In reading part five and six, one piece resonated with me far more than any others, part two, chapter six, from an unknown author. The powerful words, although brief, stayed with me for some time. “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show(…)” (Watson,1951, p.191). I was impressed with the weight of those few words and it immediately made me think of my life and calling as a nurse. The leadership lessons that I took away from the reading were kindness and opportunity.

The obvious, main lesson is one of kindness. It is the main sentiment in the piece and an important quality to possess as a person, not just a leader. “It is a reminder to all of us that we do not live for ourselves alone, that we must do what we can to help others(…)” (Watson, 1951, p. 192). In my experience in the healthcare field, not all leaders demonstrate kindness on a consistent basis. It might just be a personal bias, but I have found that the leaders in my workplace that I look up to the most demonstrate kindness at both the personal and professional level. The impact of trying to be kind at every opportunity is something that I strive for. Working in Palliative care, I regularly deal with people in various stages of pain or grief and always try to do what I can for them. Although not from the main quote, the line “(…) we must do what we can to help others, to lighten a burden or soften a grief(…)” (Watson, 1951, p. 192) jumped off the page, as it is part of my daily life.

The other lesson is one of opportunity. It plays a much smaller role here, but the message is clear, do not wait for another opportunity to do something you can do right now, “Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again” (Watson, 1951, p. 192). I am reminded of this on a regular basis, that when you want and need more time, it is often the one thing that you can’t have. In my personal life and as a leader in my field, I try not to waste opportunity because I am well aware how precious it can be.

Daneen

Resource
Watson, L. E. (1951). Light from Many Lamps.  New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, Inc.