Sunset at the Touched By A Horse Campus in Elizabeth, CO.
I’m feeling tired, refreshed, and renewed at the same time. I returned from Summit yesterday. It is the annual conference for Touched By A Horse®. This year it was packed full of business-building learning and deep connections with my herdmates.
I also discovered that Mike seems to visit me when I’m at the ranch. This year he had encouraging messages for me. He wants me to spread my wings and do what I’m meant to do.
There were a lot of lessons to be learned from both his illness and mine. They have recently brought me to my why, my reason for being here.
Guiding doctors to having better relationships with themselves, their families, and their patients helping all to live their healthiest lives.
One of the barns on the Touched By A Horse campus in Elizabeth, CO
In the last year and a half doctors have been stretched to the breaking point. We expect them to be superheroes, it’s not fair to them. They’re human as well. They need to take care of themselves just as we all do.
One of the messages that I got from Mike was that it’s OK to show your human frailties. Being the daughter of the only doctor in a small town I understand this. My dad hadn’t practiced in almost 20 years and people would still say to me that they wished he was their doctor.
In rural communities, it’s hard to not have people see your human side. What does letting patients see that vulnerability do? It helps them see you as human instead of superheroes. It helps patients have better conversations with you. It helps patients not be afraid to ask questions. These things lead to a better understanding and a better outcome for the patient. Isn’t that why you got into medicine, to help patients?
Roulette gives me a head toss. One of the Gypsy Vanner’s at Little Bit North Ranch in Colorado where a lot of the EGCM training takes place.
I know from a caregiver and a patient perspective that it’s easier to talk with those doctors that I see as human. It’s easier to ask them questions if I don’t understand something or to bring up subjects that I might otherwise not. I feel more comfortable with them.
I have a doctor who when I first met her, I thought was very compassionate. Then the next time I saw her she must have been in a hurry because it felt very dismissive. There may have been reasons on both sides for this. Now I see her as compassionate, she answers my questions well, and will even listen when I talk with her about non-medical topics.
I’m thankful to have met so many great doctors while caregiving and while being a patient. I’ve also had not such good experiences and I hear the negative stories others share with me about their experiences.
I also understand that the patient is responsible for their part in that relationship, and you can’t be everything to everybody.
The horses can help you to show your human side. They can help you with relationships. Connect with me here to see how.
From Now On remember why you started.
Make a Connection in the comments below.
Onward!
