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By Edie Weinstein-Moser

Most Sunday mornings find me at one of two of the spiritual communities of which I am a part; Pebble Hill Church or Circle of Miracles. At both, I come away with treasure troves of wisdom and great ideas for stories. One of my favorite people at Pebble is a national treasure himself. His name is Bill Mettler and he is a mime and story-teller extraordinaire. He oozes creativity and I like to hang around him and absorb some by osmosis. I learn so much about improvisation from him. He shared a story about a special part of the world, located in Seattle, Washington, called Pike’s Place Fish Market. He read about it in a book, simply called “Fish” by Lundin, Paul and Christiansen. It made the Wall Street Journal best seller list. He was fascinated with the idea that the folks who work there create fun out of what he describes as a “tedious, smelly and cold job.” They toss the fish around and ask the audience of people who gather to watch them goof off and get paid for it, if they want to catch the fish they throw. They announce where in the world the fish are headed.

Now somewhere along the line, somebody caught wind of their frolic and went to check it out, asking how they managed to pull off such a feat day in and day out. Bill went on to describe it in this way. They have four simple rules they follow.

1. Check your attitude. Have you come into work in a grumpy mood, resenting what you need to do to earn a living, or can you pour your heart and soul into your job, finding emotional, as well as financial reward? At my full time job as a social worker in a psychiatric hospital, I never know what I will encounter from day to day. I have an attitude adjuster that I engage every day before I hit the door. Just so happens that the entrance to the grounds is surrounded by 100 foot or so tall trees. When I drive through the overhanging branches that in the summer feel like an embracing canopy, I greet the trees and the other nature spirits that might be hanging around. It grounds me. Then I’m ready for anything.

2. Play. Are you having fun yet? Can you find some way to laugh at your circumstances? On my unit, we play a lot while engaging in the work of helping those who pass through our doors find balance, cranking up the radio in the nurse’s station at times and be-bopping around, especially if it ‘s Motown. Katie, the charge nurse has claimed the song “Ooh Ooh Child” (things are gonna get easier) as our unit theme song. Peggy, the allied therapist brings in percussion instruments and her guitar and with the patients has on the spot, written an ever changing version of “The Horsham Clinic Blues”. My office is decorated with colorful objects, a mobile with rainbow colored hearts, a carved heart with the word ‘joy’ on it, with multi-hued streamers hanging from it, a dream catcher and healing feather, heart stickers on my window, patient art on one wall, and affirmations on the others. Linda and Jessica decorate the message boards on the unit with colorful markers. We celebrate staff and patient birthdays with cake and song. Georgetta challenges the patients to see beyond their limitations by poking fun of her own at times that came as a result of a traumatic accident many years ago.

3. Make their day. We never know the impact we have on the lives of those whose paths we cross, even if we don’t know them or may not ever see them again. One kind word or loving gesture can do the trick. We’ve had patients write or stop by to visit months or even years after their stay to tell us how well they are doing, how being with us has turned their lives around. Making someone’s day doesn’t have to cost a cent. Generosity of heart is free as the wind. We all love to be acknowledged. I’ve had people make my day with a simple compliment or easy smile.

4. Be present. Sounds so simple doesn’t it? I know there are times when I’m not always ‘there’ when I am engaged in a therapy session. Sometimes my mind is a million miles away, moving on to the next task at hand. By doing that, I am doing a dis-service to the other person and myself, since I miss so much. A dear friend told me something on Saturday that I noticed myself caught up in at work today and then re-directed myself. She told me that often I have my therapist listening-empathetic face on, nodding and ‘umm-hmming’. What she preferred was that I make myself an empty container for her words and feelings, without thinking I need to rescue or come up with a solution. Tough stuff to hear, but necessary.

All of these elements combined serve the folks who work at Pike’s. Can you imagine applying them to your work and interpersonal relationships? Cast your line, reel in fun, be open to whatever you catch in the moment.

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