Five Words Worth Reviewing

For additional color and context supporting this post, please listen to this two-minute music video, while following along with the written lyrics. Do this first, before you move on to the rest of this email. It’s 1968’s, Sly and the Family Stone’s,” Everyday People.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrBOfP8lTSM

Introduction:

I wanted to do a health related post this week, but instead I needed to do something for me. I do this by writing. Next week I’ll be back to writing a health related post.

• This post is not directed toward any individual or group.
• This post is merely my response to what I’ve been experiencing lately.
• This post is not a critique of a particular viewpoint or philosophy.
• This post was created to bring to light the pressing need, as a group, to outwardly express toward each other a greater degree of tolerance, acceptance, love, gratitude, and forgiveness.

Personal Commentary:

Once upon a time there was Earth and all of its inhabitants. There was conflict balanced with a proportionate amount of harmony. Then there was 9/11, and then the financial meltdown of 2008. Life and livingness, as we once knew it, hasn’t been the same since.

The only word I can come up with to describe our current environment is TENSION. The tension knob on religion, work, money, school, politics, health, success, and even what we eat, is being turned hard to the right. Some of these are moving closer to a state of being overly strained and a couple are unraveling at the seams.

Not in all of my 27 years in practice have I witnessed such a level of tension in my environment. This tension is creating divisiveness amongst friends, family, my patients, Facebook, TV, and radio to name but a few.

The highly divisive systems known as religion and politics are no longer the primary fodder for schism. A new player, FOOD, has emerged to create a stir amongst heretofore amicable parties.

The consumption or utilization of anything that once was ‘animal’ is now cause for even more divisiveness and tension. Labels are now assigned to either debase or to be worn loudly and proudly. Like Arab and Jew, Protestant and Catholic, Democrat and Republican, we now add Vegan and Carnivore to the frey.

Because of this increasing tension and divisiveness, I have implemented a personal strategy. The only stress, which is not always bad, that I’m open to, emanates from the things I value the most – work, family, and friends. My patients, family or friends may say, do, or believe things that I may not agree with, which is their prerogative. I, in return, will express back to them, love, gratitude, acceptance, tolerance, and/or forgiveness.

If we all made a concerted effort to practice more of the above, there is no doubt in my mind, the positive effects it WILL have, WILL be felt far and wide.

The Five Words Worth Reviewing

Acceptance: The ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular, the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with

King James Bible

John 8:7 – Jesus said, “he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”

John 8:9 – And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Tolerance: A willingness to accept the behavior and beliefs that are different from your own, even if you disagree with or disapprove of them.

Forgiveness: The ability to stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for an offense, flaw, or mistake.

Love: A great interest and pleasure in something or someone.

Gratitude: The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.