A Gratitude Letter to My Doctor

High Five!

Have you thanked your doctor lately? How about all those other really important people in your life, who truly contribute to your happiness and well-being.

My doctor just retired. It was a moment. She’s been my doctor since I moved to this city at the age of 27. She meant a great deal to me. I think I told her that in person, regularly. In posting it here, I am addressing it to doctors everywhere. I am also writing this here to inspire you to pause and appreciate those key people in your life.

 

Dear Doc:

Thank you. You make a difference.

I am sure your days are filled with people complaining, being impatient at having to wait, experiencing all kinds of anxiety at hearing a test result…and there you are, plugging away and greeting each of us like we are the first person you have seen that day.

I want you to know – in case I don’t say it often enough – you are very important to me. You are as valued as my friends are to me. You attend to me physically, and you also help me be better emotionally. Everything you say, and how you say it, makes a difference in my day.?

You greeted me as a new patient to you, who was also new to this city and to a brand new phase of my life. You gave me the news that I was expecting both of my children, and you cared for us through those pregnancies and all of the follow-up care. Even though you were no longer taking patients, you accepted my request to see my mother who was in the early stages of cognitive dementia and fearful of what was in store for her. You took on my daughter as a patient as she developed into womanhood, and you even allowed me to ask questions about her during my own appointments. You have allowed me to breathe easier when I found ‘something’, somewhere on my body, and you were able to put my mind to rest about that thing.

I hope you know – and always know – that you have added to my life in immeasurable ways. I will always remember you with fond thoughts.

You are not replaceable, but I hope I am able to find someone just like you. Someone who chose this career path because she or he had a passion for helping people continue to be better. Someone who is caring, kind, considerate and brutally honest when that is required! Someone who truly sees me, hears me. and values me as I will see, hear and value them.

Thank you, Doc! High Five to you!

Warm Regards, Deri

So, who can you send a letter to today?

Deri Latimer is an expert in positive possibilities for people! A TEDx Speaker and Author, Deri?s message reinforces that positive habits are the pathway to a happier and healthier life ? at work, at home and at any age!?www.derilatimer.com

Are You Ready for ReWIREment?

FiredUp_MiddleAger1Yes, you read that correctly! Rewirement. What a cool word. And it’s potentially the newest description for that ‘next’ phase of life that many of us find ourselves talking and thinking about more often these days.

I loved it when I first heard it – from a colleague of mine as we shared a coffee last week. Rewirement. What does that word communicate to you?

To me, rewiring is all about continually moving toward creating the kind of life you want to live. It is about choosing thoughts that help you to experience your life to it’s fullest. (Of course, Rewirement can happen at any phase of life, not just when you are contemplating leaving the workforce.)

What thoughts can serve you well as you look ahead to the next phase of your life? Here are a few ideas to consider:

Thoughts about Yourself:

  • I learn something new every day
  • I like where I am in my life right now
  • I can continue to contribute meaningfully to this world

Thoughts about Others:

  • My family and friends value me as much as I value them
  • Every person is doing the best they can in the present moment
  • I enjoy learning something new from the people I connect with each and every day

Thoughts about Ageing:

  • People can feel energized and engaged in life at any age
  • We really are getting older AND getting better
  • The lines on one’s face and body mark memories of the great life they have lived

Thoughts about Retirement:

  • This is an exciting time in life
  • It is possible to continue to be engaged in things that bring joy
  • Retiring is not an ‘ending’, it is a new beginning

Rewirement is also about choosing behaviours that maximize your happiness and general well-being. Certainly choosing positive thoughts will help you to choose positive behaviours, but you can do this in the reverse order as well – choose positive behaviours and notice how your thinking (and feeling) changes.

For example, I just started 100 Happy Days (http://100happydays.com/) – an online platform to focus on happiness. Each day, for 100 days, you submit a photo to a social media platform of your choice (instagram, twitter, facebook, etc.) and use the hashtag #100happydays. Then, notice what happens. Just like the power of a gratitude journal, taking a picture and posting it online is an easy way to keep being mindful about what brings you happiness each day (and remind you that there are a lot of things that bring you happiness every day – you just need to focus on them). It’s really that simple. I’ve already noticed an upswing, and I am only on day #2!

So, what will you choose to think and to do today – to get ready for Rewirement?