Month: June 2021

“Don’t worry. You got this.”

I make a point to avoid social media comments. It’s an integral part of my self care program. 🧖‍♀️ But in my nursing student groups, I sometimes make exceptions. Lately, I’ve noticed a trend. Numerous students are venting that well-meaning friends and family simply respond to their concerns when they’re struggling, overwhelmed, or failing with, “Don’t worry. You got this.” 🧐

Which is nice, except we’re mostly like… Do we tho? 🤔 Do we GOT THIS? 😳 Because it kinda feels like IT’S GOT US… and it 👏🏻 won’t 👏🏻 let 👏🏻 go. 🤯

Please don’t take this the wrong way, but there’s a love/hate relationship with, “Don’t worry. You got this.” 👀 Because, on the surface, it seems like a way of discounting or devaluing concerns. Here we are, pouring out our hearts about how much we’re struggling and how worried we are and rather than giving us any practical advice or suggestions or offering to find us an adult, {which would be the most helpful thing you could do 😭} it’s like, here’s some thoughts and prayers for your natural disaster. 🥲

Still, I know it’s not intended that way and I want to try to reframe it for anyone whose teeth grinding and eye twitch is engaged when they hear, “Don’t worry. You got this.” Consider the natural disaster scenario I mentioned. If you think of it this way, it’s actually very thoughtful and makes a lot of sense. It’s what people say, when they want to comfort, encourage, and lift you up, but they aren’t sure how. It’s their way of saying, “I’m sorry, I can’t change this for you. I don’t know how to help you fix this. But I believe in you. You’re amazing and I know you can do this.” 💖

Try to remember that the next time someone says, “Don’t worry. You got this.”

Change is Good… or Something Like That

It’s summertime. I’ve been trying to use this little break from required learning to mindfully focus on my personal flexibility. Not physically. I’m still the potato-shaped individual you know and love. 😁 But mentally. 😌

Because, let’s face it, as a perfection-seeking neurotic, who tries to plan for every detail, large or small, I have a very hard time with a lot of things, 😬 unless I can somehow convince myself that I’ve specifically calculated and accounted for every potential eventuality in which the wheels might come off my wagon. ☝️

It’s exhausting. It’s illogical, and, as you may have noticed, it hasn’t always served me well. 😝 But it’s a carefully crafted, cherished coping mechanism I’ve honed over the years. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m like the toddler with her blanket. It may be 108° outside. It might not be convenient or practical. It actually may be causing more harm than good. 🥵 But try to take it and I’ll fight you. 👊🏻

Here’s the thing, though… I am well aware that no matter how much of my time, energy, and effort is devoted to making my plans, crossing each perfect ‘t’ and dotting every immaculate ‘i’… sometimes, no amount of planning or prepping, and no number of beautifully organized binders filled with color-coded tabs, fancy stickers, or pretty little lists, even when accompanied by my ever-present cat-themed caddy of assorted pens and markers, can ensure that things will go according to plan. 😭

It takes me a while to make peace with these things. And it takes a lot of intentional work and redirection. But I’m working on it and you guys have always been an extraordinary support system. 💖

So, as I’ve just learned the construction at work will be limiting our use of the elevators soon, I know you’ll understand if I just go on sabbatical and see you all around Christmas. 🙃 Love to you all. Happy Holidays! 🎅