When Promoting Healthy Emotions Becomes Urgent!
People normally do a pretty good job promoting healthy emotions in others by appreciating them, building them up, and valuing their help. But have you ever thought that your opportunity to strengthen someone’s mental well-being might be your last chance ever for that person? This happened to me when I went to visit a seriously ill friend of mine in the hospital.
Reunited with my mom after a 4 year term in Africa: for promoting healthy emotions, communicate your love & care!
It was awkward to see my friend ensconced in the bed with the breathing machine working for her and other tubes everywhere. She was unable to talk, but had her eyes opened and seemed to be pleased that I had come.
I proceeded to carry on a one-way conversation with her. I told her what my family was up to before I began reminiscing about our times together and how much she had blessed me. Then I continued on with how she had blessed her grandchildren in different ways that I knew about. I read some scripture to her and tried to encourage her faith in God.
It was getting harder and harder to carry on this one-sided conversation, so I mentioned to her where I was going when I left the hospital. She thought I meant I was getting ready to leave, and she shook her head back and forth firmly in a gesture of “NO, don’t go!”
My heart melted within me. All the sharing I had been doing with her had gotten through and she was eating it up. She couldn’t grab my hand, she couldn’t voice her thoughts, she had no power to communicate back with me. BUT she was still there – all my love and caring words were getting thru to her loud and clear – and she didn’t want them to stop!
Three Lessons for Promoting Healthy Emotions
Finally, don’t ever think that just because someone can’t talk they also can’t hear or are stupid. Everyone has a mind with things going on in it all the time – however immature those thoughts might be. Treat them as someone made in God’s image with feelings. Love is a universal language and words have a great impact.
And Finally, A Practical Idea for Promoting Healthy Emotions
A helpful exercise is to imagine what that person might say if they could talk. For example, the man in the wheelchair might say “I hope she will come over and speak to me.”
My friend died this week. I’m glad I went to visit when I did because I won’t get another chance . I hope that my words to her gave a boost to her having healthy emotions, even while her body was failing.
Hey, thanks for reading this. Leave a comment below with your own experiences and advice. Please share this on your social networks too so we can influence others to bless others before it is too late. I appreciate you! Want more? Sign up for my health tips on the right and get a free nutrition assessment followed by the analysis of it five days later. And remember the importance of promoting healthy emotions every day.
poignant story @amyhagerup on last chance to encourage dying friend & advice 4 us http://bit.ly/b2ISHp #UTribe
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poignant story on last chance to encourage dying friend & advice 4 us! http://bit.ly/b2ISHp
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poignant story @amyhagerup on last chance to encourage dying friend & advice 4 us http://bit.ly/b2ISHp #UTribe
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Thanks for sharing. Great advice here especially how healthy emotions helps in building healthy relationships.
Much Aloha to you!
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amyhagerup Reply:
June 25th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Thanks for commenting, Nelly. Healthy relationships are so vital to our overall “wealth!” Blessings, Amy
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poignant story @amyhagerup on last chance to encourage dying friend & advice 4 us http://bit.ly/b2ISHp #UTribe
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poignant story @amyhagerup on last chance to encourage dying friend & advice 4 us http://bit.ly/b2ISHp #UTribe
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I love this post. Since I see this situation every day it is in the forefront of my mind more than others. But it is still easy to get caught up in your own thoughts and activities. I have always wondered what my life will be like in the end, and I really hope no one leaves me to die a long lonely death just because I can’t respond to them. Thank you for having such a loving giving heart Aunt Amy!
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amyhagerup Reply:
June 26th, 2010 at 11:47 pm
Thanks, Ashley. I bet you do see a lot of sad things where you work! May God use your tender heart to inspire others to keep communicating with their loved ones who can’t answer them. You’re the best! Aunt Amy
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I’ve been to your mom’s house a handful of times (wonderful woman who has a very special place in our hearts). Each one of them, I have spent a couple of minutes looking at this picture. Just imagining the joy you both had to see each other again. The image says more than a thousand words. I have a 6 year old daughter, and when looking at the picture I pray that if she ever goes away, we’ll feel the same joy of being reunited.
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amyhagerup Reply:
June 26th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Hi Lina, Are you Marilyn’s daughter in law? If so, we visited your husband’s family when he was a child in Spain! How cool is that? So glad you have used this photo to bless you. Yes, my mom is so very wonderful. As we were driving to my mom’s home, I was pounding on the car door – I was so excited to see her! My brother snapped this photo. Thanks so much for commenting. Blessings, Amy
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poignant story @amyhagerup on last chance to encourage dying friend & advice 4 us http://bit.ly/b2ISHp #UTribe
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Ever visited a sick friend in hospital who couldn't talk to you? happened 2 me recently; here's 3 lessons I learned. http://bit.ly/b2ISHp
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Beautiful story Amy, you brought tears to my eyes. So pleased you found the time to go and see her and talk to her so much. I believe that unconscious people can also hear us speak!
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amyhagerup Reply:
June 28th, 2010 at 12:27 am
Julieanne, I believe that too! And I believe that babies can understand tones even though they can’t understand words – all kinds of lessons for us to learn! Thanks for commenting. Blessings, Amy
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RT @lindamiller: poignant story @amyhagerup on last chance to encourage dying friend & advice 4 us http://bit.ly/b2ISHp #UTribe
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poignant story @amyhagerup on last chance to encourage dying friend & advice 4 us http://bit.ly/b2ISHp #UTribe
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Hi Amy,
Great post and poignant story. It is really in those seemingly fleeting moments when the essence of who we are come to the forefront. That you took the time and energy to share with your friend even though you didnt know she could hear you, was exemplary.
Life is filled up with change. Dying is one of the biggest changes of all. It represents change for the person and all the people connected to them.
Having a healthy connecting with the inevitability of change is vital.
Thank you for sharing this private moment with us. Very valuable lesson here.
Alicia
.-= alicia´s last blog ..How Andy got his Entrepreneurial groove back- The Power of Your Inner Voice =-.
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amyhagerup Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 9:31 pm
Hi Alicia, Your thoughts here are very deep. Thanks for taking the time to share them here. Blessings, Amy
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