A New Season for Bedside to Beyond 🌿🌹

Five months ago, I wrote my last post on Bedside to Beyond. I didn’t expect the pause to last that long, but sometimes stepping away gives us the clarity we didn’t realize we needed.

Life has a way of unfolding with grace when we step back, pause, and reflect. When we slow down long enough to truly look at our lives, we can begin to determine the direction we want to go.

When I was younger, my cousin used to tell me, “Baby girl, what’s for you is for you. You won’t have to fuss, fret, or fight for it.” As I’ve gotten older and life has happened, that message has stayed with me. It reminds me that even when life doesn’t go exactly how I imagined, sometimes the detours are necessary.

During this season, I took a step back, not out of frustration, but to realign myself with what felt right. I needed time to pause, reflect, and reconnect with my own thoughts and direction.

And when I did that, something beautiful happened.

Life began to flow again. New opportunities appeared that aligned with where I wanted to grow. Most importantly, I learned the importance of being present.

One thing about me is that I’m a dreamer. I often find myself thinking about the future and what’s next. But this pause reminded me to appreciate the present and recognize the blessings and support that were already around me.

This new season I’m entering is about caring for myself and honoring my well-being. It’s about not only creating boundaries but also learning how to maintain them.

For a long time, I carried many responsibilities mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially. Being a nurse, a woman, and a mother naturally placed me in the role of a caregiver. But during this time of reflection, I realized something important:

I had been carrying so much for everyone else that I had forgotten to care for myself.

So this new season is about pouring into myself first, so that when I give to others, I’m giving from a full cup.

Reflecting on the Journey

Starting a new path in nursing is exciting, but it can also be challenging. Transitioning from the bedside into informatics gave me a chance to reflect on my entire nursing journey.

I worked in the ICU during one of the most intense periods in healthcare (COVID). It was a time that pushed many nurses to their limits. I often felt like I was burning the candle at both ends.

Later, transitioning into ambulatory bronchoscopy became a much-needed shift. I’m grateful for the people who supported me during that time and helped me navigate that season of my career.

Looking back, I realize I wasn’t alone in feeling burned out. Many nurses were carrying emotional and personal burdens while still showing up every day to care for others.

Sometimes we move through life on autopilot, simply going through the motions. But burnout often grows in those moments when we forget to pause and check in with ourselves.

These reflections are what inspired me to continue building Bedside to Beyond, a space where nurses and caregivers can talk honestly about their experiences, grow, and heal together.

My mission is simple: to help nurses move from burnout to balance and beyond.

Introducing the 23rd Ritual

As I entered this new season of focusing on my self-care, I wanted to create a small ritual to remind me to pour back into myself.

I’ve always loved flowers. There’s something beautiful about receiving them, but also about giving them. My birthday is February 23rd, so I decided that on the 23rd of every month, I would buy myself flowers.

It’s a small but meaningful reminder that I deserve the same care and appreciation that I give to others.

And now I want to bring that practice here.

I’m calling it “The 23rd Ritual 🌹”.

Each month on the 23rd, I’ll share a reflection here on the blog as a reminder that self-care is not selfish; it’s necessary for the care we give to others.

An Invitation to Nurses

If you’re a nurse who has been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or unsure of what comes next, I want you to know that you’re not alone.

Healing and growth are always possible.

Sometimes all it takes is a moment to pause, step back, and check in with yourself. Whether that happens once a month or once every few months, giving yourself that space can make all the difference.

You are always welcome here at Bedside to Beyond. I hope this space becomes a place of motivation, inspiration, and encouragement as you go wherever your “beyond” may lead you.

Closing Reflection

This is a new season for Bedside to Beyond, and I’m grateful to continue this journey with you.

I’ll leave you with a quote that has stayed with me:

‍ ‍“You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first, and then watch how much more you have to give.”

‍ ‍