[𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏] 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐲
[𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏] 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
As a call back to my Classics A-level days, I’m listening to 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘥𝘺𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘺. I’ve found this thing called LibriVox, which is a collection of free audiobooks read by volunteers. The recordings aren’t perfect. Especially when there are unfamiliar names and places, the narrators have to have a couple of goes at words. But I enjoy this. It feels like when we read it out, taking it in turns in the classroom.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘥𝘺𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘺 is a blend of strange historical facts, multifaceted adventure, and gore. When it comes to signing up for midwifery, we’ve stepped out on a similar voyage. We need to leave what’s familiar and gain new skills. It quickly becomes apparent that we didn’t know what we were signing up for (honestly, even if you have significant volunteer experience, you can't understand what being a midwife is like until you’re there doing it). There are monsters. The adjustment period can be intense and go on for years.
Midwifery is a force that can change the world, but we need to remember we’re human. Reading or listening to ancient stories is a good reminder that life used to move at a much slower pace. Odysseus needs to get home to his wife; that’s his goal. But even when he’s far from his goal, he still rests and, at times, parties. He takes an entire year off just to have sex with the Goddess Circe and hang out on her island - all while his wife Penelope is being faithful at home, I might add. And he does a lot of crying, but no one seems to think less of him. (I’m not sure when crying became something guys aren’t allowed to do, but it wasn't a rule in effect 3,000 years ago in Greece).
Just a reminder that’s it’s okay to work with whatever is going on right now. You might be able to fight the good fight for your whole career, you might have breaks, and you might find the right role for you that feels like coming home. Midwifery is a career that will ask for everything as quickly as possible but you can move more slowly if that would work better for you. Rest and celebration are things you're entitled to throughout.
All my best,
Ellie.
