When I was growing up, if I didn't know the meaning of a word, my father would always say: 

"Look it up." 

No, there was no Google to "Google it" or Wikipedia yet! We literally had to turn pages in the encyclopedia or dictionary to get clarity and understanding of what something meant. Those were the days when you had to dig and search until you struck gold, so to speak, and when you had a lightbulb moment of clarity. In order for us to grow as a veterinary community and society as a whole, we must pour love into our foundation, kindness must become our oxygen, and care and inclusion of our fellow humans has to become our daily sustenance!

But in order for each of us to move from just surviving to thriving, we must reciprocate the kindness that is shown to us. If we take what we need, and then pour back into the pot of "Stone Soup," NONE of us will go hungry! Hungry for affirmation... Hungry for feeling accepted, respected, and included as a valued member of the team!! Hungry for love and equitable consideration! 

Taking from the pot and never giving back to make sure that everyone feels seen, heard, and honored is the quickest way for the pot to become empty, and then it's everyone for themselves!

Reciprocation promotes cultivation, which looks like "giving back," which produces growth, enabling us to "pay it forward!" Not grabbing and snatching, only seeing to our own needs! Every one of us has an ingredient to contribute to the emotional and mental well-being of our veterinary culture! My dear friends, that is what a healthier workplace looks like. What is Stone Soup?  

I'm glad you asked...  

"Google it!"

Watch and listen to the article by playing the video below. 

Rosemary Klass is the culture wellness advocate at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) and College of Veterinary Medicine. She has spent most of her nearly 30-year career at the VMC as a senior veterinary technician in the small animal ICU. Klass also is a certified conflict mediator and serves as chair of the Minnesota Association of Veterinary Technicians' Wellness and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Acceptance committees.