“Keep on Keeping On”

Life is a reflection of what we allow ourselves to see. Over the past several years, I have had many opportunities to reflect and see many things.

Several life events and transitions have prompted, forced, or gently nudged me to look deeper for meaning and purpose.

During the Pandemic, I worked for a large trauma center in Queens, New York. Unfortunately, we were the epicenter of the epicenter of COVID. As I faithfully went to work each day – most days 6:00 AM- 6:00 PM I was on autopilot – doing whatever I could to help our clinical staff save as many lives as possible. Some days, I communicated with those patients who could speak or their families, took an iPad into rooms so families could say goodbye to their loved ones, made sure staff was fed or had PPE, and most days debriefed staff to help them process their fears and feelings through a program called:” Helping Healers Heal.” I felt like I was in a war but never joined the army or had their boot camp training. The training I did have was my faith and perseverance, which come when you stay focused on the light, no matter how bright or dim it gets. The support of Marble, friends, family, staff, and colleagues helped me get through.

At the end of the Pandemic, it was my time to retire from public healthcare and move on to my next chapter. Endings are complex, and we know they always bring new beginnings, but reflecting on over 45 years of working for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations is overwhelming. How did it end so quickly, and what will I do now?  Even though I knew it was my time to leave the hospital -Profound questions were still swirling in my mind.

At the same time this part of my career ended, I was also ending a chapter on parenting. My 25-year-old daughter had moved to LA to pursue a career in acting, so I was facing two significant endings at once.

While the world and friends were saying how exciting this time of life was, was I having fun? My insides were in turmoil, and I wondered if the fun would ever begin./ My faith was put into high gear. The light of hope kept surfacing, and it was what I held onto. I moved forward daily with courage, support, and trust.

I still trust that God has a plan for me, including all my new chapters: health, life, parenting, work, and fun (did I say fun).

As water reflects the stars and your soul reflects the universe, I pray that the light of hope will continue to shine brightly on me and all of you.

Keep in touch, everyone, with Marble, Keep the Faith, and Keep on!

Best, Mamie

I will include the photo of the brick placed for me at Elmhurst Hospital, which says my mantra, “ Keep on Keeping On.”