day, bringing to mind the people
she has seen that day and then
letting them go. “It is essential
for me to have a personal life
that has nothing to do with my
work,” she says, “so that I can
come back refreshed.”
others who care for the
emotional and spiritual needs
of cancer patients agree with
Johnson’s emphasis on physical
activity, and on the necessity to
do something outside their work
that is completely separate from
it, like spending time with friends
and family, gardening or involving
themselves in art. Jarvis finds
relief in writing, which allows a
person to reframe life stories to
“become less of a victim,” she
says. Writing also helps in “making
some kind of order out of the
chaos—choosing to find some
laughter and some redemption in
it.” Jarvis, as well as many others
in these caring professions, says
that recognizing and sharing
the emotions—grief, laughter,
frustration—that are stirred up
at work helps her cope with the
intensity of her job. So does
having the support of colleagues
and supervisors, says Knight.
Many of the professionals who
are so involved in helping others
cope with cancer say they find
hope in the relationships they
build with patients and families,
and in the fact that they can
make a difference, one person
With all the joy
and grief that
comes from working
with people who
are coping with
life-threatening
illnesses, helping
patients and families
cope with the
present and see
the big picture
gives meaning
and depth
or family at a time. “I love my
job because I get to have these
wonderfully intense conversations
with people,” Jarvis says. “At the
same time”—because life does go
on—“we get to talk about fashion
and shoes.”
Ramondetta expresses the
thoughts of many chaplains and
social workers when she says,
“Sometimes you can go your
whole life without recognizing
what makes things matter. What
if I never reflected on life’s
meaning? I am thankful that I get
to reflect on it and help others do
that [in my work]. It is a constant
reminder not to get caught up in
the little things.”
With all the struggles of
imperfect medical systems and
imperfect people, with all the
joy and grief that comes from
working with people who are
coping with life-threatening
illnesses, helping patients and
families cope with the present and
see the big picture gives meaning
and depth. From her patients,
Ramondetta says, she has learned
“that every challenge in life is a
chance for existential growth as
a human being and that there are
opportunities for blessing in even
the worst things that happen.
My life is bigger because of the
people I’ve met.”
It’s that big-picture perspective
that can bring life’s meaning into
focus.
CR | Page No. 51 | www.CRmagazine.org
