I had an incident this week where a former patient came up to me and told me: “I am sure glad of who you referred me to take over my care after you retired. She has a great sense of humor, and when I give her some grief she dishes it back! Everything is going to be just fine!”
At the time, I thought he was referring to himself. Looking back and thinking about this…maybe he was also talking about me. Since retiring, I’ve had time to…
watch my grandchildren grow.
Take more photographs.
Continue to exercise every day, but am much more flexible of the time of day when I do.
I have had time to write on my book I am working on.
Spend afternoons and evenings doing things I never had time to do before.
Then…maybe everything isn’t perfect. My knee still reminds me I’m 61. I still have difficult weeks. Life still has surprises. But…then I look at Sarah…and our grandchildren…our kids…and I realize…Everything really is going to be just fine!
I struggled at the beginning of retirement, asking myself “did I retire too early?” “Am I still useful?” “Should I still be practicing?” “Will my patients be taken care of?”
That patient gave me peace that day. My family gives me proof of it everyday!
Nothing is better than being swarmed by my grandkids…especially all of the snuggles from Caleb! This particular patient may have been saying he was going to be just fine, but deep down he was telling me something as a caregiver for almost 35 years, that “You’ve done your work. It’s ok to enjoy the life you’ve earned.”
If nothing else, my grandkids are going to learn, by example, how important it is to help take care of your own health. You have to work at also. You can never take your health for granted, or think things are just going to be good “just because”. We will be having lots of future workouts in the “Reiflex Center”! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day of newest streak #: 886