Daily Excerpt: 100 Tips and Tools for Managing Chronic Illness (Charnas) - Tip #2 (Oh, Say)
Tip #2 (Oh, Say)
Every Wednesday I flex my work schedule and arrive at 8:00 a.m. at the Naval Hospital where I’m employed. I should be sitting at my desk by eight o’clock, but more often than not, I’m running a few minutes late, scurrying across the large medical complex toward my office. Each morning the national anthem plays over the loudspeaker at oh-eight hundred. Protocol requires all people outdoors to cease what they’re doing and face the flag. Some of us stand at attention. Others salute. I like to place my hand over my heart. There are always two thoughts running through my mind at this time: “Darn, I’m going to be late again” and “This is so lovely, I should make an effort to do it every morning.” Standing at attention for the few minutes required to listen to the “Star Spangled Banner” serves as a reflective moment. It forces me to be still, pay attention, and remember the purpose of my day.
I’ve grown
to cherish those moments. They are brief respites of peace and contemplation
before a busy day. These interludes at work are rare, and I’d be wise if I made
an effort to incorporate them regularly into my day. When we live with illness,
it’s helpful to build breaks into our days when we can rest, be still, and
restore ourselves. On Wednesdays, the national anthem forces me to do
that.
When I visit New York City, I usually stop by Levain Bakery on West 74th street to buy their amazing chocolate chip cookies. The storefront is down a flight of steps and occupies a space the size of two coffins. Previously, this had never been an issue. But when visiting the city last October, every time I passed the bakery I saw people lined up for ten yards outside. On my last day of the trip, despite the cold weather and long lines, I decided to buy a couple of cookies. Several middle-aged women wearing transit uniforms stood in front of me in line. I asked them why the store suddenly had such long waits, and they explained that it now had a Facebook page.
The three transit workers and I chatted briefly as we tried to stay warm in the frigid air. One of the ladies, Darlene, had never eaten a cookie from the bakery before. Fed up with the wait, she declared to her friend, “This cookie better rock me to sleep and call me Daddy.” Without missing a beat, her friend replied, “It will.”
I find when I focus on negativity, my situations remain negative. When I seek out the positive, they sometimes turn around. I learned this valuable lesson from managing my health issues, and it serves me well in the rest of my life. Darlene made what might have been a purely frustrating experience into a delightful one. She gave me her permission to quote her in my blog, and I chuckle every time I think of this funny lady.
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