November Newsletter

Message from the Board
By: SPA Executive Vice President Steven Webbenhurst

November is here and it seems like the days go by even faster than ever. I read an interesting story online today about a woman and her kids that ran in to a Target store to grab a few things. They were in a hurry, something I think we can all relate to. The woman was happy to find a check-out lane that only had one customer ahead of her, and that customer was already being rung out. But soon the mother realized that the customer was paying for each of her items separately and with cash and coins. The clerk was being very kind and helping the customer find the correct change for each purchase. The mother was like many of us, wondering how she had picked a slow check-out lane. But the mother then realized her kids were watching the kindness of the clerk. Suddenly the mother realized that this was one of those “teachable moments” with her kids. After the customer was finished, the mother paid for her things and commented to the cashier how patient he had been with the previous customer.

As the hours of daylight shorten this time of year, and we all start to feel the added pressures of the upcoming holidays, I think that for most of us, we become more hurried in everything we do. Do we know what’s going on in the personal lives of those we work with? Do we REALLY know? And how about with our friends and family? Do we REALLY know what is going on with them? Do we know what stresses they might be feeling? Students feel the pressure of deadlines and finals. I think we all know what that is/was like.

I’ve decided that I’m going to concentrate on avoiding some of the stresses that come this time of year. I’m going to be more patient with all those around me. That includes my family of course, but also those I work with and those I interact with each day. So for me, that includes my fellow pharmacists, technicians and interns, doctors, nurses, medical assistants, and especially patients. I try to be compassionate to all those people, but I know there are times when I’m rushed, and don’t give them the time they deserve. I hope that this year, I’ll take a deep breath when interacting with others, and try to better understand their needs. I urge you to do the same thing, for your sake as well as those around you!