DR. VICTORIA SWEET LEARNS A LESSON

 

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:

---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.

IMPORTANT POINT:

--She then mentioned something that floored me. Admitting that many young doctors are very healthy, curious, hardworking, etc. What do they know of misfortune? (A VERY IMPORTANT POINT. DEPICTS A DUALITY THAT EXISTS VERY OFTEN.) 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.

Dr. Victoria Sweet worked at Laguna Honda Hospital (God's Hotel) for 20 years before she wrote her book ''God's Hotel.'' It is about our old Laguna Honda Hospital.

She was my doctor for the last two years before she wrote the book. She was a fine doctor and a very nice person. And, she is a very good writer. Her books are highly recommended by me and she has won many awards because of them. Pick-up a copy and you will do yourselves a favor. We had a wonderful time together.

The IMPORTANCE of CONNECTION!

 

Human Connections

Connection With Patients

CLICK EACH ABOVE

To The NURSES and EVERYONE at Laguna Honda

  

---I would like to dedicate this song by the Beatles to ALL the nurses at Laguna Honda. I know that this song was written by John Lennon about a relationship to a girl he may or may not have been involved with. He may have found it applicable to that situation. But, I think it applies very strongly to myself and many others at Laguna Honda, also.

---I was very self-reliant most of my life and was very able to fend for myself. The bad times were the bad times, but I seemed to survive them alright. The stroke hit me in 2002...and I had NO idea what to do. I was immediately plugged into the system and ended up at Laguna Honda.

---People have been very good to me here. I love them ALL and I really think I mean that. They have helped me...so many times in so many ways. The song fits in, in so many ways, also. I didn't think too much about what people did who couldn't do the fundamental things that I used to take for granted. Well, I learned, in spades. They get - HELP!
.

---The version of the song has expired. I, finally, added a different version in its place.  It is NOT the BEATLES, but I HOPE that it serves the purpose.

THE NEW MINDSET!

CLICK CLIP

 

JOY of ACCOMPLISHMENT!

CLICK CLIP!

 

SMART goals - a work in progress

The RESIDENT COUNCIL HAD PLANNED TO TALK MORE ABOUT SMART GOALs!

How to Develop a Growth Mindset

FEAR and The POWER of YET - A POEM

A Growth Mindset

 When I Was Young I Was Told

To Stay Out-of-the-Street

A Car May Hit You

So Be Safe

As I Got Older

My Intelligence Grew
I Was Allowed To

Cross At The Light

Intelligence Gave Me

The Ability To

Negotiate The Situation

I Feared The Traffic

Until I Was Able

To Understand It

Many Things In My Life

Had That Dynamic

Fear Until I Understood It!

Mountains Go Back To Molehills

Once Again, The

Playing Field Is Level

To Me, Fear Is Just NOT

Understanding Things...YET!

MORE COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION

REAL REHABILITATION

---To rehabilitate properly, I feel, is to be sure that folks have changed inside AND are now able to face themselves. That is to face oneself without using their addiction of choice BECAUSE that only serves to distract folks from facing what is really at the heart of the problem. They come into a healing setting and usually have the current malady taken care of. This is really just treatment of the symptom and are sent out to once again be victimized by what they cultivated a weakness for and sent them to the hospital in the first place. If one never gets to the-heart-of-the-matter…it honestly doesn’t amount to much, more than putting a bandage on cancer. It has to do with a lack of self-worth and self-esteem making folks so vulnerable to whatever takes the place of getting to know thyself. Getting to know thyself can be painful if you’ve spent a lot of time hurting others. For folks who basically have followed the Golden Rule, facing things are NOT as bad as that.

INCREASE SELF-WORTH

---It seems that many folks have NOT experienced much encouragement in their lives. It, actually, seems that many have been discouraged to achieve. They have been told that achievement is out-of-reach and not worth the effort involved. Besides, they don’t have what it takes. Mediocrity may be worth getting used to.

---We find that there is a need to increase self-esteem. We find, also, a need to increase self-knowledge. Positive interaction with others makes this happen. Folks who find that they are low in both departments need good solid people in which to interact. The objective of this interaction is to let the folks know that they are ‘’good enough.’’ We want people to know that they are ‘’alright.’’ It is imperative for folks to know that it is ‘’okay’’ to be who they are. This can NOT be stressed enough to ensure that a change is to take place.

---Self-worth will increase through interaction of those who have value for the individual they are talking to. To ensure that one values the other, one must be sure that one values people in general (himself as well as others.) If one does this then he will automatically value others. He may or may NOT like everyone to be his best friend or whathaveyou, but he must be able to understand that ‘’All Beings Have Value.’’ If he doesn’t know this…one may find that he is not valuing his subject. That will delay the procedure.

---When one feels he is valued then he approaches life with a confidence that aids him in all he does. He finds that he is now concerned for the well-being of others and has a caring for things that happen. The quality of his life has certainly been enriched. With this upgrade to life, we hope that one is now able to think enough of himself and life as it is to say NO to whatever it is that has addicted him in the past…and mean it. Becoming addicted or readdicted has lost its’ appeal and now is unattractive and doesn’t have the same hold that it once did. To be free of whatever it is, is much more rewarding. He now makes better decisions.

Why It Behooves Folks To NOT Become Re-addicted!

---It behooves folks to NOT become re-addicted, because they are now on the road to discover oneself if they haven’t already. They are now on a path that is much preferable to what they were doing before – being addicted and searching for The NEXT FIX. They feel much better. It is like day and night. To return to the old life doesn’t make much sense. They may rather help others to become non-addicted and they find that that aids in their own journey. Be Well.

CLICK THOUGHTOON!