A Bedside Campfire
Dialogue, Experience, and Feeling
Good morning!
I’ve spent some time pondering how to turn something I love (writing and storytelling) into a dialogue. Oxford reminds us that “dialogue” is both a noun (“conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie”) and a verb (take part in a conversation or discussion to resolve a problem). [Incidentally, my dad called in the middle of that sentence and we had a lovely dialogue together].
Well — that’s exactly what I’m looking for. A Dialogue. I talk to myself enough. In my mind, when I write, as I worry — I’ve heard from myself plenty. I enjoy conversations with the humans in my life: Healthcare Workers, parents, neighbors, etc. Sometimes it’s high-level: Hi, How Are You, I’m Fine, Thank You. And others, it’s a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities that are woven into the fabric of life as we’re living it. I call it a “brain tickle” — when something resonates deeply in my spirit, it feels good, and leaves me wanting more. Connecting with other humans in a meaningful way tickles my brain.
This has led me to a project I’m calling “A Bedside Campfire”. I’ve noodled on a “podcast” off-and-on over the past year. It feels too big to name it “podcast”, so instead, it’s a dialogue. Conversations. Sharing space. Mildly structured to get the conversation going, then follow where we go together.
I have a few starter questions written down, and I’ve been bringing it up in conversation to gauge interest. A resounding “YES!” tells me I’m on the right track. It feels warm. And doing a project like this on Substack feels like the right medium to use.
What we’ll talk about
Most conversation are unstructured. Organic. They don’t have a set start/end time or series of interview questions. I don’t intend to replicate a real-life interchange, nor do I plan to record every conversation I have in my life for the sake of sharing it with the world. People have stories to tell. I have climbed out of a pit of despair through conversations and human connection. Feeling heard and understood. Not feeling alone in my experiences with work, Healthcare, and being a human.
Folks might want to talk about:
Who are you, and how did our paths cross?
Tell me/us about your perspective of Healthcare/Human Care (US and/or globally).
What shaped your views on Care?
What do you wish to see in the next 5 years?
Whose voices need to be elevated to get us there? And how?
What do you wish everyone could know without having to experience it?
What is humanity’s common ground?
I have a few others I’m playing with, but I like this as a start.
When I played with this idea last summer (in the depths of burnout, depression, anxiety, etc.) — the questions I wrote were negative-affirming (I don’t know if that’s a word, but it is now!). They were prompts confirming what I believed was/is happening in Healthcare — burnout and despair. (Example: How hopeless is everything right now? What are the symptoms of burnout, and do you have them?). These are not actual questions I wrote, but in hindsight that’s the gist.
What is my intention with this project? To connect and share stories in conversation, like you would by a campfire. Campfires are warm, inviting, and spiritually nourishing. I want conversations like that. Campfires are for gathering. Like moths, we’re drawn to the crowd and the light. Yeah, I want that.
Holding vigil at the bedside (whether in a hospital or a home) is a unique perspective of conversation, and I hope it points to Caring. You don’t go to the bedside of someone you don’t care about. It’s a vulnerable position for them, and a position of power for you. A Bedside Campfire means — come sit with me, and let’s talk about what this means to us. I’m playing with the name and the concept. I like that it’s ABC - like Airway, Breathing, Circulation (though those letters go in a different order now). (Spirituality as a Vital Sign?).
Maybe it’ll resonate with others. Neat! That’s the purpose of sharing it online where words and ideas can be exchanged. Most importantly, it’s something that interests me and I just want to do it. So, I’m going to.
I will leave you with a little blurb I wrote as this idea came to light:
Come sit by the fire awhile
we'll share a space and a smile
Don't think twice
We'll all be nice
Put up your feet
rest awhile. That’s all I’ve got for today. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this! Also - thank you to everyone who reached out after my last post! I was able to get connected with a group out of Lake County IL who are part of the Nurse Honor Guard! It feels close to what I’m looking for (a way to honor the life and service of Healthcare Workers). I appreciate your time and attention in reading what I post :)
Love,
Jessie