I like the phrase: health care. There is so much in that phrase that it seems almost too rich with meaning, to suffused with importance, and too electrically charged to be used in our current world. We live in a world of distractions, of ease and convenience, and of a never-ending saccharin stream of sappy, vapid pleasantries. How are you today, one may be asked. But the answer is always positive, as if it were a ghastly affront to be otherwise. And certainly no one really cares to hear if they are not ok. Besides, what could one do?
Much, really.
Health care is so much more than the simple caring for one's body and physical needs. There is an emotional, even spiritual aspect of one's soul that requires just as much sustenance and maintenance as the physical. Perhaps more. Because there are tests for the conditions of the body, and corrections can be relatively easily made to rectify all but the most serious of ailments. But what of the illnesses of the heart? Who can bind up a broken heart? Who can speak healing words of affirmation to a friend? How can a person recover from the effects of spiritual anguish and trouble?
Amid the debate about health care, we should make sure that we are caring for people. That the interactions between professionals and patients is one of a human nature. For we are all brothers and sisters, fellow travelers on this mortal coil, and we need to rely on one another.
Thus, in my mind, health care is not just a matter for debate. It is not a right or a privilege. It is the very essence of life itself. It stems from every friendship, every communication, every smile at a stranger in a grocery store. It is in the laugh of a child. It is in the night sky full of stars. And it is in the promise of a sunrise full of opportunity and joy.
Those who love each other know how a kind word can make the difference, how a merciful and tender act can turn the night to day, and how the knowledge and feeling of real love can make the burden of this life seem bearable, even light. People should tell each other how they feel. Why wait? Why not just say, I love you! I care for you deeply and want you to be happy! I will do anything for the favor of your smile!
Life is short. Let's care for each other.
I love you.
Does anyone even blog anymore? I remember when it first got started and everyone was having a blog. I like writing, and I do a lot of it in my professional life, but not everything makes it onto this blog, which is where a lot of my personal thoughts come out. I put more into Facebook lately, too, because it's a little easier. But there's something to be said for this long-form writing exercise, and I think I will continue here periodically. You don't mind, do you? Well, in my last post I wrote about how difficult things were for me at the time. That changed in July when I finally got a job working for the State of Utah. I was the program manager for the moderate income housing database program, and that meant I worked from home a lot but also went in to Salt Lake when needed, mostly on the train. It was a good experience, for the most part, and I'm grateful for the things I learned even in the short time I was there. In October I started working for Weber County in t...
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