I used to shy away from difficult conversations
But in my current life, in my chosen vocation
Conversations that are difficult, heavy, painful, I face
On a regular basis, I’ve had no choice but to embrace
The discomfort associated with such conversations
I create space before tough talks for premeditation
I leave space afterwords for reflection and contemplation
I interact with patients and their families, delve into their hopes and fears
Sometimes they are reassured, sometimes new concerns appear..
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During these conversations a balance I have to strike
Between empathy and detachment, when I say things that no one likes
I’m scared of a strong reaction, but I am also aware
That I might react sharply too, I have to take care
To never let empathy leave a conversation
It is my best defense against retaliation..
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To break bad news, to dash someone’s hopes, are all things I do
As part of my profession, but it is indeed true
That this does not get any easier with time or repetition
This is the least talked about part of my profession
Passion...unbridled 