Health Works – Life Works

Some interesting things have happened since my last blog note about my husband getting laid off. It is really an interesting thing to watch one self go through this situation. Some of my experiences included fog, confusion, irritability, shame, fear to name a few. It was pretty rocky for a couple of weeks. So how to you get through the inital shock of (you or) your spouse getting fired or laid off?

There is a technique call “The Witness, Asker and Experiencer” that is great for helping you through all kinds of life events and happenings. Most of us are experts at the “Experiencer” part. We go through one experience after another. If we are in therapy, we have the opportunity to analyze some of this stuff. But how do we learn from these experiences and grow. How do we find our way out of the far country after a shock. We need something else besides the experience. The other two parts of this are the “Witness” and “Asker”. Imagine an experience that you have gone through or are going through. Now imagine that there is a camera up in the corner of the “room” in which you are having the experience. It is recording the experience, frame by frame. There is no judgement, it is just experience. Imagine watching the experience through the lens of no judgement.

Here is an example. I walk into the kitchen at lunch time during the week. My husband is sitting at the table working a crossword puzzle. He often stops home to have lunch, no big deal. I say “Hi” and have some idle chit chat. He says that he had a meeting with the boss and he is no longer employed. The world starts to get foggy. I ask “what happened?” My head is swurling, I can’t think. Can’t breathe either. My heart sinks. He tells me why. It feels like it is rainning bricks as I begin to assimulate what this means. My world is falling apart. Now I have to go back to work and be the competent nurse that I am. Yeah, right. Well, I used my wittness to help me. I know from my personal work, that the “fog” is about fear, existential fear. This goes way back to childhood abuse. When you are foggy, you don’t think well and can make horrible choices. When I am foggy, I am not grounded. This is old stuff. Because I use my “witness” I have choice. If I didn’t have the “witness” I would be in reaction. What kind of reactions could I have? We could have been in a big fight. I could have called off from work. I could have been in an accident do to not paying attention. I could make a mistake that could harm a patient or cost the company lots of money.

This is where the “Asker” comes in to play. It is the curious “asker”. It is the part of me that get very curious about the situation that I am currently experiencing. It asks the questions that give me choice. It might say “Wow, what a drama!” This is a place where I can separate myself from the situation a little bit. It makes it more neutral. “Oh, I see the fog coming in, what is this about?” “Look at the husband who is feeling badly about a situation over which he had no control.” “How do you want to handle this?” “Do you think you are scared?” “Do you think you need to be careful this afternoon?” “What do you need to do to take care of yourself?” This situation could be the perfect excuse for going into a long depression, which I didn’t care to experience.

Some of my self care activities include the following. I started using Rescue Remedy (Bach Flower Remedy) in my water. It helps to protect you from a shock. It helps to stablize and balance the emotional system. I started taking St. John’s Wort to also stablize my mood. I have a ground meditation that I do. I used this to help me through the processing and intergrating all the abuse. In it, I create a sacred space for me to live, move and have my being. I can get lax in doing this meditation. I started it in full on a daily basis. It can take me about 20 minutes to do it fully. Also I am using essential oils. I put them on my body in a particular order and have a breath pattern I use to intergrate them through my aura or energy field. They are Valor (grounding) on the wrists. Harmony goes on the solar plexus. Joy is on the heart and White Angelica (protection) on my neck/head and feet. Good nutrition and sleep. It is the basics but it works. I have a few close friends who helped me process the intracacies of all of this. It took a couple of weeks to get through the thick of it all.

I know that I need to keep a level head and possitive attitude to help my husband and I get through this process. My husband has had a very good attitude. He started up a newsletter again. He has been through this before. New boss, new management team. He includes what happened, related jokes, his plan for finding new employement, and he asked the help of the folks he sent it too. My husband does a great job of networking. He keeps regular contact with people he new 30 years ago. In fact, he will be interviewing with the first lead he received from a friend from the 80′s. And we both live in different states from 20+ years ago. It comes in handy at a time like this. He has an outplacement firm that is helping him, howevery he is generating most of his own leads. He goes on to his professional web sites and responds to job postings. They all want the resume to be submitted on line. This has been an experience. I have had to help him cut and paste some of the resumes and the newsletter. I know a move is in store. I wasn’t what I had planned or hoped for. However, “it is what is.” I can make it miserable by and angry, depressed attitude or I can make the best of it. I choose the latter. Do I do this well all the time? Of course not. I have my moments. When I do. I bring in my “witness, asker and experiencer” to help me through the maze.

I use some ten minute mood lifters to help me. Music is great. I can sing a couple of songs and put myself in a new space. I take voice lessons, so I practice my vocial leases. I like pieces from Phantom or Messiah. I am working on a one woman show, so I work on those pieces. I flip through the radio stations to find music that fits my mood. It can be upliving. It can make me cry… Sometimes it is good to cry it out.

