Its winter, well, almost, Diwali is over and thanksgiving is going to be upon us. This Saturday morning, I sit down with my coffee to paint watercolor, self teaching, weekends are my time for creative outlet, also some self reflection. Work is usually physically and mentally challenging but dealing with complex cases also leaves you emotionally exhausted. Dealing with death sometimes its difficult but in some cases its probably a welcome end for the patients. These things do affect us as we spend an hour with patient everyday, learn their quirks , their attitudes, to gauge people and what works for them, if they are sincere or faking. Work comes with many challenges like dealing with different personalities on daily basis, which, of course, we all do at work. Now, add severely sick and debilitated patients, who are in constantly pain or can't breathe, to the mix. More often than not, it makes me think of how I would be if I was in their place. With all the challenges, biggest one is trying to understand the patient, language does seem to be a barrier when the patient is Vietnamese, Korean, Cambodian or Mexican, etc..
Lip reading, is an art form that I haven't mastered. I never realized how important voice is, I am not talking about the deep baritone that some of us have a penchant for, but just the sound and how often we take it for granted. Some of patients can't talk permanently, because they have had their larynx removed (usually former smokers), or ones who can't temporarily phonate due to tracheotomy. We struggle to understand them, but then I realize how frustrating it is for them to make their basic needs known or talk to the family. Phone is out of question, unless you are texting. We then resort to writing, but that makes its tougher in patients who can't write due to poor grip weakness, pointing is our next option provided you and they both know how to spell the word. Finally it is phrases or pictures. It's tough to carry on a conversation with this population. So it's wonderful when they start talking, I guess the excitement is almost, if not quite as toddler who has spoken his/her first word. As much as I am getting better with lip reading. It's still challenging when some of them barely move it or over exaggerate.
When I was doing my short stint with Carnatic vocals, I got easily frustrated with my inability to take certain pitch, then reminding myself that I don't practice like I should be. But then I think of people who can't talk and wonder how they would feel day after day not being able to voice their needs, emotions, let alone their opinions. Aren't we blessed! But we take it for granted and complain about things we don't have. I guess it is human nature, to be dissatisfied, to compare, to envy , rather than accept. Maybe those negatives do make us do better for ourselves. I wonder if our expectation from ourselves and those around us is escalating. We seem to have we lost the ability to just enjoy our gifts, our present and be thankful for all that we have and all that we are. I wish an alarm would ring loud and notify me whenever I forget to be thankful. So let's for once, not compare, not expect, not worry, just smile and offer thanks.
Lip reading, is an art form that I haven't mastered. I never realized how important voice is, I am not talking about the deep baritone that some of us have a penchant for, but just the sound and how often we take it for granted. Some of patients can't talk permanently, because they have had their larynx removed (usually former smokers), or ones who can't temporarily phonate due to tracheotomy. We struggle to understand them, but then I realize how frustrating it is for them to make their basic needs known or talk to the family. Phone is out of question, unless you are texting. We then resort to writing, but that makes its tougher in patients who can't write due to poor grip weakness, pointing is our next option provided you and they both know how to spell the word. Finally it is phrases or pictures. It's tough to carry on a conversation with this population. So it's wonderful when they start talking, I guess the excitement is almost, if not quite as toddler who has spoken his/her first word. As much as I am getting better with lip reading. It's still challenging when some of them barely move it or over exaggerate.
When I was doing my short stint with Carnatic vocals, I got easily frustrated with my inability to take certain pitch, then reminding myself that I don't practice like I should be. But then I think of people who can't talk and wonder how they would feel day after day not being able to voice their needs, emotions, let alone their opinions. Aren't we blessed! But we take it for granted and complain about things we don't have. I guess it is human nature, to be dissatisfied, to compare, to envy , rather than accept. Maybe those negatives do make us do better for ourselves. I wonder if our expectation from ourselves and those around us is escalating. We seem to have we lost the ability to just enjoy our gifts, our present and be thankful for all that we have and all that we are. I wish an alarm would ring loud and notify me whenever I forget to be thankful. So let's for once, not compare, not expect, not worry, just smile and offer thanks.
