Katie Moriarty on the importance of finding the time to heal yourself.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author.

In 1963 it seemed humanity knew no bounds
Our horizons stretched into infinity as we tour through the atmosphere venturing into the galaxy itself
The universe felt so vast - it morphed up
There were times the weight was more than we could bear

Episode four had several story lines—they explored the topics of:

• PICA
• Alcoholism and relapses
• Cataracts and Vision
• Infertility and how the woman had filled this void with a successful career until a complication came a long — the complication was polygamy

Fear and courage connected all these stories — how the input or generosity of even just one person can help to change a mind, start a new path, work towards processing and even healing. And that even though you often must do things alone, when you do things with the support of others, you are never alone.

It made me reflect on my own life—both personal and professional and the challenges and stumbling blocks that I have faced. What made me smile were the people that I have faced these things with: amazing friends, colleagues, family, and at times even health care providers. Yes, it is the actual individual that must put that one foot in front of the other; however, one person can be the impetus for change, re-direction, picking yourself up after failure, and climbing that road back to feeling like you are on good and solid ground again. That one person often has awakened that knowledge through their words, or their actions or just their listening and holding space for you.

I connected with the story line of Sister Monica Joan. She had her own reasons for denial or trying to cover up her visual problems - but it made me reflect on my own reasons for, at times, denying myself the luxury of stopping and focusing on myself. And it made me think—if we want to be the BEST version of ourselves—we have to take care of ourselves! We need to make sure we address our Mind, Body, and our Spirit. I have often had to slow down and think – what am I doing to care for myself? And even though they are all interconnected, I have often broken them down into compartments or individual spaces to make sure I am addressing myself in a holistic way.

We have to look around us and see who are our people as we travel our path? We need to know it is ok to ask for help and to have the courage to accept it when we need it. We need to make sure we rally around those when they are in need and be that warm spot for them to fall on—so that they can come back and rise higher than they were before. It is so important to make sure that you nurture and appreciate those relationships.

Sometimes one small gesture can give us the strength to do enormous things
A little generosity can unleash great tenderness leading in time to deep, real love and a single conversation can change a mind, a life
The world is no bigger than the people who inhabit it
​And together or alone we are closer than we know

Katie Moriarty, PhD, CNM, CAFCI, FACNM, RN is a professor on faculty at Frontier Nursing University and a Certified Nurse-Midwife with WSUPG CNM Service at Hutzel Women’s Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Katie serves on the Board of Directors for the American College of Nurse-Midwives as the Region IV Representative. Previously she was the Associate Director of the Nurse-Midwifery Education Program at the University of Michigan.
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