The Healing is Mutual

Many times I have been asked by patients, "Don't you ever get tired of listening to us talk or complain?" To which I always answer, "No! Definitely not." First off, from that talking or "complaining" often comes diagnostic clues which I can use to better treat my patients: clues in the tone of voice, the topics people bring up, what they chose to share during a treatment and what they don't. These things can provide valuable information on the nature of patients' conditions; how they are coping, or not coping, with their illnesses or injuries; and to their overall constitutions. Secondly, it is sometimes through a patient's words that I receive inspiration and healing. While the primary focus of a treatment is on my patient's well-being, sometimes my patients present healing gifts to me - it is at moments like these that the healing is mutual.

Sometimes these gifts are simple and lighthearted. They may be recommendations for movies or restaurants. They may be ideas about places to see and great vacation getaways. Sometimes it's a very funny joke that keeps me giggling and smiling to myself the rest of the day. (Remember, one of the things I love most is the sound of laughter in the office.) Sometimes it's even a suggestion for a blog entry that results in a flurry of ideas for me to jot down and save for later.

Other times these gifts are instructional and educational. It could be an older patient sharing with me wisdom and insights on historical events. How did he/she survive challenges like war, economic depressions, political upheavals - with those insights containing advice on how we can get through our current political and economic challenges. Or it could just be sharing knowledge on day to day interests: computers, cooking, DIY house projects, etc.

But sometimes the gifts are much more profound. I learn so much from my patients about health, living, and healing. We all have days when the world looms large and intimidating, or when we wonder if our goals will comes to fruition, or when we just need an "atta boy" to encourage us to keep going. I'm no exception. ...Sometimes it is in the course of giving someone else a treatment that I receive a gift of encouragement, hope, and inspiration. It's always spontaneous and usually quite unexpected, albeit always very welcomed.

From my patients I have seen, and continue to see, patience and "staying tough" in the face of adversity; whether it be searching for a new job, raising children as a single parent, or addressing challenges in a marriage. I regularly see patients facing their illnesses and injuries with determination: seeking out additional modalities to help them heal, and not resigning themselves to "well that's just the way it is"; or choosing new health patterns (eg. yoga, dietary changes, counseling) that boost their energy and change their lives. And on occasion I have watched patients face life-threatening and terminal illnesses. I have had the honor to spend time with these individuals as they face the greatest battles of their lives with courage and dignity - celebrating what they can still do instead of mourning the things they have lost. I have learned that diagnosis and prognosis is no match for the will of the human spirit.

So, yes, I do know that my needles and knowledge do a lot of good for my patients and for their lives. And I am very grateful to be able to be of service and to help people on their healing journeys - it's one of the things I love about my work. ....But I also wanted to share that healing can go two-ways and that there are many times when the healing my patients give me is just as profound and appreciated.

In gratitude,
Pat