Quality/Quantity

Living his life without a care in the world and out for a ride on his bike. One minute the breeze blowing through his hair and the next thing he knows there's a car, he's on the ground, and he can no longer feel his legs.


He has been playing his instrument since he was a little boy, this talent marking his career path. He lives for the rhythms and sounds he plays from church to church. Then, in an instant, the physical ability is gone. He cannot move his left arm and is left to listen to the sounds of the music he once played.


Nothing makes you appreciate the little things in life more than losing them for a period of time. You cut your finger and forget how much you actually use that finger in your day to day activities. You have knee surgery and forget what a blessing it is to be able to run around for a 12 hour shift until it hurts to walk 20 feet.


Every day at work I encounter people with a significant diagnosis that changed their life forever, and I am reminded to count my blessings. While my functionality is crucial in my line of work, I wonder what would happen if I lost the ability to work? Does my work define me, or am I defined simply by who I am?


I encountered two souls whose lives were altered by life circumstance out of their control. One struck me with his kindness, openness, humbleness, and strength. It wasn't about what he couldn't do or feel, but about what he could still do. It was about the love and commitment he shared with his wife. It was about the life he still had left to live as opposed to the function he had lost. The glass was half full and he was delightful to be around.

How did this man see himself? While I know little of the path that led to our encounter that day, I do know there was a peace and contentment that radiated from him and a comfort he had about himself. This man did not measure the value of his life by what he was able to do, but by who he could be. How beautiful. Isn't that how it should be? What if we stopped focusing our societal value on what we can do, earn, and cost, and valued people for being their authentic selves?

This man made me stop and think. If I lost the ability to move my legs I could not function as a nurse in the capacity I do now. This thought devastates me, but while my work is a part of who I am, does it define who I am? Or am I defined by how I carry out this work from day to day? Am I defined by how I treat others and the intention and meaning behind my words and actions? I hope it is the latter. 

Life is about the quality of how you live it, not the quantity of things you do, and every day is a gift and an opportunity to live to the fullest.

Live intentionally.