#schongenial:Thank you for taking the time to talk to us. What does appreciation mean to you personally?
Claus Hager: For me, appreciation has a lot to do with paying attention. In order to appreciate something, I have to notice it and realise its value. On a personal level, I believe that each of us has a deep need to be recognised. In an encounter, a smile, a friendly greeting or a brief conversation is often enough. For me, appreciation also has something to do with gratitude. Gratitude also for those things in everyday life that are supposedly taken for granted. For example, that I can travel home from work every day in a clean, air-conditioned train.
#schongenial:How is this topic lived out in a religious hospital and specifically towards the patients:inside?
Claus Hager: Hospitals are places where the value of life itself takes centre stage, as they accompany people in all stages of life, from birth to their last breath. On the one hand, cutting-edge medicine and high-tech are used. On the other hand, talking, holding a hand or sometimes simply being silent together is helpful. Joy and sorrow are often proverbially close together - two patients in one room, one gets better, the other does not. For our staff, this means recognising and acknowledging people and their individual needs. The Christian values that guide us as a religious hospital provide a framework for this. There are many moments of appreciation in everyday life. Probably the most beautiful is when patients or relatives thank us for making them feel well cared for or supported in their particular life situation.
#schongenial:In your opinion, do we lack appreciation in our society?
Claus Hager: I think so, and this brings me back to attention and mindfulness. On the one hand, we live in a world of permanent accessibility, sensory overload and distraction. At the same time, media reports give us the feeling of a latent crisis wherever we look. Both often obscure our view of the many positive things we encounter every day.
#schongenial:How can appreciation be increased in this environment?
Claus Hager: We should consciously take breaks more often, whether professionally or privately. Questions such as "What is important to me?" or "What am I grateful for today?" help me personally to consciously manage my own attention. Making positive things visible is extremely important. That's why I think the #schongenial initiative is brilliant.
#schongenial:Thank you very much for the very open conversation.
