Cell 2 Soul: The Humane Health Care Blog

Marginal Notes: Anger, Hatred and Reconciliation

As human beings, we have a need to commemorate those fellow creatures victimized by some tragic event—a war, an attempted genocide, a terrorist attack.  In some ways it does us good to ponder and reflect.  It helps us work through our collective grief—something we need to do in order to heal as a community, as a society, as a nation.

Yet there is a danger in revisiting such events ad infinitum.  That danger has to do with rekindling our anger and hatred for those who perpetrated the horrendous act.  When our collective anger flares, we relive not only the trauma of the historical event itself—it also serves to harden our hatred and prevent us from allowing ourselves to heal as a community, as a society, as a nation. >>more

 

Brian T. Maurer has practiced pediatrics as a Physician Assistant for thirty years.  His "Marginal Notes" column appears periodically in the Cell2Soul Blog. The title "Marginal Notes" is taken from a quote by Henry David Thoreau: "I love a broad margin to my life."

Doc Brownstein's Vision

    "The optimism of a doctor is not based on the naiveté of a schoolboy-a notion often predicated by the public at large-but rather on the commitment to a practical ideal, an ideal strengthened by the rough and rocky road of personal experience.

    In day to day practice a doctor learns to recognize not only angels, but demons of darkness also; for in his job he daily descends into that gloomy and confused underworld of suffering which masks the light of the human soul..."

for more, read Doc Brownstein's essay: Download From Darkness to Light 

 

Doc Art on Kauai, teaching and recharging his batteries.

Bio: Art Brownstein is a physician, a writer, a yoga practitioner, a surfer, and more.  He lives with his family on Kauai.  To learn more about dakine or to contact him, see his website.

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Marginal Notes: Wounded Healers

Henri Nouwen coined the phrase the wounded healer in reference to individuals who have developed the ability to empathize with the sufferings of others through sufferings that they have experienced themselves. >>more

 

Brian T. Maurer has practiced pediatrics as a Physician Assistant for thirty years.  His "Marginal Notes" column appears periodically in the Cell2Soul Blog. The title "Marginal Notes" is taken from a quote by Henry David Thoreau: "I love a broad margin to my life."

Another Dream

Frank Cavano, a retired psychiatrist, writes poetry when moved by his own life experiences or by those of his patients. His poems and short stories speak to what he has learned about the healing process. They emphasize the importance of being there for those who are hurting, the importance of non-judgmental listening and the key role the Spirit can play in healing.  You may reach him at: [email protected]

Another Dream

drowning, drowning in this dream she sought another
another dream absent of black roses and the twenty-five
hours the sixty-one minutes and the single second that
strangled hope dragging the tragic past into a future
now made of that past that blackened rose memory of
loss which had made of her life a Dali-Bosch painting.

clinging, clinging the barnacle of grief was her solitary
rudder through storms she hardly noticed except for the
rain pouring from swollen, reddened, handerkerchiefed
eyes, the rain still feeding the blackened rose memory
until finally, finally and as if by accident she brushed
into a gentle man whose strong arms held her fast in the
present and there the past receded just enough for her to
smile and with her heart paint for herself another dream.

Another Dream:  Download Another Dream

The Third Presence:

One week had now passed since the tragic loss of his daughter, Julie. Dressing for work this morning, Jonathan, a tear-stained automaton, moved from one task to another until he was “ready” to face his first day back at work since the accident. The steps on the stairway made no discernible sound as he pounded them on his way down to the first floor where he kissed Rachel quickly and headed for the garage. What words could possibly suffice in the face of her loss, their loss?  Download Third Presence

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Marginal Notes: Requiem for a Flower

 

 Sixteen years ago on my desk it appeared:
A gift from my parents
To celebrate my new position,
A fresh chapter in my medical career—
A peace lily plant, young and tender,
With one newly formed white flower. >>more

Brian T. Maurer has practiced pediatrics as a Physician Assistant for thirty years.  His "Marginal Notes" column appears periodically in the Cell2Soul Blog. The title "Marginal Notes" is taken from a quote by Henry David Thoreau: "I love a broad margin to my life."

Marginal Notes: The Child Psychiatrist

“Abuela, push me on the swing.”

“Not now, Alexi.  I’m not feeling well this morning.”

“Can you please take me out for a bicycle ride?”

“No, maybe later.”

“Abuela—please!”

“No.”

Six-year-old Alexi pouted as Maria brought her hand up to her forehead to shield her eyes. Suddenly Alexi’s face brightened.

“Abuela, come with me.”  She pulled Maria by the hand, leading her into the front parlor.  >>more

 

Brian T. Maurer has practiced pediatrics as a Physician Assistant for thirty years.  His "Marginal Notes" column appears periodically in the Cell2Soul Blog. The title "Marginal Notes" is taken from a quote by Henry David Thoreau: "I love a broad margin to my life."

Touch Conveys Emotions

This is an important article documenting the ability of simple touch to communicate emotion non-verbally.  It has major implications for how we relate to others and how care givers (nurses, aides, physicians) can initiate the healing process.

Hertenstein MJ, Holmes R, McCullough M, Keltner D.  The communication of emotion via touch.   Emotion. 2009 Aug;9(4):566-73.

Abstract

The study of emotional communication has focused predominantly on the facial and
vocal channels but has ignored the tactile channel. Participants in the current
study were allowed to touch an unacquainted partner on the whole body to
communicate distinct emotions. Of interest was how accurately the person being
touched decoded the intended emotions without seeing the tactile stimulation. The
data indicated that anger, fear, disgust, love, gratitude, and sympathy were
decoded at greater than chance levels, as well as happiness and sadness, 2
emotions that have not been shown to be communicated by touch to date. Moreover,
fine-grained coding documented specific touch behaviors associated with different
emotions. The findings are discussed in terms of their contribution to the study
of emotion-related communication. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all
rights reserved).

Marginal Notes: Sympathetic Resonance

Any vibrating object—a wooden reed, a string, a cymbal, a bell—produces sound waves.  These waves are capable of causing a second object in close proximity to sound as well, even though the second object is not set in motion directly by physical means.  This phenomenon is called sympathetic resonance.

Vibrating objects with musical tonality are not the only things that resonate.  Words are capable of doing the same thing, albeit in a different way....more

 

Brian T. Maurer has practiced pediatrics as a Physician Assistant for thirty years.  His "Marginal Notes" column appears periodically in the Cell2Soul Blog.  The title "Marginal Notes" is taken from a quote by Henry David Thoreau:  "I love a broad margin to my life." 

 

A Caregiver's Story

Nell Burger Kirst, a 4th year medical student at the University of Michigan, tells a memorable and important story in the March 31st New York Times: Comforter and Comforted relates the story of a person who is called to be a "care giver."  Little is written about this important human subspecies, yet they are the substructure of the entire health care system.  Some are unlikely candidates. 

Please read Nell's vignette.  It's a keeper!

Marginal Notes: Transitions

NPR ran a recent story about concerns US Intelligence officials have regarding transitions in political power in three countries run by heads of state whose health is failing. In each of these three countries no mechanism exists for the peaceful transfer of power. Indeed, there is every suggestion that some sort of political power struggle might ensue when these current leaders pass on.

 

Potential power vacuums are always worrisome. Transitions are not necessarily peaceful or pleasant. Outcomes are often unpredictable and sometimes lead to unexpected consequences....more

 

 

Brian T. Maurer has practiced pediatrics as a Physician Assistant for thirty years.  His "Marginal Notes" column appears periodically in the Cell2Soul Blog.  The title "Marginal Notes" is taken from a quote by Henry David Thoreau:  "I love a broad margin to my life."