August 26, 2003

"Remember Columbus"

I was moaning to a colleague in Trinidad about some challenges. This was his reply....it totally shifted my perspective.

Read on and you'll understand why.

"I always remember pondering about Christopher Columbus on his maiden trip across the Atlantic. The lack of food, water, the rough seas, the mutiny threat, being lost at sea....boy oh boy can you imagine that stress???

But you know, it was the adversity littered along the way that made his achievement all the more tasty and enjoyable. I always think of this when faced with adversity and I rather a journey of rough seas that an uneventful, calm ocean voyage.

You have a great personality and an excellent approach to your work.....we can never have enough character building....let this tenure continue to build your character and come out of the experience stronger and better. You are a leader. People depend on you for direction. Stay strong....and remember Columbus."

Now after that, could I ever, in all fairness to Christopher, be upset about rough seas?

(ok, life aint a bed of roses....it will take some time to get used to, but I have to admit that several times today alone, I said to myself "Columbus"!)

Posted by yamfoot at August 26, 2003 06:33 PM
Comments

Ok so now we are on to philosophy....Life ain't a bed of roses and who to testify to that than yours truly. Jeez! Sometimes the thorns need to let up tho'.

Posted by: Sis at August 26, 2003 08:14 PM

I guess the choice with thorns is whether they are sharp like the ones on the roses or soft like the ones on the .....well I dunno which plants have soft thorns!

Posted by: Michelle at August 26, 2003 08:21 PM

Hail up yamfoot. (Still waiting on the explanation for the name. I have had a few patients with said diagnosis.)

Indeed, life does have its 'hups'(as a lady I know says) and downs. I remeber when I was in medical school, there were times that I thought to myself, "Why did I choose this?"

There were weekends and parties that many of my friends (many of whom were working and earning reasonable salaries....poor me was on what I called 'student salary') were going to, that I sometimes had to miss out on. Sometimes because I needed to study (yes, the nerdy one has to study) and also, I did not like to tax my parents for recreation money unnecessarily, it just did not seem right to me.

Eventually, I got through all my exams (all passed on first attempt I may add...(not boasting...just the truth) and today, I don't have any regrets...yet.

Life has had its tough times for me as well, but time is a wonderful healer and eventually we weather the storm. We also grow from life's experiences and become able to manage ourselves better and can help out or advise others in times of need. This is one of the reasons why I feel we should try to enjoy the good times to da max! ;-)

The next time when I'm having a rough day, instead of cussing a claat or two, I'll try to remember Colombus. My colleagues may stare at me strangely though. Tek it easy.

Posted by: Dr. D. at August 26, 2003 08:30 PM

If they stare at you when you remember Columbus, just refer them to www.yamfoot.com.

And you know, when I told my buddies that this was the name of the site, one friend said he didn't like the name because it sounded like a disease. Had no clue that there was actually a disease by this name, so I will hasten to add the explanation of yamfoot, perhaps this weekend.

Ciao.

Posted by: Michelle at August 26, 2003 08:39 PM

Well yamfoot, it is not really a medical term or diagnosis per se, but you never hear when Jamaican country people seh smady gie you 'yamfoot?' Usually country people seh is 'obeah' follow you, or somebody 'do you suppem' or is de sins of your forefathers that have befallen you!

It refers (I believe) to people who have chronic swollen legs as in Elephantiasis... and can occur on account of lymphatic blockage because of filarial worms, or congenitally because of absent or atretic (small or insufficient) lymphatics. Not a pretty site. I honestly hope that you don't have yamfoot!

I eagerly wait to hear your explanation. Hey, weekend far you nuh!

Posted by: Dr. D. at August 26, 2003 10:58 PM

Its true, you can always find someone who has gone through more than you have. I think Christopher Columbus had it easy compared to Job from biblical days though... Remember Job, says I.

Posted by: Mad Bull at August 26, 2003 11:46 PM