You just have to keep your eyes open. That goes for patients and acupuncturists at Stroger County Hospital. For practitioners, the crush of unresolved cases, back surgeries, neck surgeries, cancer, migraines, gunshot wounds, they bring not just their unmitigated pain, but its history, day after bone-crushing day. It is a dark tunnel which encourages one to squeeze closed the eyes of the mind, and the soul, to gut through the next moment, hanging on for relief, no matter how short.
It's easy to buy into the story. I preach ruthless compassion. Starting with self. Cultivating the spirit of the Warrior..for Wellness. It to build on the last post, "You can't give it if you don't have it." And you don't have it if you are not building your strength, your prudent use of it, every day, with every conscious breath. We move into the painful space of our patients as fire-keepers. We have the secret knowledge of seeing our work, no matter the circumstance, work more than not. Without attachment to outcome. We come into the room smiling, bright, hopeful. We listen with our heart. We cut through the story, and with a nickel's worth of needles, chase away the dragon of pain, at least for a while. Expanding the circle of light. Which we nurture within ourselves, moment by moment.
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