I had the opportunity to speak at the Wisconsin Nurses Association Pharmacology Update this past weekend. I spoke on a holistic approach to depression. The participants were advanced practice nurses (nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, etc.)  As always I packed so much into the talk, that I didn’t leave time for questions at the end. I guess I just have so much to share.  Anyway, there are always people who come up to ask questions afterwards and this time was no exception. I always stick around if I can. I wanted to share with you the experience I had with one of the participants. She came almost running up to the front after the presentation to be the first one there and took my hand with a two handed hand shake and thanked me profusely for the presentation. She was so excited and I could tell she was passionate about her work. She didn’t have a question. She just wanted to thank me. She told me this is just what she needed and couldn’t wait to try some of these things with her patients.  I think the reason I love to teach is because it doesn’t end with me, it goes on through others. By her gesture, she made my day as well!

A few years ago I had seen an elderly woman in my practice and taught her the relaxation technique that is on this website (see free relaxation technique) and she came back a couple of weeks later and told me she taught all of her friends on a bus trip. She said the bus driver thought there was something wrong at first, as they all became so quiet. I thought that was great…I love being part of the ripple effect.

We don’t have to teach a class or a technique to be part of the “ripple effect”. We are ALL a part of this everyday in the things we say and do…random acts of kindness, sharing a smile with someone, or just acknowledging people. When my husband and I go to a restaurant we always interact with the wait staff. We ask them their story, where they are from, etc. We have had a lot of interesting conversations and met many wonderful people along the way. I hope in some small way we have touched their lives as well. I encourage you to be aware of your actions and notice what type of a ripple you are sending out there. We all impact each others lives everyday…sometimes we don’t even know we are doing it or maybe don’t even know the person, it’s just someone we passed by on the street. Notice what ripples you are sending and as always…feel good!