22 Insights from 22 Years

What is the point of gathering wisdom if you don’t share it with others? It has been 55 years since I started my physical therapy career and 22 years since I established my private pain management practice. To mark and celebrate this monumental anniversary I offer you some wisdom I have gathered.

Throughout my life experience I have gathered wisdom, humility, and a deep desire to share what I have learned. Here are some insights that have come to me over this time:

1. Listening deeply to another human being can lead to miracles.

2. Being unkind is not an option. Someone knew what they were saying when they coined this phrase: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

3. Self-care does not need to be out of your reach, expensive, or difficult.

4. Pain is not our enemy...it can even be our ally.

5. Blaming others leads to chaos.

6. There is much healing we can do ourselves if we learn to live in our bodies.

7. Allies are critical to our forward movement and growth.

8. Self esteem is at the core of serenity and contentment.

   1. If you have a good supply, share it.

   2. If your supply is low, gather some trusted allies around you for support.

9. Being a parent is not a duty but a gift and a privilege. And being a grandparent is not a privilege, it is a miracle.

10. Humor...we cannot live without it.

11. Faith (belief in something greater than yourself) is not a shackle, it is a safety net and greatly benefits the healing process.

12. Aging need not be a death sentence. It can in fact be a second chance.

13. A life without grief and loss is but a pale and muted canvas.

14. Addiction is the outcome of biology and an undersupply of allyship and lifeskills. 

15. Giving back is a gift for the soul.

16. Relationships are precious...don’t squander them.

17. The term “chronic pain” is an outdated concept.

18. Fitness is good for every age. Move as if our life depended on it.

19. Everyone is a fall risk.

    1. The aging process is not why people are at risk of falling 

    2. Fear of falling is the number one reason people fall

    3. Being sedentary, less vital, and weaker are fall risks

20. Be an advocate for your medical care.

21. Get clear about your money.

22. Breathe deeply, listen to music, smell the roses, and let yourself go.

I am excited to announce I am embarking on a journey of writing another book, “Wisdom, A Quiet River”,  which will expand on these life points. Coming to you in 2022!

I hope these thoughts and musings will enrich and calm you as you go through this life!