Prescription

     Written down before beginning a plan of care including medication, an anticipated remedy may improve our health.  We learn the common uses of the meds, why we need them, and  how and when to use them.  We are also warned about interactions causing the drug to be less effective or dangerous and cautioned about stopping too soon or adding other elements.  Side effects are listed which may create unpleasant or dangerous complications.  Sometimes, a medication that is good for one part of the body may be dangerous for another.
     When we have other issues in life, we may need to write a plan before beginning a  remedy.   Obviously, we feel we have a need for action but should be careful of how we go about it and when.  The change may be a temporary or a life-long adjustment.  Our actions may cause unanticipated side effects which may be pleasant or not.  The plan may need to be improved to get the results we want.
     We usually follow the advice of our doctors when it comes to helping our body function as it should.  We need to be sure our own prescriptions keep our everyday lives functioning well and our relationships healthy while we continue toward our goals.    
      

Patience

     

     Everyone assumes  that patience is a virtue, and the more we have, the better.  Having too much patience, however, can be detrimental to emotional and physical health, to personal relationships, and to group dynamics.  Patience can turn into passivity and procrastination while we avoid conflict and problem solving.  Some even believe that patience should be our goal and that whatever is supposed to happen will happen.  When holding our tongue to avoid hurting other people's feelings, we may even get a sense of accomplishment and pride in being self sacrificial.
     Not having enough patience can also cause problems.  When a situation is beyond our control, we  must face reality and adjust our emotions accordingly.   When a situation can be improved by increasing our patience, we get extra time to analyze the problem and plan the best solution.
     Some people seem to have an easier time being patient, perhaps being born with that disposition, or modeling themselves after others who showed patience, or being taught that impatience was not a desirable characteristic.   Other people may have a harder time controlling emotions and impulses and have more difficulty adjusting to frustration and change.
     As we face the difficulties of aging and our bodies and minds are not functioning the way they used to, we need to adjust to new situations.  We also need to adjust as our spouse or other family members begin to age, sometimes facing physical and mental challenges.  We can't see, hear, or move the way we used to.  Sometimes we can't remember or think the way we did in younger years.  Now more than ever, we need to be patient with our loved ones and ourselves.
    

Preach or Practice

     Many of us are so ready to spread our opinions to others, to preach our sermons, to show the world our wisdom; however, at times, we need to step away from promoting our ideas, to tone down our rhetoric.  Any noise can get people's attention and temporarily block other thoughts but soon can become irritating and cause listeners to cover their ears. 
     I remember when it was  considered impolite to discuss religion or politics at the dinner table.  The obvious reason was that these subjects could start conflict and arguments which would destroy the pleasant atmosphere of a social gathering.  Now, I realize one other reason we should, at times, avoid these subjects.  Our beliefs can prevent us from interacting and discovering more important facets about each other, seeing what we have in common as human beings, and practicing empathy and kindness no matter how different we are.
     Perhaps, we should be more concerned about ideas that go beyond religion and politics.  No matter how strong our convictions, we should be more concerned about loving our neighbor and our enemy, about making sure the world survives chaos, hunger, and disease, about how we can practice instead of preach.
    

On the Surface

     Adult, child, female, male; tall, short, fat, fit; light, dark, ethnic, race; hair, bald, eyes, mouth; smile, frown, friendly, dangerous; wrinkles, spots, piercings, tattoos; make-up, jewelry, clothes, phone; disabilities, canes, wheelchair, bandages; perfume, cologne, sweat, breath; foreign language, foreign accent, drawl, tone.
     Within a few seconds, we observe what's on the surface, make judgments, and draw conclusions that may not be correct.  Our value systems and prejudices can distort the picture. What we feel about first impressions tells us more about ourselves than about the people we observe.  Quickly judging others and comparing ourselves to them may cause us to feel superior or inferior.  By being more accepting of what we observe on the surface, we can relax and use our energies for more important issues.   We can discover so much more by going beyond skin deep, beyond what we can see, smell, and hear.      

The Missing Link

     Gaps in the evolutionary record provide a type of proof to some people that humans are a completely separate species.  Even though similarities to other species outnumber the few differences, evolution is not accepted by creationists.
     Putting the topic of evolution aside, we all need to discover how our thinking can have a missing link because we skip a step in logic.  Often, mistakes are made when we consider cause and effect.  We see a problem, evaluate the evidence, come to a conclusion, determine the cause, and imagine a solution.  Any  misstep in this process can lead to faulty thinking.  Having a prejudice can make the process more difficult.
     Listening to only one side of a story causes conclusions to be biased.   Blame or credit may be given to the wrong person.  The solution may then be to get rid of the person "causing" the problem and replacing him with someone else.  Some may wish to get rid of B and group D in favor of group T.
     Sometimes, I think the missing link is here, alive and well.
     The body may be human, but the brain is Neanderthal.
     (Apologies to N)    

The Other Guy

Why is it so difficult to understand the other guy?  Perhaps these are some of the reasons:

1)  Your backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives may be very different.  2)  Your own opinions seem beyond question.  You believe your sources of information present the truth: religious texts, scientific discoveries, family beliefs, the majority opinion of your acquaintances.  3)  Your desire to stay secure, comfortable, and loyal; you don't want to rock your boat, to upset your friends and family, or to distance yourself from social or religious groups.  4)  Your fear of losing the benefits of your beliefs.  For example, losing the presence of the Perfect Parent teaching, guiding, and protecting you and providing life after death.  Or losing hope that medical science will extend your life or that your political party can improve government.  5)  Your self confidence inhibits you from imagining you might be wrong.  6)  Your prejudice against the other guy and other opinions reinforces the idea that he is wrong and you are right.   Only believing those who agree with you adds to your bias.  7)  Your focus on perpetuating your own beliefs reduces or eliminates the time and energy you could spend on understanding others.  8)  Your dislike of compromise, agreeing to disagree, or acknowledging grey areas.  9)  Your self satisfaction in believing you are right and others are wrong.

The other guy may have the same reasons to not understand you.  When you can get beyond the obstacles to understanding each other, empathy can develop.   Maybe you will change your opinions; maybe you won't.  You will improve the definition of your own opinions by including what you believe and what you don't.  Understanding the other guy will help you understand yourself. 

Healing

     The physical body's ability to heal enables us to have a long and healthy life.  With the help of medical science, our bodies can repair and restore after illness, injuries, surgeries, and the bumps and bruises of life.  Most of the time, our bodies function and heal without our even being aware of what's going on.
     Equally amazing is our brain's ability to heal from past events, stress, worry, and unhealthy thinking.  Sometimes, psychologists and therapists can help improve our mental health.  Most of the time, we just need to be aware, sustain our healthy thoughts, and repair and heal the unhealthy.
     Our need for physical healing is often more obvious than our need to improve our emotional and mental health.  Evaluate what works to achieve goals, improve behavior, and  have satisfying relationships.  Forgive others and yourself to heal past wounds.  Develop strategies to cope with stress and reduce worries,  Eliminate  prejudices and long-held opinions that no longer seem true.   Be  open to new ideas and perspectives.  Improving the way we think and feel can lead to a better life. 
     Healing occurs in body and mind in order to restore and maintain health. Some healing will be automatic, some will need the help of professionals, and some can happen with our own efforts.