variations on a theme

Let’s say you have three patients who are battling cancer.

One is devastated by the diagnosis. She is overwhelmed by fear and dread. Convinced her situation is hopeless, she resists starting chemo. She just wants to die. Her doctor suggests an anti-depressant.

"Once you choose hope,

anything is possible."

~Christopher Reeve~~

One is a man of deep faith. He is convinced that God has the power to cure him even though his prognosis is unfavorable. He devotes himself to prayer and sacrifice because he believes that will earn him God’s mercy. Even when his cancer spreads, he clings to his faith. It gives him hope and a sense of optimism right up until he is forced to surrender to the disease. His doctor tries to be respectful of his faith, but he can’t shake off his own doubts about it.

"Cancer didn't bring me

to my knees.

It brought me to my feet."

~Michael Douglas~

The other patient is f***ing pissed off about it. She is not about to lose this battle. After all, she has a husband and children at home. It isn’t fair to them. She agrees to an aggressive plan of treatment that includes surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. She begins a program of exercise, diet, and meditation, and she adopts a practice of loving self-care. She is determined to beat this thing. Her doctor encourages her even though he doesn't indulge in self-care, himself.

"You never know how strong you are

until being strong is

the only choice you have."

~Bob Marley~

Three different patients with the same disease, and three different stories. What difference does it make? There is an abundance of literature concerning the factors that affect a patient’s quality of life during treatment for cancer and how this correlates with his likelihood of recovery. Some factors are immutable: age, gender, and family history, for example. Others are modifiable: emotional and attitudinal factors, dietary factors, level of fitness, faith, and social support.

Given their stories, the physician will approach each of these patients differently, even though each of them has the same fundamental needs: education, encouragement, and support.

When is the last time you had to convince a patient to enter treatment? When is the last time you offered to pray for--or with--a patient?

When is the last time you practiced self-care?

"Self-care is a 

divine responsibility."

~Danielle La Porte~

                                                                                                                                                  jan





pretty much foolproof advice

This is just a quick post because theoretically I'm off the grid this week, on retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, Massachusetts (where the use of devices is frowned upon). But, this is important. This is for aspiring writers and storytellers everywhere. 

So, it happened to me again. I pulled a random book off the shelf at the Kripalu bookstore where I was perusing books on meditation and mindfulness, when this book jumped out at me:

The author, Matthew Dicks, is a bestselling novelist, thirty-six time Moth StorySLAM champion, and five-time GrandSLAM champion...proof he knows how to tell a good story. In this book, he shares what he has learned about successful storytelling from his experience with The Moth, nuggets like how your story must begin, how to capture and hold your listener's/reader's attention, how and why to make people cry, and how to balance that with humor. How to amass ideas for stories, what to include, and what to cut.

If I had to recommend one book about storytelling, this would be it. I should know. At last count, I own, and have mostly read, over 150 books covering every aspect of writing from novels to short stories, from memoir to creative non-fiction to poetry. This is the ONE.

"Great stories happen to

those who can tell them."

~Ira Glass~

Happy storytelling!

jan

how to write something true

Windowpane...compliments of Jack Frost in collaboration with Mother Nature

If you plan to write or paint or sing or dance this year...this new year...I hope you have friends who celebrated New Year's Eve by making a list of resolutions with enthusiasm, energy, and optimism, because this is what it takes to make creative dreams like yours come true. I hope your friends pursue their goals with devotion, persistence, and joy so that you can learn from them. 

I have a couple of friends who are like this. Artistic, imaginative, dedicated souls who inspire and encourage me. This year for Christmas, they sent me a poster titled, "How to Write Something True"...step by step instructions to make my writing dreams come true, taking it one word at a time. The same advice applies to you. Simply start by taking one stroke with your brush, by taking the first step of your dance, by singing one note of your melody at a time.

If you have a story to tell, especially if you are a doctor or a nurse, a therapist in any field, a medic, or an orderly, you have something true to say. If you are a patient or caretaker, you know how hard the truth can be. If you resolve to write (or draw or sing or dance) about it this year...this new year...you may be surprised to see what happens next. Affirmation. Release. Healing. So that you can truly live.

"All you have to do is

write one true sentence.

Write the truest sentence that you know."

~Ernest Hemingway~

jan