As we consider ways to develop mental health and enhance our social-emotional well-being through the ability to connect, I am reminded of John Steinbeck’s warning about our tendency to hurry.
Arguably, no profession is more in a hurry than the medical profession when doctors make their morning rounds, rushing from one patient’s room to another. My dear friend, Dr. Paul Schanfield, recently shared this experience with me:
When doctors visit a patient’s room, they normally stand at the bedside. Patients viewed this to mean the physician was making a quick in and out visit and expressed dissatisfaction with this practice. After viewing several unfavorable patient satisfaction scores, one hospital administrator announced a new policy requiring clinicians to sit during all hospital patient visits. When the doctors pointed out that many of the hospital rooms had no chairs for the doctors to use, the administrator vowed to correct this oversight.
It’s time to take seriously the advice of Simon and Garfunkel in their song “Feelin’ Groovy.”
Slow down, you move too fast
You got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy
Ba da da da da da da, feeling groovy
Hello lamppost, what’cha knowing
I’ve come to watch your flowers growin’
Ain’t cha got no rhymes for me?
Doo-it in doo doo, feeling groovy
Ba da da da da da da, feeling groovy
Yes, there are times when hurrying is necessary, but it shouldn’t be the norm, especially in ‘human affairs’. Take some time this week to visit with a lamppost or have a seat with a neighbor or friend and enjoy the human experience of connection.
And now, I’ve gotta run…heading to my grandson’s baseball game. But once I get there, I’ll slow down, sit for a couple hours, and visit with Scott, another player’s grandfather. We will talk about our college days and his experiences as an airline pilot.
From our team…Willow, Kevin, and Tom…who always bring a chair.
Paul Bernabei, Director
Top 20 Training
paul@top20training.com
651-470-3827