How about doing puzzels! Puzzels are great for several reasons. One, they create space between you and the difficult situation. Often our minds come up with the greatest answers when we are doing something else. I like sudoku. It challenges my mind to boot. As we get older we need these thing to keep us sharp.

If you want more information about Energy Healing click here. http://healthworksenergyhealing.com/ Take care of your self and see you next time. Mary Pat

Getting Fired or laid off, sucks, to coin a word. After such an event, you are swamped with an ocean of emotions. At the same time, there are things that you need to do to keep going and it is very difficult. Three weeks ago, my husband was given a pink slip invitation to a new chapter in our lives. I don’t know why. I am told that we have a new administration and he is bringing in his own team. We are new enough to this area, and I was hoping that my husband would be still considered “new blood” and part of the new team. Nope.

Some things had happened and I knew something was afoot. And yet, when the day came with the proclamation, I was still devastated. I was actually a recipient of being “fired” or permanently “laid off” about 10 years ago. Can you believe a nurse being laid off for lack of work? Yep. I worked for an independent medical equipment and IV (intravenous) company. We only had about 10% of the local market. The other player, the local hospital, had about 85% of the market. It was felt that we would never have more than 10%, so our department was closed. I knew that it was coming. My partner and I went out to lunch and reminisced about all the good times we had. After lunch….. “Would you step into my office please.” Even though I knew it was coming, I was devastated.

Both of these experiences where similar. First, I had that “sinking feeling” in my chest and gut. Then I became very confused and remained in that state for some time. Confusion could also be unfocused. This last time it manifested in the following ways. I seem to develop a medical condition called “CRS“. That is translated as “can’t remember s–t.” I would forget appointments or even where I put my calendar for that matter. I was forgetting procedures at home and at work. I tend to be ADD, and it has been much worse; starting 10 projects and forgetting that I did that. Man, is that frustrating.

Also I was experiencing a great deal of FEAR. Well, that’s not a surprise, when the bread winner is out of work. That sort of hits you low in the gut. “What are we going to do?” “Will he be able to find new work soon?” “How are we going to make it financially?” “What about the house?” “What about the 2 kids in college?” What about ______?” Fill in the blank. My part time salary will only go so far.

I was angry! Angry at the company and angry at the husband, angry at____? We moved here from the east coast several years ago for this position. I like it here. I love my house. I have the best house I have ever lived it. It is 110 year old, stone house with curved doors and arched transoms. We don’t have a big yard, but we have a very nice yard with many garden spots for meditating or reading or entertaining. I had hoped that we would be here until retirement, about 6-8 years from now. Change in plans!

This is a life changing event, no matter why it happens. We have a new chapter started. What it is going to look like, I have no idea. We can create a lovely new chapter, but I have to get my emotions under control. I say “we” can create, because it is a “we” project. You might think that we are at the whims of the business world. Maybe yes, maybe no. My husband and I are dreaming up the type of position that my husband would like and the house/community we would like to live in. The mind can not distinguish between something vividly imagined and reality. Did you know that most every successful business person, athlete, entertainer’s use positive pre-play. Why not. Oh, you don’t know what I mean. Well, here is an example. They took a high school basketball team, tested their free throws accuracy and divided them in half. One half practiced free throws for an hour. The other half practiced free throws in their mind for a half an hour and on the court for a half an hour. They did this for a season. At the end of the season, they tested both half’s for free throw accuracy. They where about the same. Then there was summer break. When fall came, the two groups where tested again. The interesting thing is, the group that practice free throws in their mind was much more accurate than the group that had physically, practiced the free throws. It was thought that during the summer break, the students who had done the mental practice, had continued to practice. The results show it. So we are vividly dreaming of the new opportunity.

Emotions. I have no control over my husband’s emotions. I do have control over mine. If I can take care of myself, it will help my husband to take care of himself. I practice “witnessing“. That means, there is a part of me that is in the experience and part of me is watching. I “watch” as if I where a camera in the corner of the room. I “watch” each event and each emotion as it occurs. I may be at work and then aware of say “grief” flooding me. I have learned that all emotions come and go, flow and ebb. I have also learned that I can experience the emotion without having to “do” anything. When I don’t fight the emotion, I can watch it build, flow then ebb away, just like a wave. also, I have very good friends with whom I can process some of my stuff. It helps me clarify the issues and emotions. If you are in the same situation and are experiencing difficulty, see a counselor. “FEAR” is an acronym for “false evidence appearing real”, or “face everything and recover” they both work. Fear is a warning that something is amiss. In this situation, I might feel that my security is totally controlled by the employer. The truth is, my “security” in within me. I have the stuff of survival within me. I may trade time for money with an employer. Make no mistake about it, I am responsible for my security. I don’t know what is down the road, but I know we will land on our feet.

