"I've got nothing to do today but smile"
-Simon and Garfunkel
"Keep smiling because life is a beautiful thing and because there is so much to smile about"
- Marilyn Monroe
Obviously you can tell the theme here is about smiling :)
It's kinda strange- but I guess I do come across as a happy person.
Dr Kessler asked me one day as I was walking back to my little "office" - "Why do you always have such a beautiful smile on?" I knew that day I had a HUGE smile plastered on my face...
I replied "because I'm happy" and then I added "And I think everyone should be happy" - as childish as that sounded, it just came out without being filtered through my brain
I'll give you a clue why that day that very moment I was so happy with myself :)
I felt like I made a difference in someone's life: I was consulted on a patient who upon encountering him for the first time, was angry, agitated & frustrated with everything/everyone since he was admitted to the hospital... With prodding after awhile, I had found out that he had contemplated suicide prior to coming in, and my heart sank. Underneath this feisty old man's demeanor, was a heart frozen with fear and sadness. I spent a good 40 minutes just getting to know him, and trying to reach beneath his facade. AND- I got him smiling, receptive and open at the end of our conversation. Deed done, I was of course, happy and proud. AND so was he :)
I explained "my job is to take care of you. If you don't feel like I'm doing a good job, you let me know- and if you feel like no one is explaining to you what's going on, you can ask the nurses to page me, and I'll come by" He then smiled.
I love it when I have a good relationship with my patients, and when I get them to place their trust in me- it makes taking care of them so much easier.
Strange how the very next day, Dr Warren- my attending rounding with me, said "You always have a smiling face"... and then the day after, an intern said to me "Sueyi, you're always so pleasant. It is kind of refreshing"- and he said it with a puzzled look on his face, that made me laugh out loud!
Well, I'd hope that my smile is contagious and that it brightens up someone's day. I spoke to my dad yesterday and told him about my work week, and he said "You're like a ray of sunshine" - and I'd like that to be true, spreading some joy and happiness around. That's always nice to know :) :)
