Marching alongside networks with gratitude

The past two years have not been easy by any stretch, but I am always struck with the beauty of human resilience. How we continue to craft new ideas, find new ways to solve existing problems, and have this ability to continue to push through. Even when there’s fatigue and more than a little trepidation, your creativity and desire to keep going is really inspiring.

My feed swims with aged care innovation, care-based achievements, nurse empowerment content, rally cries across the death positivity scene and more. Accessibility is on the main stage. Inclusion is growing from strength to strength.

Communities are putting advocacy, choice and real action first to create more and more opportunity.

So many people doing so many brilliant things. And a lot of that (I believe) comes down to community over competition.

On LinkedIn, via our blog, on Instagram, on Facebook and on Substack with our newsletter, we’re finding new ways to create community that cares.

But it's not shiny or a big fat roar of approval and appreciation.

Walking around the care scene is more akin a curious walk down a new neighbourhood street. Somewhere you know that the community has the best intentions at heart. The optimism for fellow residents peeks out in street libraries and free fruit baskets on gates.?We’re looking for the best in ourselves and each other as we create a more connected, more bespoke future.

Even though we’re even a little drained at having to MacGyver our way through the next change or crisis, something is building.?

And as challenging as it may feel at times, it is so exciting to see.

The village welcomes contentment

Have you noticed the allure of having real conversations?

We answer quite earnestly when someone asks, “how are you?”

Gone are the days where we jump up claiming “I’m fine – and you?” as our face tries not to twitch or crack. The automatic responses so deeply ingrained don’t get the chance to leave the lips before the brain even gets a chance to get out of neutral.

Thanks, Covid (we think?) for at least making real conversation in the tearoom or at the networking event easier. Thanks to go to the digital world for taking the usually shy healthcare, care, death positivity and disability scenes and making them so open hearted. And thanks should be extended to tough economic times for making start-up so much more like genuinely connecting over trying to out brave each other.

Yes folks, I’m in gratitude mode. Even if there is a little lemon in those grateful waters.

Truth be told (I do not want to jinx things but) I believe the clouds may be passing and we’re richer for it.

They say challenges help us grow. But I really do feel as though creating new, stronger networks precisely because we’ve had a tough 24 months (longer if you count the bushfires!) has helped ExSitu mature. I think we’ve weathered some unbelievably heartbreaking storms as a sector. And we’ve all come out of it a little more resilient for it. ?

I think we've done some hard yards and broken down some barriers, too.

People’s understanding of aged care, healthcare, disability planning and end-of-life options is growing at such a fast rate now. Choice as the centre of their experience. Innovation and community initiatives are leading the field. Legislation is catching up. People are speaking up.

This truly is about creating sectors that grab the granular pieces of who we are and making them matter on so many levels. ?

Change is coming. And that’s a good thing.

Remembering how we’ve grown

There’s a lovely quietness and clarity that comes from stripping things back. To looking at what matters the most. And putting that to the forefront. At times, we felt like a small start-up, a small company. Something that was taking on a smallish part of a larger landscape of care.

Now though, we’ve matured into understanding the power and potential of those small moments. Especially in concert with everyone else who is also dealing in their small moments to make a very large change overall.

Our values really do save us

Yes, we talk about the importance of values because we work in values-based care. And yes, we have the practical experience to back that up as nurses and from our start-up experience. Our values of individuality, empowerment and putting people first have helped us with our families, maintaining our curiosity and looking after ourselves.

We’re eager to continue to explore and grow these values with our clients, commercial and individual. And with our peers as well.?

Adaptability is the new cool

As a start-up, we understood early on that perfection is unobtainable and punishing. We also learned that reliability, consistency and the right attitude made all the difference. Now, adapting to prevailing conditions, short notice changes and new ways of doing things rapidly is part of who Australia is. We have a real opportunity to make the enforced change we’ve endured a sign of strength and resilience as we accept adaptability is a cornerstone of everything we do.

We can redesign the future

It is so very exciting to share these ideas and these lessons with you. To build a network of people who listen to our stories and where we can create meaningful connection with yours.

I hope that 2022 is a year of less pressure. But also, one where we don’t put our experiences of the last two years in a box marked, “phew!” and pop it on the shelf to get on with things. We have the opportunity to take our collective experience to a new level. That grit, that sweat, and all that we’ve achieved can make us stronger, more resilient and more connected.

Not only for us but for the people we serve in the care we provide. We can change the narrative away from avoidance (and possibly fear). We can switch on the awareness about what a well-planned ageing experience or care may look like. We can invite people to not only accept care as a natural part of their lives, but to also act and make it truly their own experience.?

Here’s hoping, anyway!

What do you think?

What are the values and experiences you believe have helped you weather the storms of the last couple of years?

What have you learned from the challenges?

What makes you grateful for the opportunity to march in earnest into another year?

Share your thoughts below- I’d love to hear from you.

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