Hopefulness is a subversive act of courage
Well, we have come to the end of this particular road. I just want each of you to know how very much I have enjoyed your company these past however many years. (Is there anybody out there that’s been “in” since we started this back in 2007? If so, you should get a prize—or a condolence card.) As with so many things in my life, this journey has had so many unexpected twists and turns. I don’t know what 18-year-old me was thinking the future would bring, but I’m pretty sure that I didn’t have any of this on my bingo card. And so, while I am stepping away from the daily grind, I can’t imagine ever not being interested in what is going on in the healthcare industry as far as the management of the physical environment is concerned. I’ll be watching from the "cheap seats,” but rest assured that I’ll be watching.
In closing, I will leave you with a quote attributed to historian Howard Zinn, that (I think) very much encapsulates my sense of how I try to live my life, including all the many and varied professional interactions I’ve had over the years. I guess it all comes from the desire to “believe in better.” If we don’t believe that things can improve, what good is having any belief at all?
So, thank you my friends, and be well. I look forward to what you’ll do next and remain hopeful that it will be amazing!
“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.
“What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.
“And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.”
About the Author: Steve MacArthur is a safety consultant with The Chartis Group. He brings more than 30 years of healthcare management and consulting experience to his work with hospitals, physician offices, and ambulatory care facilities across the country. He is the author of HCPro's Hospital Safety Director's Handbook and is an advisory board member for Accreditation and Quality Compliance Center. Contact Steve at stevemacsafetyspace@gmail.com.