Not all conversations in the doctor’s room has to be about medicine. Sometimes healing and education go hand in hand. I had another enlightening conversation with a 78 y old patient of mine. She is of German descent and most of her cardiac issues are stable except for her arthritic troubles. She told me about her typical chat with her friends.
“Do you know how you know you are getting old doc?” She asked.
“ Let me tell you. When I sit together with all my friends the only topic of conversation we have is about who our doctors are, what medications do we each take, and what symptoms we are experiencing and what we found online about them. That is how we know.”
I smiled and replied “ You need a new friend circle, like a younger one.”
“ Nah, those women complain about their kids, their husbands, their jobs” she snubbed back.
“ Guess you have already been through that circle huh?” I retorted.
I began to explain to her how people will gravitate towards each others similarities and move away from their differences based on their own value system for that age group. Take for example a 5 to 10 year old age bracket. These kids want to play, eat candy, and play some more, with other kids, not with the elderly. The age group of 20 through 30s are looking to meet up with someone they can saver a relationship with or looking for jobs. The 30s to 50s group perhaps is focussing on their career, family time or building a nest egg for the future. At some point the 60- and beyond group are looking at their health, retirement and family.
At each time bracket we follow a set of values that is important to us and will connect with those like minded individuals, this is basic human nature.
She understood this explanation and then asked “ is it normal to age with aches and pains ?”
To which I replied “ Yes and no. Yes aging is a normal process and the body will deteriorate naturally, but NO it is not normal for one to live a life of aches and pains. “ I further explained that if one keeps themselves healthy, limber, strong through diet and exercise but moreover live an inspired on purpose life then the universe grants them the vitality and longevity to be able to fulfill their goal. All that is born must be subject to disease, age and death, this is the law of nature. Yet how intense the disease states exist, or how gracefully we age is in our hands as we head to death slowly or quickly.
She became quiet as she contemplated these thoughts.
“ You always give me something to think about when I see you. You are like a holistic cardiologist “ she stated.
“ Thank you. The more you live exactly on purpose and do what you love doing, the less pain you will experience. I cannot reverse your arthritis but I can help you with the right exercises, nutrition and mindsets to help you live your remaining years with good health rather than plagued with illness.”
She looked satisfied, and we discussed more on these matters. I gave her homework for the next 6 months with an invitation to call me if she had further queries. I love these sorts of visits, where I am helping people regain their health and not just focussing on what is wrong with them through illness.
……………..
I love you
Leave a Reply