I ate some cheese cake last night. If I have only read about others experiences about cheesecake, how can I know what it is like to eat cheesecake. Each time I eat it would be a new experience; depending on how hungry, the type of cheesecake, who baked it, what occasion, etc. Not having eaten cheesecake ever is also an experience.
So it is also in the case of life and death; being somewhat “healthy”, I think most of my perspective is on living and very little on dying. Each day I live, I gain perspectives on life and little to no perspective on death. I think it is so as I often find myself planning and fretting about a future which I know not would ever happen. As a result of such preoccupation with the future, I am often asleep to my moment to moment experience.
I am grateful to be a physician; I know now that each time my patients comes to me for help and authentically share their sufferings; I am gifted with the opportunity to gain new perspectives on what it is like to lose bodily function or bits of life which I take for granted. To receive this gift, all I need to be is curious, in the moment and compassionate.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
On the topic of polyamory
When your parrot falls in love, it's called polyamorous; When you play games with your parrot, it's called polygamous; When your p...
-
10 questions I’d like to ask each of my patient after each visit. A score out of 100 may be informative of necessary changes to current in...
-
The notion of outward “privileges” in life is inherently an imprecise judgement. It may mean differently to different individuals in their ...
-
I went to make a housecall to see a bedbound lady with rash in the deep fold under her breasts. Her son who takes exemplary care of her has...
-
A while ago, a good friend shared with me his story. Shortly after arriving in Canada as a teen refugee from El Salvador, he along with a ...
-
When I carry the mega delusion of immortality, I am helplessly tossed between cravings and fears. I think participation in the end of life ...
-
If Type 2 diabetes leads me to eat a more plant-based diet with 400 gram of non-starchy vegetableswhich not only puts diabetes into remissio...
-
The other day, a patient came to the after hour clinic; staff told me that he has an expired health-card number and wanted me to know. I i...
-
I will drink 2 cups of water. I will eat 5 oz of non-starchy vegetables before dinner. I will listen with curiosity to each one’s perspe...
-
Many seniors tell me they want to stay out of nursing home. I made this log for them to track their self-management between visits.
-
My son asked me how do I know I am OK? This is my answer: “Thanks for asking for my perspectives. It is just one perspective. At leas...
No comments:
Post a Comment