Friday evening wine sipping
piano melodies in low key
and I'm thinking of a song...........
and so it goes......
and so it goes........
It's a song Billy Joel used to end his concerts.
Low key reflections of the heart.
It's music like this I want accompanying my end of the week thoughts.
Inclusive, not intrusive......
candlelit, backlit flickering in the foreground
emotionally driven, lightly touching, deeply felt.
It mirrors my reveries
It adornes my reflections
and so it goes........
and so it goes.......
Yesterday, I took part in a day long workshop on family violence, as a participant as well as a facilitator. 40 frontline staff, from various sections of my government department.....social workers, case managers, community development enthusiasts, adminstrative reception people, program officers, and a few of us crazy counsellors. It was a terrific mix of people who all work with individuals who live and survive violence. We are the people who try to help families put the pieces together...........it's a big part of our job, and yet this was the first time we came together to talk about it, and to share our accumulated expertise.
Despite the serious emotionally striking topic, it was a good day. Why? Because we ALL usually work in our own little worlds..........to come together to get to know one another at a deeper level by sharing our heart stories is uplifting. There's a sense of belonging and a recognition that our work has meaning............that what we do may make a difference. Unfortunately, we don't hear this enough. We have to rely on each other to hear it.
and so it goes............
and so it goes..........
Life is busy right now. And I like it all. It takes me out of my head and stretches my skills. I'm challenged as I organize and coordinate a few upcoming functions........extra curriculars....stuff outside of my regular work day. I'm connecting with new people, reconnecting with others I have worked with in the past, and it's all validating and affirming. But, in order to find the energy and focus, I need the time to deflate and reflect. We all do, don't we?
I am at my best when I have some down time in between, especially when the focus is on the emotionally charged interactions. Friday nights fit the bill.
"And this is why my eyes are closed
It's just as well for all I've seen
And so it goes,
and so it goes
And you're the only one who knows
So I would choose to be with you
That's if the choice were mine to make
But you can make decisions too
And you can have this heart to break
And so it goes, and so it goes
And you're the only one who knows."
9 comments:
i would love to read them... i adore your writing style. istanbul is a place everyone should visit at some point... i'm looking forward to the next time i find myself there... :)
You make a real difference Dana in your job and to me of course.
I just did a funny meme or quiz what ever you would like to call it i think it would be funny to see what you think.
Email coming friend xx
Yes it is so important to have that space to reflect...it may be the most important part of the day. That time to reconnect with the source and renew.
Matthew
Kate...thank you though quite honestly I am not sure what my writing style is actually because from this end it feels like I am continually testing out different voices, fluctuating all over the place like a kid whose voice is changing. I have fallen into certain themes, sometimes unbeknownst to what I consider my concious outward thinking. And I can't even tell you what it is all about. I try to tap into whatever seems to float to the surface on a particular day.
I've had a few emails lately from people who have known me for a while wondering what the heck I'm up to.......the themes I have been tapping into all seem to revolve around religion, and I don't think they know what to make of it. And I can't give them an answer because I don't either. :)
What I love about your writing is that it is sensual, ethereal and raw with emotion. I read what you decide to share on your blog and I am always left feeling like I have slipped in through a minstrel's window. Beautiful, colourful poetic heart you are Kate.
I will send you the links to those stories.
Shaz.......your meme is hilarious. I only had a chance to read it over late last night.....and will try my best to take a guess at some of those aussie terms! Funny, some of them (not MANY though) are similar to Canuck ones. Maybe I should follow your lead and write up one with a maple leaf flavour........
Matthew....I have always needed the time and space, but more so because of my obsession with writing!!
I do find that if I have been teaching all day, or I have had a busy day interacting/counselling, I really need to reenergize, recap, recharge, and mostly reflect. I find that there are many in my field who not only don't have someone to debrief with at work (I have no idea why this is so, but it is) especially after an encounter which may have been very emotionally draining. The unreflected emotions are then carried into the next encounter. It builds and builds until the helping person burns out big time. Often the social services systems are so busy trying to help others that they don't put supports in place to help themselves. If the helper keeps bleeding from their heart........well they just run out of life to give. This is a common occurance unfortunately.
Awareness - If only everybody could be that helpful and empathedic to each other and just as caring. There is never enough time. We just push and do the best we can then find the rest we need and start all over again in our paths.
Peace,
- Neo
Being in a similar professional realm, I too agree that it is important to have that down time to replenish our energy and to reflect ... music is such an important part of that process for me too. Peace & love, JP/deb
Hey Neo....our lives are busy and chaotic that's for sure. I think that's why the workshop was so meaningful. There were some who felt forced to stop, which in the long run will only benefit their work because they are now more aware of the connections they have to others doing similar work.
Deb....I bet you find some on your team who don't quite understand the importance of this.....that working through lunch should be rewarded instead of frowned upon....that taking work home all the time isn't healthy in this realm? We do need to strive for balance, especially in the the helping professions. A bleeding heart will simply bleed to death....not really helpful when that happens. :)
When I read the title of this post I immediately thought of that song- one of my all time favorites that I just listened to this morning and then I scrolled down and saw that you were referring to it...and so it goes.
I, too, like that song and it's so appropriate with the thoughts you've shared here.
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