Another on-call day.
Cardiac care unit.
16 patients.
4 new cases of heart attacks.
- among them is a man of 32 years of age. A smoker.
A man much younger than myself.
It made me think...
- How much time do I have?
Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,
even to the dull and ignorant;they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham,drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
11 comments:
Thank God I don't smoke. And I don't have to be a doctor to clarify 'smoking kills'.
"Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass."
I am all cynical about love. How about me, doctor?
Dear Dr. Tranquility,
Thank you for this post. It has been a horrible week for me - a friend has Stage 3 cancer, another died and my uncle just had his third heart attack.
Funny how I was thinking of Desiderata and you posted this poem. I wrote about my feelings in two posts :
In Praise of Older Women and The Power of Appreciation
Your song Grow old with you really made me cry...as I lost three loved ones in one year and I just hope that I can really grow old with my loved ones...
Thanks Tranquility...with much appreciation and tears..
Have a good day!
Sir Pok Deng:
This may interest you though: Smoking reduce likelihood of developing ulcerative colitis.
So which illness you rather fancy to have sir?
Btw cynical about love is just another way of saying.. I can't live with or without you.
Masterwordsmith,
Glad you like 'grow old with you', it's a short and sweet song.
I found desiderata few years ago, and i read it every now and then - and it never fails to remind me that what is important in this world is: humble and kindness.
Be strong as you are now.
Take care.
The so called fancy illness; ED is the one that I always afraid of. Thanks anyway, I'm not having any fancy sickness from smoking. LOL.
Anyway Dr., I'm sorry to say that I'm not really into poems so 'Desiderata' has left my mind all blurry to think too much about it. Don't worry, I'll try to comprehend every single line with this limited range of Enguhliszh skills.
The word 'love' caught my attention in a glimpse so I was constructing something cynically beautiful to describe (or to bash?) about this complex thing in human's emotional bouquet, but good for you I failed.
G'day.
You didn't fail my friend. You've succeeded in your own way.
Life has no boundary in thought & emotion. Let alone the word love.
Unfortunately, dead doesn't discriminate by age, or gender, or creed, or ethnicity. Cherish life. Cherish love. Strive to be happy. Take care. God Bless.
Couldn't agree more. Even more reason for the livings not to discrimate others based on these criteria
Yes, How much time do I have left? We need to be constantly reminded.
Ordinary superhero: Every second that left us is gone forever.
Have a safe trip!
This may interest you though: Smoking reduce likelihood of developing ulcerative colitis. - what is ulcerative colitis?
is it true the myth stating when you have spent most of your life smoking, once you stopped, you will get ill..
my father used to smoke until he was 60+ almost 70..then he quit smoking and started to cough badly..and before he passed away he was diagnosed with intestine cancer..
strangely however, doc said his lung is clean very clean as if he is not a smoker except for the cancer had spread to the lung and liver..
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