I took the opportunity to attend RDH “Under One Roof” this past August in Orlando, FL. There were a few amazing speakers who shared personal stories of triumph over despair. One woman had lost her young adult son to a mental illness that led to his suicide. Another woman has a son with a form of Autism that affects her and her family’s life drastically every day. And yet, another woman had recently lost her mother to Alzheimer’s disease after several debilitating years of struggle.

          What each of these women have in common is the willingness to share their stories in such a way that ties their experiences to us: hygienists. As healthcare professionals, we treat individuals with a variety of illnesses/disease every day. These individuals need specific care, but their families (caretakers) need kindness and understanding as well. This reminds me of the pebble thrown into the water that creates the far expanding ripple effect.

          A few things really struck me about the learning I was able to take away from this conference. I was in awe of the bravery each of these speakers had. They were able to share very personal information that allowed me to take inventory of my own life as an individual, a family member, and a dental hygienist. Any time we share at such a level, we are vulnerable. As a result of this vulnerability, we are more approachable, more real, and more humble.

          I have no doubt that we each have our own personal life stories that include the theme of triumph over despair. Such is life. What’s challenging at times is to remember that a little bit of kindness can go a long way. Kindness doesn’t need to be extravagant. It can be a listening ear, a soft touch, eye contact, or simply the words “I understand”.

          As dental hygienists we can make a difference to people through our kindness and caring. We can tap into our own experiences and recall what (or who) helped us along in our time of need. “The golden chain by which society is bound together” may sound corny, but if you think about it, Goethe creates a pretty cool visual here. Welcome back. Hope you all had a fantastic summer!