Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Wise Words at the Doctor’s Office



So two days ago I was at my regular doctor’s office for a checkup. This is as opposed to the neurologist and the brain surgeon and any other specialist who walks by. This is the doctor you want to see – bugging you about flu shots and who takes care of old and young...big problems or small. He's a "you've got a friend in me" kind of guy. A good guy to know.

Out in the waiting room I was sitting with an older woman with a very fancy walker. It seems she had broken her tailbone the very day after finishing rehab after a leg injury. She said she just got up too fast and fell right on her, um, tailbone.

“Oh dear, “ I offered. “I am so sorry. Please be careful.” She topped me with these truly wise words: “Isn’t it amazing how fast we learn when it’s our fault?”

Stop right there. If only I could needlepoint a pillow. Or take a billboard. I’ve never heard this before (obviously, some would say).

“Isn’t it amazing how fast we learn when it’s our fault?”

Amazing, indeed. It’s the source of so many of the lessons I’ve had to learn the hard way. Most of them I’ll never admit to. I wish I had heard this sooner. I would probably have ignored it, as with so much good advice. But isn’t it just?


“Isn’t it amazing how fast we learn when it’s our fault?”