The confusion is like a state of “shock”. It can whip you around if you are not careful. I have done these things to help myself during this time. First, I witness without judgement. I give myself a break. Then I am choosing to not engage in negative thinking. I don’t know about you, but I can create all sorts of “drama’s” in my mind. I don’t want more drama to happen. Every time I have a negative thought or drama start, I stop. I think about something else. I sing. I listen to uplifting tapes and CD’s. I know that I do not have the luxury to play in that sandbox. So I am choosing not too. I developed quite a headache. That was an invitation to slow down, as if I didn’t get the hint. I needed to take naps most every day for about 2 weeks. I am lucky in that my work is flexible and I was able to take the time I needed and finished my notes in the evenings. I took a break from some of the activities I am in this fall. I have a practice of grounding and getting centered. I sometimes “forget” to do it. I am doing this every day, right now. When I practice my grounding meditation, I get more into my body and therefore much more attentive and focused. I use Rescue Remedy in my water. It is a Bach Flower remedy for trauma. It works on the subtle energy levels, smoothing out the field or aura. When that is smooth and coherent, I am calmer and more focused. I also use Young Living Essential Oils (YLO) of Valor on my wrist to ground, Harmony on my solar plexus for harmony, Joy on my heart for the experience of Joy, and White Angelica on my neck and whole body to connect to the Angels, Guides and Agencies that work with me and make straight my path. You can link here http://marypat-fitzgibbons.younglivingworld.com/ for information and to purchase the oils or talk to a distributor near you.

My husband is doing the things he needs to do. He is working with an outplacement firm. He has updated his resume and is getting it out among his niche market and network. My husband has the ability to always see the positive, which has helped me over the years. The last time he was laid off, he started a newsletter to all his friends called “On the Road Again”. I do think of Willie Nelson’s song and it does seem to be our theme song this fall. My husband as friends and business contacts all over the country. He meets people and maintains contact over the years. He doesn’t burn bridges, even with past employers. You never know when you will need their contacts. He is also doing house therapy. There is nothing like removing 10 layers of paint and wall paper to clear your mind, release frustration and get the kitchen up graded and ready for sale.

I am helping him to dream the new job and living opportunity that awaits us. I don’t know what this process is going to look like. It could be long and arduous or short and sweet. I am rooting for the latter. I do know that we have a better chance to attract the dream job/live by keeping a good attitude every day. Do I slip sometimes, you bet. But I get back on track as soon as I can. I have friends that can help me, and I use them. Will this road be smooth, probably not. Life isn’t smooth. But Life Works. I trust that this will work. It will work for me and it will for you.

Blessing to us all, on this journey of life. All the fun, follies, foibles, we are getting better and better. You know the saying, “We plan, God laughs!”. I guess I need to laugh and watch the new plan unfold.

Healing Touch was featured in USA Today at Read the USA Today article on Healing Touch on Monday 11/5/07.

Healing Touch is a rather newcomer to the energy healing, since 1990. Healing work has been around since 5000-3000 BC in ancient China and India. It is fitting that us Westerners finally get the hang of this. Healing Touch was started by Janet Mentgen, RN. Janet studied with a variety of healers and developed an energy based practice in Denver CO in 1980. Around 1985, she taught a healing class at Denver Community College. This class became what is now Healing Touch Level 1. In 1988, Janet was named Holistic Nurse of the Year by the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA), due in part to her life’s work. At the insistence of friends, the HT Level 1 was run as a pilot program in Gainsville Florida and Tennessee in 1989. In 1990 Healing Touch became a nursing healing program sponsored by the AHNA. In 1993, AHNA began issuing certification as participants met the requirements. We grew so fast and where attracting many non-nurses. In 1996, Healing Touch International was founded to be the certifying body for Healing Touch. HT is endorsed by AHNA. It is a nursing educational program and non-nurses can be certified.

I started Healing Touch by taking Levels 1 & 2 at Duke University Med Center in 1992. I was blessed to have Janet for most of my levels. I had enough experience in energy work that this put a big piece of my puzzle together. I was working at Holy Spirit Hospital ICU at the time. After the week of Healing Touch, I was motivated to practice a lot. I would practice on my patients. Typically, I would say… “Hi, I am Mary Pat. I am your nurse today/tonight. I went to this seminar….” All my patients let me work on them. I had some result with every patient. One evening I was doing an initial assessment of a patient who had experienced a heart attack the previous night. She had some lab work drawn from her left arm, which was very swollen. I took off the now cold hot pack and said… “I went to this seminar…” She let me work on her arm. I worked on her 3 times during my shift. She would not allow the hot packs and her arm was visibly smaller at the end of the shift. Did I make an impact? Who knows. Her arm was visibly smaller and she was more comfortable. That works for me. I completed the Healing Touch Program and the instructor level. I have continuously used Healing Touch in my nursing practice.
It is a wonderful experience.

