'Tis the season to be generous

DocSanae · 12-15-2007, 06:49 AM

To yourself.
Yes, yourself.
I mean it.
I've been reading some posts and threads that some of you are having somewhat of a hard time, or are being hard on yourselves.

Traditionally, when the holiday season is meant to be a season of happiness and cheer, of a time for family gatherings and love, it can be a season of heavy hearts and pain, because you happened to lose someone precious to you during this season, or because there was a time in your life when things that took place in your life leaves you no good memories. Especially when such things are tied in with exactly what the season exults, it can be a painful memory for you.
In my profession, along with the joy and gratitude, unfortunately, it is a time for us to watch out for our those in our care lest there be anything that makes them feel left out of the festivities of the season.

So, I just wanted to say, be generous to yourself. Rejoice in the life you have now, the goals you have made with this surgery, the hope and joy this surgery has brought you.
Better health, better mobility, better self esteem. You all have done so well, and are working so hard for yourself. You each deserve a big and loving hug.

Sometimes, you may feel raw, you may find your emotions scraped raw and painful. I hope, despite the pain, or rather, because of the pain, life is far more rewarding, life is far more "lived in" than when you distanced yourself, whether intentionally or unintentionally, from the intensness that life can bring. I am old enough to be able to truthfully say, the more intense the feelings and emotions are, the more rewarding life will be.
I hope you all will be able to find your life full, fulfilling, and full of love and life, this holiday season, and for all the seasons and years beyond.

Count the blessings you have.
If you are still struggling to get approval for surgery, you know you have a chance to change your life for the better. I hope, even if you have been denied, once, twice, three times, multiple times, that you will get the approval when the time comes for you. This year's published studies on the long term results and effects hopefull will turn the insurance companies around, into accepting and approving the surgery as a method to save lives, to ease potentially life debiliating diseases (which, for the insurance cos will ultimately save tons of money).
If you have been approved, and are waiting for the date of your surgery to arrive, then I hope you will find a lot of people who will be good support in your real life as well as on this board, despite the roller coaster emotions you may experience post op.
If you are post op, if you are struggling early out, I hope you will soon arrive at that time and plane when post ops will unanimously agree that it was all worth it. If you are farther out, and struglling with stalls and cravings that are coming back, I hope that you will be able to keep on track, or, if you fall off track, then not be too hard on yourselves, dust your hands and rears, and simply get back on track again, to achieve your goal. If you are a number of years out, able to eat pretty much everything, then I hope you will have, or be able to, achieve and establish habits that are healthy for you, and keep you at goal.

I hope, you will always be able to keep the welfare of yourself in mind with whatever you do, no matter how pressing things may be, and be able to protect your children and your family to the best of your ability, and be able to give your children a good future, in which you will be able to take an active and healthy and loving part in.

(((((((HUGS)))))))
Best wishes of the season to all of you from a woman who chose to be a doctor because I wanted to share the treasures and miracles and love that life itself is.