Conversations over Coffee: Linda

Conversations over Coffee posts are meant to be about a person that I have recently chilled with and learned from. I'm really excited about doing these types of posts because I really love learning things from other people. I think that people one of the most important and most lasting thing we can invest our time and energy in. And I think that every person I meet represents something new I can learn, cause every new person has different gifts, passions, and experiences than me.

Recently I am on a Mr. Rogers kick, so here is a little morsel from him:

"There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person" Mr. Rogers

Today's person is Linda. Linda is the other nurse that I am working with at music camp this week. We are spending a lot of time together, and we share all of our meals together- so we have had a lot of time to chat. I have also gotten to see her interact with all the kids, so I've learned a lot from that too.

From the funny to the serious, here are some things I've learned from Linda:

1. When working with kids you have to find a balance between recognizing their concerns and letting them know that they are gonna be fine. Case in point: the kids who come in with small cuts and act like they are pretty sure they are gonna need an amputation. Linda has a way of setting their mind at ease.

2. Most of the time our problems can be solved by going back to the basics. Kid comes in with abdominal pain and thinks his world is ending- Linda asks when the last time he went poop was. He goes to the bathroom, comes out, and is feeling better. Simple as that.

3. The mind and the body are linked more than we think. This camp is really fun, but we also have some very high strung kids who get stressed by wanting to be the best they can be while here. Linda is great at getting kids talking and uncovering the mental stresses behind their physical complaints: especially headaches and neck pains. 

4. The importance of saying hello. Linda says hello to every person she meets on the path around the college. She really doesn't appreciate the aspect of our culture that has made it okay to pass by another human being without even acknowledging their presence with a smile. I think that's great. A good reminder for everyone. I know I can get numb to it. Just like hikers, Linda always gives a friendly face to the people she meets.