Cruising Through Life
I was blessed to spend last week on a cruise in the Caribbean. On November 3, 2007, I boarded one of the largest cruise ships on earth: Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas.
I was amazed at the staff's desire to please, the perfection in atmosphere, endless food, and fanciful entertainment. Strangers struck up conversations anywhere on board about anything you can imagine. Everyone wore smiles, said ‘please' and ‘thank you'; I even heard ‘excuse me' from time to time and watched doors being held open.
One evening, early in the week, my husband and I had the chance to converse with a few crew members. They revealed that every employee signs a 6-month contract, agreeing to work 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are guaranteed a lunch break, but rarely get dinner. If they are lucky, they may get to see a port of call, but most do not get the chance. All three crew members stated that if even one person expresses sheer delight at their efforts, then the sacrifice is worth it.
I began to think of my life, my work, and all that I do everyday just to make ends meet. I knew that even though I was holding the ‘drink of the day' today, the hustle and bustle of the real world would eventually need to be faced again. As I felt the wind blow in my hair and inhaled the scent of salty air, I became determined to bring more than just souvenirs home with me. I dreamt of bottling this feeling, integrating it into every part of my regular day.
Upon exiting the boat, people became people again. Already at baggage claim, vacationers were grumbling and complaining, pushing others out of the way so they could have their luggage first. I smiled, reached into my soul and took a drink from the bottle of my own personal refreshment. The airport was even worse: throes of tanned people folded their arms and donned frowns deeper than the oceans we had just sailed. I wondered if the magic of the cruise would escape me just as quickly. I double checked my soul and found the "bottle" right where I had left it.
Today I am back to work. I am thrilled because I will be precepting a group of new graduates to the pediatric emergency room. All three of them are very intimidated by this population, but I look forward to guiding them through this time of growth. I think I have a lot more to offer now that I have experienced and appreciated a small slice of heaven.
For the future, I wish to continually revisit this feeling of peace that this vacation has instilled in me. I want to make my patients feel as special as the crew aboard the Liberty made me feel. I know that I have barriers to face and that each day the memories will become more and more distant. But if I try, really, really try, maybe somehow I can find a way to cruise through life, even when the seas are rough.