Protecting Your Noodle

Join Aaron Sheedy as he shares his personal and professional journey through three transformative careers—police officer, union representative, and now nurse.

As a Mountie and later a union advocate, Aaron spent years protecting others but neglected to protect himself from the physical and emotional toll of the work. It wasn't until his nursing career, particularly in the fast-paced environment of a busy emergency room, that he truly understood the necessity of safeguarding his mental and emotional well-being.

This talk will explore the hard lessons about burnout, setting boundaries, and the critical role of self-care in sustaining resilience. Whether you're in healthcare, community service, or caring for loved ones, these insights are universal.

In "Protecting Your Noodle," Aaron will guide an exploration of immediate, practical strategies to help caregivers protect their "noodle" (mind and spirit) from burnout and compassion fatigue. Together, we’ll reflect on how caring for ourselves is not a selfish act but a vital part of being able to care for others effectively. Come for an honest, heartfelt discussion filled with real-life stories from the frontlines and actionable tools to navigate caregiving challenges with strength, balance, and grace.

Watch the Gathering HERE

First Reading

“Your problems are in your solutions.” – (Uncredited)

Second Reading

“What if, despite what your thoughts may try to tell you, there is nothing wrong with you at all? What if your heroic efforts to prevent your feelings from getting the best of you are actually backfiring?

What if they are the very things that are keeping you stuck in suffering or even making things worse?”

– The Mindful Way by by J. Mark G. Williams, John D. Teasdale, Zindel V. Segal PhD, Jon Kabat-Zinn

Thrid Reading

“Tell me something my friend, have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?” – The Joker. (Batman, 1989)