In the USA Today Article, Scripps Green is mentioned as one of 100 hospitals that offer Healing Touch. Here in Ohio, you can receive Healing Touch in every hospital in Cincinnati. Healing Touch is also available @ Grant Hospital in Columbus. If you are lucky enough to have me as your home care nurse, you may have experienced Healing Touch in Zanesville.

What are the benefits of Healing Touch and energy healing? It promoted relaxation. It reduces the effects of stress. It can reduce or eliminates pain and need for pain medicine. It can increase range of motion and the back and joints. Healing Touch facilitates recovery pre/post surgery, medical treatments, chemotherapy and radiation. It aids in working through emotional and psychological issues. HT provides support for the dying process. Healing Touch augments a personal program of balanced living and good health care. If you are interested in experiencing a healing session, log onto Healing Touch International at http://www.healingtouchinternational.org/ or The Healing Touch Program. http://www.healingtouchprogram.com/. You can also check out my web site http://www.healthworksenergyhealing.com/.

If you are ill, needing medical or surgical treatment, chemotherapy or radiation, consider adding Healing Touch to your healing plan. Blessings.

Why am I doing this blog? Good question. I am stepping out into the world of the web. The information that I have can be very useful to anyone looking for better health, and spiritual development. In this blog, you will find information about good health care from a wholistic nursing point of view. You will also find information about subtle energy healing, energy fields, how to clear, and balance and ground yourself among other things. We will see what comes up. Material I put on these pages will eventually become Tip Sheets and a book. This forum is my testing ground.

About Mary Pat FitzGibbons. It’s a big topic, talking about yourself, try it sometime. The thing is, anything I say, really isn’t me, it is just an aspect of me in a particular sandbox that I have chosen to play. More about that later. Currently I am working as an RN in home care (visiting nurse) with a south central Ohio healthcare system. I have been an RN for 35 years (and LPN and nurses aid before that). My hospital experience has been primarily in CCU/ICU. I am racking up the years in home care, including home IV therapy, hospice and regular home care. I also have a number of years in supervisory and management. Also, I have company HEALTHWORKS where I have a private subtle energy healing practice. I also teach a variety of topics in subtle energy healing. The modalities that I am trained in and I use are Barbara Brennan Healing Science, Healing Touch, Usui Reiki. All my training, as needed, comes to the fore, when I am assisting a client or patient to self heal.

Self Healing…. what could that mean. All healing is self healing. When we are clear, balanced, grounded, we realize our perfect wholeness. When we are out of balance, hanging on to old stuff, angry, depressed etc. and so forth, we have forgotten our true nature, forgotten our wholeness and we experience some form of dis-ease. All healing is self healing. If one goes to a medical doctor, s/he uses medicines, therapies to help the patient return to health. If one goes to a surgeon, s/he uses the operating room as healing space to remove tumors, repair dis-eased parts, so that the patient may heal themself. A psychiatrist uses the couch and talk therapy to create a healing space so that a patient may discover who they are and heal themself. A chiropractor uses their hands or instruments to adjust the spine and create a healing space from this perspective. The body is very smart, it always strives to return to health. As an energy “healer”, I create a healing space, place my hands on the body, run universal energy to clear, balance and charge the clients energy field. Whe the energy field is holding perfection, the body can follow. The field is the pattern for the body. I also work with the client’s thoughts and emotions as they will patterns in the field that may not be condusive to joy, happiness, harmony and bliss.

The premise I opperate from is that I am 100% responsible for my life. We are all 100% responsible for the life we are experiencing at any time. This could be a little hard to swallow, without judgement, let that sit there and incubate. There could be many arguments against this premise. I have used many of them. As long as you are in blame, you can not change your life. If I choose blame, then I turf the problem and the solution to you. You can’t solve my problem for me, because it isn’t your problem. When I take responsibility, I take back the problem and I am in control of the solution.

This forum is the result of my journey, my remembering who I really am. You will get glimpse of this as I write. Feel free to use what I suggest in your own journey, what you don’t need, just leave.

I will attempt to write a weekly post (at least) on the above subjects and whatever comes to heart and mind. My prayer is that you will be empowered through reading this blog.

As always, if you need medical advice, get it. Get the information you need, do your homework and be prepared when you see the doctor or practitioner of your choosing.

Hi, world. This is my first blog! I am a nurse healer. I have had a great journey so far and have a lot to share. My joy is to uplift you so that you see a bigger picture. When that happens, you can make better decisions, bring in more joy and happiness into your life.

Mary Pat