Journal of Sacred Work

Caregivers have superpowers! Radical Loving Care illuminates the divine truth that caregiving is not just a job. It is Sacred Work.

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Former President & CEO of multiple hospital systems and founding president & CEO of 20-hospital OhioHealth, best selling author, film artist, ordained minister, composer, published poet, syndicated T.V. host, trial attorney, federal prosecutor and Municipal Court Judge. Erie is internationally known as the founder of the Radical Loving Care(R)movement. He also heads Erie Chapman Foundation, Dane Dakota Productions, LLC, and Chapman Health International, Inc.

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Day 230 – The Presence of Fun

August 18, 2009

"Preservation of the soul means the palpable presence of some sacred otherness in our labors…" – David Whyte, The Heart Aroused

When you think back to your childhood and your family, what are your happiest memories? Mine have to do with fun. My best memories of my dad are when he was laughing and making us laugh, not when he was lecturing me or disciplining me. The same is true with my friends, not only from that era but from today. Good humor helps preserve our souls. It helps ease "our labors" and enables us to stay open to that "sacred otherness" that is so crucial to our precious humanity.

In my long career working with caregivers, I have rarely seen anything more crucial to success than the introduction of one ingredient that seems to balance all the others. It is fun. Skill is crucial, inspiration is invaluable, and the power of both is catalyzed by our ability to laugh. Absent humor, our work can feel like drudgery.

When our humor fails, burnout can step in to take its place.

When I have been successful giving a speech, it is usually because I tell myself beforehand to "have fun." I literally have to remind myself of think of my public speaking as fun because otherwise I would either be taken over by anxiety or by arrogance: the idea that my speech must be very important and therefore I had better do a transcendent job.

What is your experience? Do you find it difficult to think of the fun aspects of your work? On Monday morning, is it hard to conjure pictures of fun connected to your workplace? If this is so, you have the chance to rethink your attitude toward your calling.

Maybe I need to point out that I am not, of course, talking about laughing all day long (although I do know some good caregivers that seem to carry a nice little chuckle around with them all the time.) What I mean is that fun, suprisingly, is an essential in ingredient to the chemistry of creating sacredness in our work.

If laughter was a happy part of your childhood or of some other part of other part of your life, than you know that those were sacred times for you. Is there a way you might use this knowledge to transform and enhance your life as a caregiver?

-Erie Chapman

Posted in Meditations

5 responses to “Day 230 – The Presence of Fun”

Tom Knowles-Bagwell

August 18, 2009

Thanks for this reminder, Erie. I sometimes forget that fun and playfulness are what prevent my spirit from becoming enslaved to the mundaneness of the day-to-day.

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~liz Wessel

August 18, 2009

Yesterday, I was chatting with my childhood friend, Susan. As an elementary school nurse, she encounters children who come to her often feeling anxious and ill. She described how much better they feel after they have come out of the magic bathroom and have washed their hands with magic water. The kids love Susan because they feel good when they are in her presence.
When I think of caregivers at work, there are those whom I feel good, better, just by being in their presence. They are lighthearted and laugh easy; Dina, Ann, Victoria, to name a few. Laughter is contagious. Kurt has taken on (Erie’s, Radical Loving Care motto, “You are lookin good!” A day does not go by without Kurt greeting me and I feel good, better, every time. At general orientation, we boisterously greet each other this way and then ask the whole group to do the same. It raises the energy level just at the right time. Laughter affirms that good feeling of being alive. Yes, laughter affirms life.
Laughter makes the painful times and grief more bearable. I can recall when grief has been so heavy and someone says something funny that causes laughter to erupt and flow as well as tears. Laughter helps us to release pain and to heal. I guess that is why it is sometimes said that laughter is the best medicine for what ails you.

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Diana Gallaher

August 18, 2009

One of my co-workers calls me D-DAWG. I have no idea how he came up with it, but it makes me smile every time he says it. Some of my happiest memories have to do with the fun I have had in my places of employment!! Like coming in late and hearing a ghostlike voice floating down the hallway, saying “Slaaaaackeeeerrrr.” (The voice behind the ghost had uncharacteristically gotten to work before I did. Not because I was usually early or even on time, mind you.) Or the co-worker sticking her tongue out at me ocassionally when she passed my office door. Or having the conversation with Gary and Keith about whether Elvis was really dead. Lots and lots of happy memories from work!!

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Karen York

August 18, 2009

Laughter is integral to our ability to cope with what seems unbearable. While we don’t take our work lightly, we have learned to take ourselves lightly and laugh wholeheartedly. I always, always, always feel better after I have laughed. One of our caregivers is a licensed laugh therapist and has held a few sessions here at work to invite others to laugh. It is a fabulous exercise – both spiritually and physically!

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Victoria Facey

August 18, 2009

During my last few rushed days, it was good to see today’s posting. Fun? What’s that? Yes, I can remember having fun in the office – but this is a best a shared event. There’s moments when a co-worker says the wrong word in the middle of what was supposed to be a serious subject (what gaffe?). Or, there’s Liz who lights up when music is played and you can’t help but take her hand to dance along… Lately, it’s been Katrenia, who knows I’m stressed out; she brings funny e-mails, or shares stories of her day-trips with elder aunts that is too, too funny.
No matter how stressed the day or projects get, fun apparently is the “break” in the day that you get to have – if it’s only for a few moments. Here’s to all my co-workers who know when to “lighten up”…

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