Yesterday, I was on my way to pick up a chair at my uncle and aunt’s house. Since I was going there straight from work and they don’t live in the same town as me or my work, I was curious on the shortest path to take. Of course I checked Google Maps. The program gave me a few options. Not seeing a great difference between my options, I decided to speak up and ask the last souls still at work late on Friday if they had any ideas on which way I should go.
Thank goodness I did! It just so happens that one of them, lived in the same neighbourhood as my relatives. He was able to share with me what Google Map did not know. He told me by the time I would leave the typical traffic on Friday nights is pretty horrendous along the suggested roads. Thanks to his suggestions, I smiled as I passed the traffic jam at the intersection of the highway I was supposed to take.Though the street I was sent on has a lower speed limit, at least I was in constant motion and it was much more picturesque.
I am grateful to have spoken up. In so doing I was directed to a much nicer ride. I also found out where I road I had so often passed led.
It is a lot like that in life. A simple question or comment to your surroundings might lead to guidance that makes your path more enjoyable. What a great reminder of the kind of information the human experience brings to the mix.
Just think back when you learned a surprising piece of news or a new information. Many people I know, (including me) would reach for their phone…and google it. It is amazing to me to think of the vastness of information found at the tips of our fingers. Never in the history of time was so much information available to the masses. To try to deal with so much information can be overwhelming especially when facing a new medical challenge.
Though the doctor is usually the person to break the medical news, the type of information is usually limited to how the condition can be helped or treated by his or her expertise. It is the same for the therapists They do not necessarily understand what it is like for the patient and his or her family when everyone goes home. Maybe that is a good thing for the professionals.
But if the patient and family have the courage to open up, they might just find someone else who has been on a similar path. In listening, the path may seem less frightening. Together, even surprisingly beautiful moment can be found.
In connected with people, we can be surprised to learn we are not alone...even for experienced ambulance chasers…
Who might you meet on your path?
Please share our story in hopes in lands on the path of someone who is facing a new medical condition and may feel overwhelmed. In reading some of the lessons we have learned, it may make their ride easier.