Robert Redford

For most of my professional life, I had a Friday night routine. It started by reading People magazine from cover to cover (junk food for the brain) and completing the crossword puzzle. Then, I would watch one of two movies. This ritual was my saving grace.

My careers in oncology and hospice were incredibly rewarding, but they were also highly stressful. I often met people during some of the most difficult times of their lives, many of whom had just received devastating news. Talking to a social worker was usually the last thing on their wish list. Yet, there I was, offering reassurance and hope. Oncology patients and their families needed support and resources. Hospice patients and their families needed tenderness and comfort. By the end of the week, I was often exhausted.

Enter the movies The Way We Were and Dumb & Dumber. It’s an odd combination, I know.

If the week had been particularly emotional and gut-wrenching, I would watch The Way We Were and let the tears flow. The recent news clips of Robert Redford’s career reminded me just how much that movie cleansed my soul.

For weeks that were more chaotic, I watched Dumb & Dumber. Is there a more ridiculous movie? Yet, if you’ve ever dealt with Medicare, insurance reps, or drug companies, you’ll recognize the similarities. Laughter really can be the best medicine.

No matter where you work or what you do, I hope you have an end-of-the-week ritual that brings you peace and restores your sanity (what little you may have left)!