Change and challenge
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Listening is a healing art
“People start to heal the moment they feel heard.” ~Cheryl Richardson I felt totally unmoored when my primary care physician announced his retirement last year. For more than 25 years, Dr. Paul managed my healthcare and provided first-rate referrals to the specialists I needed, including the orthopedic surgeon who replaced both of my hips. Most of all, my good doctor listened with care. He took my concerns seriously. Luckily, my new primary care doctor is a compassionate listener too. Though I’m new to her practice, I’m pleased with the relationship we’re building. Likewise, I appreciate those rare friends and family members who listen deeply. As Cheryl Richardson suggests in today’s quote,…
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Keep calm and carry on
“Don’t Panic.” ~ Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Yesterday was one of those days. I spent four hours working on a new 800-word column, only to watch it completely disappear from my computer monitor when I accidentally hit the wrong key. Gone. Totally gone. All my attempts to retrieve the piece failed; I couldn’t “undo” whatever I did to zap it. It didn’t help that I’d been rushing because I was scheduled to visit my cardiologist for a follow-up EKG later that afternoon. (I was sure everything would be off the charts, thanks to the morning’s calamity.) But I took a deep breath. I thought of the British meme,…
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Setting sail
“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” ~John A. Shedd Sometimes it’s wise to put safety first — such as crossing the street in rush-hour traffic. Likewise, we should check the expiration labels on our food, wash our hands frequently, and never share personal information with strangers on the phone. Playing it safe isn’t such a bad thing — unless we get so complacent (or agoraphobic) that we rarely leave our own harbor. Earlier this week, a friend told me that pandemic isolation nearly turned her into a social loner. She got a little too cozy staying home, she said, so she’s…
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Mistakes
“You can learn great things from your mistakes when you aren’t busy denying them.” ~Marc Chernoff, Marc & Angel Hack Life We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t make mistakes. At some point, we’ve all messed things up, made spelling errors, burned the dinner, turned the wrong way, blurted something offensive, and hurt someone’s feelings. Nobody leaves this world flawless and error-free. Problem is, some people will do anything to avoid admitting a mistake, hoping it will miraculously disappear if they pretend it didn’t happen. (Translation: Their self-image is more important than your feelings.) Then there are the folks who always manage to screw up a good apology with an…
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“Goodbye to You”
“When I loved myself enough, I began leaving whatever wasn’t healthy. That meant people, jobs, my own beliefs and bad habits — anything that kept me small. My judgment called it disloyal. Now I see it as self-loving.” ~Kim McMillen Last week I wrote about meeting the Dry January challenge. That post hit home with a lot of readers. Some of you emailed to tell me about the habits you’re breaking (sugar was a big one) and other health changes you’re making. One reader hinted that there are other habits in her life — aside from food and drink — that “need to be cleaned up.” Today’s quote speaks to…
