Iowa Specialty Hospital

Notes from Steve

September 14, 2020

I’m looking at this sign Dr. Whitters gave me.  It says “keep moving forward”.  He gave it to me the first time he retired.  Moving intentionally forward in life is hard.  It means I have to be thinking.  Do you ever have that moment on the road when you’re driving and you snap back to reality and think “how did I get here” because you were on autopilot and weren’t thinking of the actual drive but about something else*?  I was talking to a friend the other day and said to her I’m tired of arguing or fighting for my point and sometimes, I want to just sit back, be quiet and be passive.  “Then be happy with whatever happens” … said my friend.

I commented on someone’s post the other day and got slammed by some gal in Washington D.C. because I was being a “typical privileged white male”.   I commented back that she must be fun at parties … well, that was like throwing gas on a fire (she ripped into me).  Not recommended.  I think I need to reduce my level of snarkiness and try and be better.  Choose my attitude to be one of gratitude and joy. 

This is hard stuff.  I have to be conscious yet nice?  I have to live with gratitude and be positive?  When I was growing up, my dad used to tell me that his favorite comedians were the grumbly, sarcastic ones who lived on the edge of mean.  This is who I am. 

But not everyone (chick from D.C.) gets my humor.  Whether we are doctors or presidents or front line employees - our words have meaning. As I move forward with positive intentions, maybe I practice a  little peace and quiet and try rising above the emotion, and understanding the motivation of the comment before adding my 2 cents.  This feels like it would be a good idea.  

*or you dosed off

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