Inspiration in the everyday!

Inspiration comes from all kinds of unexpected areas I find! And often when you are least expecting it too. The trick is being open to it. Being willing to learn from others and listening to what you hear with great attention and with the intention of learning something for yourself.

Yesterday was a fairly normal day for me, but stitched into my day were 3 great moments of inspiration.

In my role I find myself driving through the (beautiful) North Yorkshire countryside very frequently: I have colleagues who use this time to learn Italian or to listen to improving personal development speakers- but I prefer the radio. I like the diversity of the input, I like the currency of the conversations and I enjoy thinking about issues which would not normally touch my life. Yesterday I listened to The Life Scientific on Radio 4 where Patricia Wiltshire described the journey she had taken in her life to become a palyonologist (an expert in the study of pollen) She was inspirational! Not in a loud, over confident way, not in a lecturing knowing-best way…but in a modest, open, charming way. A way which felt accessible and which reminded me that all of our life experiences, no matter how random they seem,blend to make us the unique person we each become.

The first part of my day was set aside to learn more about dementia- it’s a very big issue in an acute hospital like ours and understanding more about our patients needs is important in my role. Also attending the workshop were 2 women volunteers in our trust. Both of whom had taken on –very important- volunteering roles at the end of their formal careers because in their hearts they knew that the sum of their life experiences meant that they still had a huge amount to offer their local community. Their commitment, energy and openness was absolutely inspirational.

And finally my afternoon appointment was with a female colleague from outside the NHS that I have known very vaguely in a number of different settings over many years: together we had decided that now was the time to get to know one another better and to find ways in which we could help and support each other’s organisations. We took the risk of meeting. We took the risk of having a really honest and open conversation. And the outcome of that is that we can both now take steps which we believe will be helpful for our respective organisations.

Three examples of inspirational women! I didn’t need to search for it. I wasn’t even looking for it. But it was there, hiding in clear sight, in everyday life! The trick is being open to it!

Susan Symington

Chair

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust