May I vent?

Yes, I know my articles are meant to be inspirational and they are usually fairly short. This one will be longer and inspirational, I hope, after I take a bit of space to vent. It’s rare for me to share personal happenings. I am making an exception here.

Earlier this week, my doctor’s office had me scheduled for regular blood tests before my routine health provider visit next week. I fasted, didn’t have my usual coffee, and drank plenty of water - and I was there when the clinic opened at 8:00 a.m. The first annoyance was, of course, that the clinic wants us there at a certain time and only rarely do they see us at that time. But we’re nervous about being late since they might make us wait even longer if we aren’t there on time. So I was on time.

As 8:15 rolled around, I was getting ready to go to the receptionist and ask what was holding things up. Just then, the lab tech came out and called my name. I shared with him it was good to see him since I was getting ready to ask the front desk about the delay. Second annoyance: he ignored me and acted like I hadn’t said anything. I am now used to this treatment from younger folks and let it go. From what I can tell, young people are not being taught how to communicate with people directly. We have to email, text, or Facebook them to get a response - and then we’re lucky to hear back.

Moving on. Of course the lab tech couldn’t find a vein so had to go through all kinds of tricks of his trade to get enough blood for the test. After leaving a urine specimen, I walked out to the lobby and told the front desk women goodbye as I opened the front door door to leave. Before I could escape, I mean leave, one of them said, “Wait a minute. The physician’s assistant wants to talk to you.” Jokingly I said “Ok, did I do something wrong?” She chuckled and said “No.”

I waited about five minutes when my name was called once again. Standing at a different doorway was a woman who pointed in the direction I should walk. Again I asked if I had done something wrong and she said no.

Once I sat down, she opened a computer and began asking me questions that I knew were from a test for dementia. I did as well as Trump. My three words that I will never forget were “Daughter-Heaven-Mountain.” I had to remember these for about fifteen minutes while the assistant asked me other questions and asked me to draw the face of a clock. I continued to accommodate her until she pulled up a piece of equipment I didn’t recognize and I asked what it was for and what she was doing.

“Oh,” she said, “we’re doing some routine tests this week so they don’t have to be done next week when you have your annual physical. You’ll have more time to talk with your provider since these tests will be done.” Then she told me to remove my shirt. Ok, now we were really going into uncharted territory. “What are you doing now? No one told me any of this would happen today. Had I known, I would have worn a different shirt, plus I would have let my spouse know I would be gone longer than usual. I come to this clinic for two reasons. First, it is primarily for seniors so I expect the staff to know about the issues we seniors face. Plus it is a small office so I expect to be treated like a human and not like a cog in a wheel. Right now, I am feeling very much like a cog.”

She chuckled and said, “ I know what you mean. They are short-staffed here and I am just filling in.” The she continued with her tests and proceeded to attach a heart monitor that I have to wear for two weeks. Again, I had been told nothing about this beforehand. She said if I have any incidents with my heart to push the button. I asked what sort of incidents. She said like an irregular heart beat or trouble breathing. I said, well, I’ll be pushing it a lot since I have a permanent irregular heart beat which is controlled by medication. This information is also in my chart had she bothered to check it.

When I left, I felt invisible, ignored, disrespected and subjected to all the ways people tend to treat seniors.

Fast forward to noon when I had an appointment with my dentist. The two appointments happened the same day because one of my teeth had been hurting and this was the soonest he could see me. Both of us expected the visit to be a simple filling. Nope. He said he needed to pull the tooth, explaining the horrors that would happen if we left it in much longer. So, out came a tooth before I could tell it goodbye and thank it for many years of service.

I came home and promptly sat in my favorite chair to review the day. I love the phrase “Expect the unexpected.” Usually, however, this means positive things happen for me. This day that is not what occurred. Here is the inspiration I want to share.

First, when we start our day we think we know how it will go. We may or may not be right. Holding our day (and our lives) loosely means surfing the day. We ride the waves the Universe gives us. Some will be smooth and others will not. If we stay in balance with ourselves and the energies around us, we can surf more effectively.

Second, just because we’re nice people doesn’t mean others will treat us this way. To many people, we’re just another patient, another person in their day who will be with them briefly. We don’t really matter to them. When I lived in Washington State, I knew many people in my community and I was well-acquainted with the medical people in my area. Now, I am not a known quantity and people just see me as an older woman who they have to see as part of their workday. When we can give up our ego-identity and have no expectations of others, we’ll be more content.

Third, it’s important to remember that we have no idea what’s going on in other people’s lives. We have no idea of the pressures they might be facing. Right now, the entire planet is going through huge growing pains and people respond differently. Many people don’t even see us as part of their day. We’re just another patient, another customer, another have-to in their lives. When we can be detached, radiate love and wellbeing no matter our circumstances, life will respond in kind and we’ll know we’re doing our part to support the planet and all life that lives here.

Next week, I get to see my primary physician at the same clinic. It will be fun to see what the energies are then as well as see how he’s handling life these days.

Living in joy, grace, and ease,

Krysta