![]() Danielle LaPorte, a guru of mine shares this story: "Do you know the story about the two stone cutters? When asked what he’s doing, the first man replies, “I’m cutting this stone into bricks.” When the second laborer is asked what he’s doing, he replies, “I’m building a temple.” How much do we do in a day with our nose to the grindstone? Myopic, focused, making a list and checking it twice. Done. Done. And done. But what have we done? Really? There is a Big Real behind everything we do. Sometimes it’s a negative Big Real. Sometimes it’s a positive Big Real.
What has become rote or banal for you that is really part of a great dream or vision? So midwives, what is the big real behind your work? Why do you do what you do? We see clients day in and day out. We get up the second our phone rings - boom - out of bed in a flash at 3 AM. We get up from dinner, a t-ball game, and sex to answer the phone.... again... (from the same scared new mama). We stay late or get up early to finish charting or review labs. But what are we really doing> what's the big real of midwifery? Try to define the big real of your practice, your work.... I am midwife, I deliver babies.... and mamas, and papas, and siblings and grandmas..... and whole communities. I am midwife; I wake at the drop of a hat, I'm in ninja training to be responsive to the world's calls. I am midwife; I hold space for many and I'm demonstrating loving kindness. If your big real isn't so positive, perhaps you can find a way to shift it, or to midwife the world in other ways. Danielle says, "Zoom back from the tasks and see the holy weaving of your time and love and action. Make it matter. Because it does." More wisdom can be found at http://www.daniellelaporte.com/
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There are so many talented midwives, students, and advocates doing so many different things, that some of the alphabet soup of midwifery acronyms gets lost on the profession at large. (I confess to being confused sometimes too.) So to help myself and midwives everywhere, here (in no particular order) is a concise guide to the many organizations that govern, advise, and advocate for midwives in the United States (with quotes and links to their own websites). If I missed any organization that you think should be added to this list, please message me.
And a few more just for good measure...March of Dimes The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Amnesty International We work both at home and abroad to tackle the most pressing human rights violations. Integrative Health Policy Consortium We envision a world with no barriers to health. Council on Patient Safety in Women's Health Care
Our mission is to continually improve patient safety in women’s health care through multidisciplinary collaboration that drives culture change |