St. Patrick's Day Thoughts by Jean Morgan, Swan Creek Executive Director

Posted on March 17, 2011 in Health and Wellness for Swan Creek Retirement Village

Legend has it St. Patrick was a story teller. He had a great story to tell about his faith to the people of Ireland. In the year 432 after the Pope made him a Bishop, the King of Ireland invited St. Patrick for a visit. The good St. Patrick had to figure out how to tell his story of faith to a large audience (the people of Ireland) that had never heard such a story (because most of the Irish people were Druids) and he had to do it in such a way that people would be inclined to listen and perhaps believe. St. Patrick knew that the Druids considered the shamrock to be a sacred plant because the leaves of the plant formed a triad. So, he used the shamrock as an illustration. He explained that this sacred plant with three beautiful leaves was like the sacred mystery of the Trinity – God in three persons. You know what happened? People listened, and many believed. In fact, the King was so impressed, they say, that he immediately became a Christian, and then gave St. Patrick his permission to travel the country and tell everyone. As we continue to prepare for the excitement that lies ahead at Swan Creek, what lesson can we learn from St. Patrick? We, like St. Patrick, have a great story to tell. As we continue to communicate about the upcoming changes, it is important that we tell our story in a way that people will be “inclined to listen and perhaps believe”. As we learned last month, with “Who Moved My Cheese”, often the primary reason for resisting change is because it takes us to the “unknown” and out of our “comfort zone” or “what we know”. Communication (clear explanations, listening, asking questions, asking for clarification, etc.) is the key to the success of any change and any organization. If we remind ourselves of the shamrock we can use it as an illustration to represent the changes being made at Swan Creek. The triad, or three beautiful leaves can represent for us, the purpose of our changes, building mind, body, and spirit. With this focus, like St. Patrick, we too can continue to fulfill our mission!

For each petal on the shamrock This brings a wish your way - Wisdom, good health, and peace For today and every day.