(haiku)
what beauty above
artist paints the horizon
watercolours.
Working in the helping profession can be challenging but it is an extremely validating career. To listen to someone who has no where else to turn, no one else to trust and bravely dials an anonymous help line is liberating and at times, life saving. I am fortunate to work for such a great organization that offers so much hope to youths and young adults.
A counsellor has to practice self-care to avoid compassionate fatigue. That entails taking time off work periodically, spending time with family, friends and mostly finding activities to unwind and experience joy. Life is not all about pain and sadness but when you work in a field where you are facing darkness in the eye too often, it is easy to distort life’s reality.
But what must one do in between those “times off”? Some watch comedy clips on-line, read a good suspense thriller allows the mind to tune out real quick, go for a walk on the streets of Montreal, talk to a colleague, sit in a park for half an hour, journal, write and some take the elevator in our building to go up to the roof and just breath in the crescendo of colours created by the Great Spirit.
I often hurry up there when I take a sneak peek while on a phone call and see through the window the sun starting its performance and I rush upstairs to witness the concert playing out along the horizon.
(haiku)
quelle vision là-haut
l’artiste peint l’horizon
gouache coloré
© Cheryl-Lynn 2014/06/13
Tournesol dans un Jardin 
This haiku is perfectly executed and very beautiful! I also enjoyed your explanation of the life of a person who aids others. The two aspects of the photo are interesting … I especialy enjoyed the second take.
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Thanks! Me too the last one is my fav and would you believe I took them both the same night? The colours change dramatically within minutes.
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I know what you mean…I wasn’t sure if you’d apped the photo and looked back and forth to try to figure it out. They’re fantastic!
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A gorgeous haibun … I can empathize with you in what you describe. As I am working in a hospital as an Oncology-nurse I need to do something else next to my work … to me that is writing … mostly haiku, but I have written two novels too.
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Thank you so much. I wanted to write a haibun with these photos as I do use nature to just disconnect but writing has been my godsend in the past year. Your work must be extremely taxing yet rewarding. I worked 2 years in homecare after I’d completed a cert in Gerontology. I like working best with youths and older populations when I can. Wow, 2 novels…where do you find the time?
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I just love to write and I need it to come ‘free’ from my work as an oncology nurse.
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I can only imagine…after 2 years in homecare, I had to ask for a transfer. I got too attached.
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I am doing this work more than 25 years. I have worked in a nursing home for the eldery and as an oncology nurse I work now almost 5 years … I can’t imagine to chance … nursing is my passion also …
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I volunteered in this field with friendship visits. We need compassionate nurses like you and it is wonderful that you enjoy your work. I have found my niche 14 yrs ago at this crisis line as well. It fits like a glove for me and natural like breathing air.
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That’s great,
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What a joy your work must be…but also difficult and draining. While we all need time to rejuvenate, people in jobs such as yours may need it even more.
Just curious…why are some phrases in bold?
janet
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Thank you for your kind words. I wrote this in the wee hours of the night…I think I just wanted to put those words in italics and not bold…I should fix that. The reason? Those 2 lines were words I tried real hard to include in my haiku but it didn’t look right but I liked the phrase…that’s all really. I love my job…if it were volunteering, I would do it part time for free. So I am very lucky to work at something that makes me so happy.
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I always think of the sky as a canvas to paint on. Your haiku is splendid
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