By Donna Todd., MSN, RN-BC, CCM
As a case manager and a nurse, I know that life is short, and I never know what will happen tomorrow. My brother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer when he was 22 years old. He had never been to Walt Disney World and wanted to go, but his mother convinced him to wait until he was better. He died at the age of 24 and never got to make that trip. That was a wake-up call for me – live life to its fullest! Then life got busy. When I turned 40, I experienced my own catastrophic health issue. After a lengthy hospital stay and surviving against the odds, I began to see things differently. But as I got further from that event, I was back to taking life for granted.
Then a song came on the radio that stopped me in my tracks. Maybe it hit me because I am getting older. Maybe it was because my parents are in their 90s, and I know that they won’t live forever. It could be because in Case Management, our patients, regardless of their age, have a catastrophic illness or injury. I guess I will never know, and in the big scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter. That song is “Time’s Ticking” by Justin More.
The song starts out with:
There was a long black Cadillac
With a trail of flashers blinking
So I stopped at the Kwik Sak
And while they passed by, I got to thinking
Don't put off forgiving and living for one of these days
'Cause life ain't just something that can wait
And how true is that – life doesn’t wait. Being a case manager, I know this. Our patients are of all ages and all walks of life. They might have been going about their lives one day, and then, the next, something catastrophic happens. Many of our patients will recover; however, not all will. You would think that, in and of itself, would remind me that life is precious, so I'd better enjoy it! But life is busy, work is busy, and I get caught up in the hustle and bustle, and let’s face it, the drama that goes along with life. But life doesn’t wait for anyone.
To take that step back – to take care of me – helps me become a better caregiver. The saying you can’t pour from an empty cup is so true! Am I taking care of myself? Am I making time for the things that I want to do? Another line in this song is “make a memory, not just money”. Making memories has become precious to me. Kids grow up, parents get older. Memories don’t have to involve elaborate pricing things. Some of the best memories are made just being with those you love and care about. Having dinner with friends, watching the sunset. Those memories provide me with more fuel and energy to give my all to my patients and colleagues.
I don’t know about you, but slowing down when there is so much to do isn’t always easy for me. A line in the chorus says, “Put a little slow in your roll, or you’re gonna miss it”. It’s okay to sit and hold someone’s hand. It’s okay to sit and enjoy that sunset, to spend quality time with family and friends. But that’s the key – quality time! We talk about quality versus quantity with patients, but do we follow what we preach? Am I present with my family, or am I multitasking?
In this busy world, we need to remember that “Time’s Ticking”. Life is precious! Take the time to enjoy life and make those memories!
References
Moore, J. (2024). Time’s Ticking [Song]. This is My Dirt [Album]. Valory.
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Bio: Donna Todd, MSN, RN-BC, CCM, is a board-certified case manager who has worked in the managed care arena for over 25 years. Donna holds an Associate, Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing as well as an Advanced Practice Nurse Educator Certificate with a concentration in Client/Staff Education from Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio.