Autumn - hot chocolate, a blanket and a good book

I was recently reminded of a time back in secondary school, many years ago doing cross country. For a while I had been in front of one of the sporty girls who then overtook me as we got to the end. For no reason at all she came to find me at the end, took the time to speak to me and explain how she had used me as a pacemaker giving me a few tips for running. 

There was no need for her to do that and I don't know why she did. Hopefully I thanked her at the time though because those few words made a difference and changed the way I approached cross country. I went on over the next few years to do a lot of competitive running, visited some interesting places and really enjoyed it.

The point of this story is that we rarely know how a tiny bit of advice or support will affect someone. What a difference it may make to someone's life. In healthcare we are interacting with people all the time, sometimes for only a very short time. I have had the privilege of hearing Tommy Whitelaw speak a couple of times. His powerful and emotive talks are about the difference that a person, compassion and intelligent kindness can make to others. 

This blogs selection of book reviews all have a thread of compassion and empathy running through them. Books all have the same thing in common, they want to tell you something. Some tell us stories, others give us information, some make us see an alternative viewpoint. They all have the potential to make a difference. So here is a selection of reviews for the days when a warm blanket and a hot chocolate sound preferable to running or other outside activities:

Will you read this, please? edited by Joanna Cannon. This book is a collaboration between people with lived experience of mental illness paired with writers to help give voice to their stories. Powerful and painful it is an important read to start conversations about mental health.

Dear NHS: 100 stories to say thank you edited by Adam Kay is one of the books that was released to mark the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service in July 2020. There is an eclectic mix of well known people including some national treasures telling their stories of how the NHS is entwined in their life stories.

The world Outside my window by Clare Swatman is a lovely novel. Agoraphobia features heavily in the plot and is explored gently in regards to its impact on an individual. This one is a bit of a page turner and one to curl up on a rainy day with.

Compassionomics by Stephen Trzeciak and Anthony Mazzarelli is an exploration of the impact of compassion. Lots of examples and various bits of research evidence are put forward and discussed in this interesting book. A way for us all to be more aware of the power of compassion, and the consequences of lack of compassion, on ourselves and those around us.

Shackletons way: Leadership lessons from the great Antartic explorer by Margot Morrell and Stephanie Capparell. I set out to read this one interested in his leadership style and ability. Known for his incredible feats during polar expeditions he didn't achieve his goal but certainly achieved so much more and assured his place in history. I was surprised at the compassion in his leadership, referred to by his contemporaries as chivalry. He was a truly remarkable man who understood much about nurturing teams and caring for the needs of each individual on the team. A good read for anyone interested in leadership with practical information sections and contemporary applications.

Autumn colour at Burrator, Dartmoor

Last one for this blog, a practical series of books - the Essentials of nursing collection by Sage publishing. Covering practical skills of nursing across all fields these books contain some really clear guides and nice photos to demonstrate specific skills. There are also information boxes, internet links and short reflection prompts. They are useful text books for anyone studying any of the fields of nursing.

Finally, you may have heard that Parkrun celebrated it's 20th anniversary this month. There are 1288 events each week, people have a go on a Saturday morning, looking after their physical and mental wellbeing with a 5k run/jog/walk or through volunteering. This movement has helped so many and for me personally was a way back into running that I am very grateful for. The supportive atmosphere is great and everyone is welcomed no matter their fitness level or personal goals. Although there is timing, it is not a race, you also can't finish last as there is always an official tail walker. Why not consider giving it a go.

                                                            ~ Thanks for reading ~