Rain is Here!

Showering love

Dampening doubt

Embracing us from all Directions

We reach up

Eyes close

Heart shouts

                                “Rain is here!”

 

¡Escucha! (¡Listen!)

Do you hear our plant relatives singing songs of joy?

For three months they stood tall with faith that this day would come.

They drink with elation.

 

¡Mira! (!Look!)

Do you see the puddles and trickles, hurrying to make it to the river bed that flows once again.

They flow with elation.

 

¡Respira! (¡Breathe!)

Take a deep breath of healing humidity, watching it cover our

Parched

Dry

Cracked

                Airways

                Highways to our sacred space

Absorb the moisture as it embraces you

Drink with elation!

 

¡Despacio! (¡Slow down!)

The rain meditation beckons

    a slow down

                             a re-balancing

                              a pause + reset

as we slow

we renew

as we renew

we heal

 

¡Juega! (¡Play!)

All of this – the listening, looking, breathing, and slowing down – has led us back to the child within

Smile wide 

as you splash puddles of joy

as we splash each other

as love splashes us

                                one drop

                                                    at

                                                                a time.

Thank you to the UNM Curandismo Class that provided the loving environment that allowed today's piece to be birthed. ¡Olmateottl!

Patients Treating Their Doc with Wit and Humor

“My get up and go got up and went.”

I smiled as my patient tried to describe their struggles against fatigue.

I have not written much about the people I get a chance to take care of as a primary care physician, but they continue to inspire, teach, and give to me, one visit at a time.

And when I get handed a jewel like this comment above, those are moments to push all other agenda items aside and smile and laugh together. Moments where division between “patient” and “doctor” dissolve. I have a few other good ones to share with you today.

 

We were talking about his enlarged prostate. I wanted to know how he was doing.

“Let me put it this way. I can no longer write my name in the snow.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

The gentleman was dealing with homelessness. He was living in his car and I wanted to check in to see if he had found a safe place for parking the car at night. I asked, “Where is your home right now?” He paused, and with a sly smile said, “It is in the parking lot outside.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

Lauretta, what is your advice for younger people to stay healthy?

“Get some sheep and follow them around.”

The elder described further, “That was our way of life, and the sheep kept me active and away from health problems.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sir, your diabetes has really gotten out of control over these winter months.

“Doc, I am Bear Clan. I hibernated.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A quote from a person who was over a year into sobriety from alcohol.

“I look forward to things in life right now. I used to think, “I will do those things when I am older” and would just keep drinking. But then “older” came and went, and I came close to death.

One of the things I am excited to do is to go into the prisons and start running the AA group there. I am going to prison, but the right way!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, if you are someone I get the honor of taking care of as a physician, this piece is for you. It is a way of saying thank you. I hope that I show it with every interaction, without need for words. 

And for moments where I fall short, I ask for your understanding and patience. 

In those instances, it might just be that….my get up and go got up and went 😊

Stop Thinking! Start Praying!

Stop Thinking!

Start Praying!

I had become quite fatigued, only a few miles into the Run to Break the Silence that was held this past Sunday. The course was challenging indeed – we ran on the foothills trails of Sandia Pueblo with lots of ups and downs. Very few flat sections.

The issue with my fatigue was that I had entered the half marathon. So, at the time I started to think of how nice it would be to go collapse on the side of the road and just cheer on other runners, I had about 9 of the 13 miles still to complete.

Stop Thinking!

Start Praying!

I said this softly at first. I repeated it a few more times. I began to listen to what I was saying. Within a few minutes, I began to actually practice it.

Now, as I made this switch I had not yet begun the 4+ miles of unrelenting uphill in the race. But I wasn’t thinking anymore as I turned into this section.

I was praying.

I prayed for ones who have crossed over. My dear friend Allen who passed in this last week. 

I prayed for those on healing journeys - Loren, Carrie, and my patients.

I put prayers for Feast Day toward the Sandia Pueblo community.

I began to take in the beauty of the foothills and Sandias. I began to feel the sacred sites that were around us as we ran. I took in the energy of the Ancestors who had lived and prayed and run on this same land.

I gave thanks for being able to move. As the race was to support a school for deaf children, I took in with extra attention the things I was hearing. A gift often taken for granted.

I began to repeat a hip hop line from Black Thought as we kept climbing – “Don’t mistake a mountain for an obstacle.”

Before I knew it, 8 of the 9 miles has passed behind me and my prayers. The finishing stretch was in front of me.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When today gives you an “uphill” moment, try this out yourself:

Stop Thinking!

Start Praying!

Doesn’t matter how steep or long the uphill. Whatever your spiritual path, whatever the language in which you feel comfortable giving thanks, try it.

Stop Thinking!

Start Praying!