written before, but I want to write a poem.” I replied, “Go for it, it might help.” Now, I wasn’t a big fan of poems at the time, but after he wrote his first one, I am hooked! I have it here for you…..enjoy!

To a person who is a blessing, my nurse.

“Heroin is talking.” “People listen wise up.” I came to this country without a passport ever since then I’ve been hunted and sought, my little white grain are nothing to waste, soft and deadly, and bitter to the taste.

From across the sea and across the land, a 5 dollar bill will put me in your hand, no matter if your white, black or brown, need not look so hard, cause I’m all over town.

With a needle in your arm and a silver spoon, you can bet your ass, you’ll be mine by noon.

I can make a mere school boy neglect his books, I can make a world’s famous beauty, neglect her looks. I can make a man forsake his country and flag, make a girl sell her body for a 5 dollar bag.

I can make a man forsake his wife, send a free man to prison for the rest of his life.

I’m a world of power, and all know it’s true, use me once and you’ll know it too.

So, now you must lie in that county jail where I can’t get to you by visit or mail, so squirm, wiggle, and cough, six days of madness, and you might throw me off.

But don’t run, I’m not chasing, sure, my name is Heroin and you’ll be back for me.

So have faith young man and woman, I’ll be waiting at the gate, your foot is in the stirrup, so ride him well for the deadly drug called HEROIN will ride “you” to hell.

Amazing! He should publish his work! Of course, I don’t agree with his past life experiences and I did tell him this of course. He understood, however was elated with his writing. But, now I am elated because I get to share with you on what a little kindness, a shirt with tattoos, can bring out in a person. However, I cannot be fooled if he went back to his old habits. That is on him, not me. I had my positive experience with him, and I received a treasure, a poem. What treasures will you find? Stay in tune to yourself when you are experiencing your adventure. Key word: adventure. What else is there?