A Bedside Campfire Spark
Spiritual Life Support | An Antidote To Loneliness | A Spark From The Dark
Remember, hit play above to hear me narrate and further clarify this post.
It has been challenging for me to describe A Bedside Campfire in as few words as possible. I’ve narrowed it down to a poster, a notecard, and a “slogan”.
I’ll share the short version first. The words that follow are to help elaborate and clarify.
Next up: I need help spreading the word. There are three important dates coming up, and they only matter if people show up.
So, here’s everything there is to know so far. Off we get!
A Bedside Campfire — The Poster
A Bedside Campfire — The Notecard
A Bedside Campfire — The Events and Links
https://forms.gle/mfij9sa4ratXT4Mi6
Look!! Yes, it’s a real-life, live link to sign up for email updates. Please do so, if that interests you. You might share with someone in your life who might also be interested. Here’s the link again :)
Prairie Path Pop-Up — Introducing The Community To Itself
Remember, I posted about this recently.
A Bedside Campfire — It’s All Happening
Prairie Path Pop-Up — Saturday, November 25, 10AM-3PM — Facebook Event Page
A Bedside Campfire — Saturday, December 9, 9:30-11AM — Facebook Event Page
A Bedside Campfire — Friday, January 12, 2024 6-8PM — Facebook Event Page
Now, dear reader, if you’re still with me — here’s the long version of A Bedside Campfire. How it came to be. And where I see it heading. I hope you enjoy!
A Bedside Campfire: A Spark From The Dark
I’ve noodled around this idea for a long time.
Years.
Through and since the COVID pandemic, I’ve wondered how better to support the carers in my life.
The Healthcare Workers, of course. But also the teachers. And the formal and informal caregivers in the community.
I looked deeply into a pit of despair.
I've considered the isolation and loneliness awaiting me, my colleagues, our patients, and everyone around me if things don't change.
(The audio recording provides a bit more detail here).
I lingered there, uncomfortably, for a while.
I began returning to light as I considered other ways to care for people besides being "just a nurse".
I decided to turn my attention to wellness, movement, and engagement in my community. In doing so, I decided to return to school to become a fitness instructor. That is my current work-in-progress. I'm not in a rush. I have a job. I'll get there eventually.
In the meantime, I received an invitation.
A seat at the table.
A space at an event in my community supporting local vendors, makers, creators.
I don't have a business. I'm an aspiring entrepreneur. Aspiring fitness instructor.
What I HAD was intangible.
This invitation nudged me into bringing it into real life.
I had an idea to support people. To hold a space. To gather. To feel seen. Witnessed.
MUTUAL THRIVING AND RECIPROCITY.
This nudge encouraged me to bring A Bedside Campfire to light.
The Spark.
So what IS A Bedside Campfire?
In short: Spiritual Life Support | An Antidote to Loneliness.
Sounds simple, right? I am trying to choose my words carefully. I want them to be easy to read, simple to understand, and quick to say.
Spiritual Life Support
In Healthcare, "life support" often includes machines or physical assistance to make someone's lungs breathe or heart beat. "Life support" is keeping someone physically alive when their body can't.
At A Bedside Campfire, Spiritual Life Support is similar to a support group. A gathering of people from some similar background (some other examples are for people with cancer, those who've had a stroke, folks who've experienced domestic violence, etc.). There is some similar thread between the attendees that, when they come together for this reason, takes some of the guesswork out. There's some common ground. A starting place. A similarity.
A Bedside Campfire is a space to nourish our spirits, with kindred spirits, from the view of having cared for other humans. This gets nuanced, because my focus is not on parents of young children, like a Mom Group. And I don't mean babysitters or nannies. I mean people who have found themselves in a Caregiving role (for a spouse, sibling, friend, neighbor... or maybe as a Healthcare Worker like a nurse, CNA, or paid caregiver). Because what I've noticed (in myself, my patients, my colleagues) is that there is an emotional and spiritual weight that we carry (often without knowing or realizing it) that impacts most (all) aspects of our lives.
The weight I've carried, and am learning to put down, is the weight of past patients. Difficult situations. The lack I've witnessed in so many levels of care (from hospitals to the home and everywhere in-between).
We carry that lack.
The gap.
A darkness.
A shadow.
At least, I do. I did.
And as I've returned from "the pit of despair", returned to light, returned to life... as I've refilled my cup, my spirit... As I've found ways to name the lack, point at it, describe it...
I've discovered that I am not alone.
I'm not alone in seeing these challenges. At times feeling hopeless to do anything about it. Feeling like it should be better, never will be, couldn't possibly be, but should.
And through conversations, connection, community ---- I've found myself on the precipice... the edge... the launchpad.
The spark.
I didn't know what to do, until I knew.
I know now.
How do I know?
I can't say. I don't have the words.
This is my attempt to explain to you how I know that A Bedside Campfire is exactly what I need to do next.
An Antidote to Loneliness
When this space was opened up for me at the table, I knew I needed to figure out how to describe this movement succinctly (I'm still working on that). The taglines have come to me, and they may change over time.
I developed a poster, a notecard, a facebook, an instagram, an email address, and a submission/sign-up form. I scheduled rooms at my library. And I've continued connecting with people in my community around the topic of care, and the necessary.... essential support that is so very much lacking right now, and where I feel called to serve.
I am a social creature. I delight in spending time around other humans. In Real Life (as I've shared in previous Substack posts).
I was getting that need fulfilled when I was seeing patients In Real Life.
I'm in a role now where I sometimes see clinicians, rarely see patients, and feel a lack in that aspect of my roles. It's hard to describe because, as a parent, shouldn't I always have that need fulfilled by my children? Yes and no. Their care is out of love, survival, obligation, and necessity.
I don't want to feel needed. I want to do this because I want to.
And I am.
I'm a nurse with no patients. I'm a nurse with patience.
I'm a human with a plan.
And my plan is coming to life.
The first two gatherings are scheduled - one in December, and one in January.
I have a small agenda put together, my opening remarks are written, and I've made arrangements to have coffee available.
We'll come together. We'll spend a little time writing on our own. Then we'll break up into small groups. In those groups, we'll have 5 minutes each to discuss what we wrote. Or what we reflected on. Or to pass. But preferably to engage with the small group. It's reciprocal.
Then we'll come back together as a large group, and folks will have an opportunity to share. Without violating the trust and privacy of the small group, we can talk generally about what was shared. What it meant. How it went.
Finally, we'll debrief. I'll share a closing reflection. I'll invite you to come back next time. To share with a friend. To spread the fire, the warmth, the light.
The circle is ever-expanding. The light is ever-growing. Inviting others to join this Circle of Support. Of Trust. Of Understanding. Of Witnessing.
It is not "religious" life support. "Physical" life support. It is not therapy or counseling.
It's not a meeting.
It just is what it is. And I believe it will fulfill a deep spiritual need in my communities. Personally and eventually professionally.
It feels warmer.
And warmer is better.
Take good care.
Love,
Jessie
PS
Here's a song for the road. I can't describe (briefly) what it means to me. A Story for another day. (In case this doesn't post right from my phone it's Pecan Pie by Golden Smog) https://youtu.be/LTuFksCMWhM?si=3irBYhM4St7WbTND