“Doc, he’s gone.” Working as a hospitalist, I had a list of patients to see for the week. This was my first day back at the hospital, and so all the patients were new. Joe was on hospice care. The hospice facility was full. From the medical record, I could see that he was comatose. …Read More
Category: Spirit
Native American Wisdom: “Nature is my teacher.”
“Nature is my teacher.” The Native American teachings rely on observation of Nature—listening to the stories whispered by of the natural world. The outer world reflects our inner world. When I have been in intense times of emotional and spiritual discomfort (depressed, burned out), I look to change everything around me. Start exercising. Change jobs. …Read More
Poem: David Whyte, Give Every Last Thing Away
THE BELL AND THE BLACKBIRD (excerpt) The sound of a bell still reverberating, or a blackbird calling from a corner of a field. Asking you to wake into this life or inviting you deeper to one that waits. Either way takes courage, either way wants you to be nothing but that self that is no …Read More
Prayer of St. Francis
Prayer of St. Francis Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is dispair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy; O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much …Read More
Story: Legacy of Love
Today’s story is called, “Legacy of Love.” It is the final story in a set of stories, and it gives the whole set its title. When I was gathering stories into a theme, I realized that all my stories were in some way about love, the many forms of love, and perhaps all stories at …Read More
Poem: “The Roar” by Kim Falone
The Roar ~ by Kim Falone He lies next to his wife A woman he half loves In a hotel room near an airport It could be any hotel near any airport He could be any man Who loves with half his heart Who shuffles like a shadow Who speaks in half truths And lives …Read More
“Song of the Banana Man” by Evan Jones
Touris, white man, wipin his face, Met me in Golden Grove market place. He looked at m’ol’ clothes brown wid stain , An soaked right through wid de Portlan rain, He cas his eye, turn up his nose, He says, ‘You’re a beggar man, I suppose?’ On a recent podcast interview with Dr. Paul Jones, …Read More
Mindfulness in Medicine, mindfulness for everyone
“I believe that the practice of medicine depends on a deep understanding between clinicians and patients, and that human understanding starts with understanding oneself.” ~ Ronald Epstein, M.D., Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness, and Humanity Occasionally, I enjoy walking through bookstores in the same way that I enjoy walking in botanical gardens. I slow down, sink into …Read More
Episode 8: Healing with Expressive Art (Laura Elliott)
Interview Series by Dr. Joel Ying. “People of passion and purpose, doing interesting things, living their present moment.” LivingthePresentMoment.com/podcastshow Laura Elliott is an artist currently living in Asheville, North Carolina. She has a passion for sharing Expressive Art as a therapeutic modality. Discover her transformation from the world of advertising and marketing into life as …Read More
“Lost” by David Wagoner
When walking through your day, you might get lost. Are you really lost? Where are you? What should you do? Find wisdom in the words from the American poet, David Wagoner. Lost —by David Wagoner Stand still. The trees ahead and buses beside you Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here, And you …Read More