Somehow
Had a patient tell me "I can tell you like what you do. You enjoy it, and you care. You really do care." Of course I care. Heck, I think I care too much. Sometimes, when I really think about the work that I do, I think of the human mind, body, spirit and their willpower. I'm thinking more of the addicts I've treated over the years. As one of my co-workers said in the specific context of addicts, "they're survivors. They have to be." I can't help but agree with that. A lot of addicts I've treated are homeless, some of them for many years. So many times they tell me "I hate this life" or "I don't like living this way." Some have said "I feel like a prisoner."
Unpopular opinion; I wholeheartedly believe no one wakes up one morning and decides "hmm, I'm going to become addicted to dope." Just like no one wakes up one morning and decides "hmm, I'm going to become a diabetic." Sort of the same thing, isn't it? For some reason the disease of addiction has the spotlight. Not sure why, really. Anyway, that's besides the point. Most days though, I can go about my day and not really think about my patients, but sometimes they make me sad. It's not necessarily the patients that make me sad (although sometimes the way they act makes me sad) rather it's the stories they've shared with me. I've heard a lot of stories. I can't share any of them here, but some of them will forever stick with me. I can't react when they tell me though what's going on in their lives, even though on the inside I'm just wondering how in the world anyone can go through such things and a, still be alive, and b, smile? Who's to say I would be the same way if I had been through some of what they've been through? No way of ever knowing.
My life isn't perfect by any means, but I'm doing ok. More than ok. I really have nothing to complain about. With the exception of my still hurting foot for the last few years, I'm ok. I have two jobs I love, a family that loves and supports me, a wonderful church family, great friends and most of all a God who is faithful, loving and just. For some of who I've encountered over the years, those aren't enough. Disease doesn't discriminate. It's cruel, but sometimes it's beautiful, because there are those that despite such they learn to rise above their ailments, overcome them and do great and wonderful things in the world. It's a truly amazing thing, isn't it?
Unpopular opinion; I wholeheartedly believe no one wakes up one morning and decides "hmm, I'm going to become addicted to dope." Just like no one wakes up one morning and decides "hmm, I'm going to become a diabetic." Sort of the same thing, isn't it? For some reason the disease of addiction has the spotlight. Not sure why, really. Anyway, that's besides the point. Most days though, I can go about my day and not really think about my patients, but sometimes they make me sad. It's not necessarily the patients that make me sad (although sometimes the way they act makes me sad) rather it's the stories they've shared with me. I've heard a lot of stories. I can't share any of them here, but some of them will forever stick with me. I can't react when they tell me though what's going on in their lives, even though on the inside I'm just wondering how in the world anyone can go through such things and a, still be alive, and b, smile? Who's to say I would be the same way if I had been through some of what they've been through? No way of ever knowing.
My life isn't perfect by any means, but I'm doing ok. More than ok. I really have nothing to complain about. With the exception of my still hurting foot for the last few years, I'm ok. I have two jobs I love, a family that loves and supports me, a wonderful church family, great friends and most of all a God who is faithful, loving and just. For some of who I've encountered over the years, those aren't enough. Disease doesn't discriminate. It's cruel, but sometimes it's beautiful, because there are those that despite such they learn to rise above their ailments, overcome them and do great and wonderful things in the world. It's a truly amazing thing, isn't it?
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