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Slow Down, Dr. Val

I was a bit tired today, thinking about how nice the long weekend will be.  A colleague wrote me an email reminder to slow down… he said, “go home and have a nice glass of wine and relax.”  I guess research supports drinking in moderation – it’s good for the heart, right?

But then, I noticed this poem in Paul Levy’s blog – and I realized that we docs could all use a little slowing down…


ENCOUNTER ON THE STAIRS
By Warner V. Slack, MD

Next to Children’s Hospital, in a hurry
Down the stairs, two at a time
Slowed down by a family, moving slowly
Blocking the stairway, I’m in a hurry
I stop, annoyed, I’m in a hurry
Seeing me, they move to the side
A woman says softly, “sorry” in Spanish
I look down in passing, there’s a little boy
Unsteady in gait, holding onto an arm
Head shaved, stitches in scalp
Patch over eye, thin and pale
He catches my eye and gives me a smile
My walk is slower for the rest of the day
This post originally appeared on Dr. Val’s blog at RevolutionHealth.com.


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One Response to “Slow Down, Dr. Val”

  1. RH Host Melissa says:

    What a great reminder to all of us Dr. Val.  It’s so important to take time to smell the roses as they say.  Thanks for sharing it with us.  

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