AUTHENTIC APPRECIATION

---I was watching CNN the other day when something caught my eye. There was a village in Africa where the house had running water ''for the first time.'' The joy on the faces, young an old alike, was incredible. They were ALL beaming at the sight of the water coming into the house on-demand by simply pumping the well.

.---Now...no longer would the younguns' have to arise early to go to the river and get the daily supply of the H2O for the household. Matt Damon, the actor, was part of the project. That is, probably, why it got as much airtime as it did.

---I was thinking of how easy it is to take things for granted. When was the last time you found yourself marveling at the wonders of water? It has been over sixty years, myself. I have placed a lot of things in that category...if NOT everything. They speak of food, clothing and shelter to be what sustains life. But...all that would be in moderation.

---When I saw the authentic look of appreciation on the faces of the people in the village who had running water...I realized that I haven't seen that look in awhile. But, I have seen it. I've seen it in and out of the hospital. It usually happens when someone has been given something or has access to something that profoundly touches them. It is mostly something that they have deemed as important.

---If we have easy access to everything we find that it doesn't work any better than NO ACCESS to ANYTHING. We can see the sense that ''waste not...want not'' can make. Fear causes us to stockpile things to prepare for imagined future disasters. We have to realize that negativity projected at those times causes the very disasters that we are afraid of. Convenience is backfiring all around us. We realize that health is jeopardized if there is little movement in our lives. Frenetic worry is NOT the answer.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OVER TWO YEARS AGO.

PROACTIVELY KIND!

KINDNESS CREATES AN 'US' SPACE

Kindness: CREATES an 'us' space,

NOT a 'you vs. me' space

---We will start with the premise that we ALL know about kindness. We have probably experienced that by being in the vicinity where ''kind'' was happening. Whether you believe that folks are kind because it is their nature or kindness is a way folks manipulate one another to get their own needs met, we all have a concept of what kindness is.

---If we are kind and act kindly things tend to be more hassle-free. It seems to work better than those times we begin by demanding and acting selfishly. When we are in a situation only concerned with getting our own needs met and have NO concern for what others may be doing...we act opposite to being kind. The more civil we act tends to be a better thing for society in general. You catch more flies with honey.

 

---So...this is pretty fundamental and we all seem to be aware of it. At onetime in my life we seemed to approach each other with this abandon, but we now carry a wariness and suspicion when we move amongst each other. The old joke has come to past – ''Even if you're NOT paranoid; it doesn't mean you're NOT being followed.''

---It seems we have to get back to an 'us' space. When we see life as a 'me vs. them' proposition, then that is what we will see AND that's when our heartaches begin. It is up to us (you and I) to make this an 'us' space, again. The only thing that will (turn folks back around) is NOT to add to the suspicion that folks already have. If you are kindly and true to this belief, than you will convey that. The quote by Gandhi was right on: be the change that you wish to see in the world. We have to start by being more proactively kind. Be Well.

KINDNESS IS A BRIDGE FROM A 'ME vs THEM' SPACE TO AN 'US' SPACE!

MISS COLORADO - ''Just a Nurse!''

What a Great Kick-off To The ''Quality of Life - Performance Improvement Team's'' KINDNESS CAMPAIGN -

The NICENESS NETWORK

Dr. BJ Miller - TEDtalk

---A very inspiring talk by Dr. BJ Miller. He is the head of the Zen Hospice project at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco. Do yourself a favor and listen to what Dr. Miller has to say. Kudos to all!

Burt Mann Memorial

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---Many of us went to Burt Mann's memorial service, yesterday, July 29, 2012. He passed on a week ago. Burt was a great guy. His honesty was unprecedented. He made his mark at Laguna Honda and if his memorial service is any indication...you can see that he affected many, many folks in a way that will last awhile.

---There is much that I could write about Burt...but, to sum it up very neatly (which wasn't exactly Burt's style.) Everyone loved Burt and Burt loved everyone. The impact that Burt had was great. Knowing Burt was a reason to be thankful.

I republished this one. It is for those who remember Burt. He sure was a great guy.

An IDEAL (Draft) Patient/Care Partner (CLOSER)

KINDNESS - Patients/Staff

 

REMEMBER: Kindness Begins With YOU, No Matter Who YOU Are!

The DOCTOR 1991 (Complete Movie) - William Hurt

---I was fortunate to find this movie on YouTube. A movie that everyone in the helping profession should see. Read more below. Watch, if you care to, while it's agreement is still current.  

A LESSON FOR DR. VICTORIA SWEET

A LESSON FOR

DR. VICTORIA SWEET

and US ALL

---I'd like to speak about something that Dr. Sweet mentions in her book, ''God's Hotel.'' On page 29 in one of the versions of the book she speaks of talking to a Miss Tod. Miss Tod had brain cancer that was still growing behind her right eye. The eye had been removed and her eyelid was sewn shut. Dr. Sweet mentions that she was hard to look at.

---Having gotten used to the physical appearance of Miss Tod, and after exchanging pleasantries...Dr. Sweet looked at Miss Tod and asked if there was anything that she could do for her?

She expected euthanasia, some sort of miracle cure, stronger pain medication or even a second opinion. With all the poise and equanimity Miss Tod asked if there was something Dr. Sweet could do about her food being so bland and a pair of eyeglasses. Dr. Sweet mentions being floored by the response. She helped her with those things. Miss Tod changed wards and lived another 18 months.

---What Dr. Sweet learned that day was priceless from my perspective. From Miss Tod's attitude she learned that ''somehow she accepted her fate, and it was the small things, the little daily things, that were important to her.'' Dr. Sweet goes on to speak of bravery at the core.

--She then mentioned something that floored me. Admitting that many young doctors are very healthy, curious, hardworking, etc. What do they know of misfortune? And, even when there is no cancer to deal with, the patient still has his needs and preferences. Reread the section about Miss Tod if you've forgotten the story. As I said it's page 29 in my book and lasts about two pages. It is a good lesson for all of us. Be Well.

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The Doctor - Movie Trailer 1991

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---This movie was suggested to me by someone in the social services department. I couldn't find the movie trailer without subtitles. It is about a doctor who was a brilliant surgeon that lacked skills in the human relationship/bedside manner dept., that is so very important to the process. The callous surgeon played by William Hurt develops a tumor and meets many doctors equally as cold and aloof as he was. The surgeon is now victimized by same attitudes and callous behaviors that were much like his own. He learns a valuable lesson through all this AND...you have to watch the movie for more! WORTH VIEWING!

COMPLETE MOVIE ABOVE!