72 | June 2012 | woman this month Life’s fortune has seen me blessed with relatively good health but, like everyone, there have been times that I have required a good doctor, therapist or masseuse. Thankfully, in time of greatest need, I have also been blessed by the touch of some truly “gifted” people. Television channels put out hours of drama, murder mystery and even reality-style hospital and doctor shows. Watching them has numbed us into believing that the medical trade is easy. Sure, there are a few years of university to attend, but we generally all believe that we could do it. This is because television does not communicate the most important part of the medical profession and the most amazing part of the therapist’s trade; most who go into it either have, acquire or are blessed with a “gift”. I recently walked into a massage therapist’s office and pointed to a spot on my back where I needed some heavy duty pounding; the muscles had been stiff for two weeks. She took one look at me and said: “No, you are wrong”. Now, if there is one thing I don’t enjoy in life, and when in pain, it's being told I’m wrong. The young masseuse then took my right arm and, pressing her hand near my chest, she said: “The problem is here, I can see by the way you are walking!” An hour and a half later, I had to agree with her. My tight back pain had been caused from a pulled muscle in my right shoulder at the front and she had cured me. This has not been the first time that I have been amazed by gifted people. Sadly, more often than not, I too, have become despondent at the lack of care offered by health centres and, even more so, the lack of care my insurance company believes I deserve. The first time I experienced a miracle worker with a true “gift” was when I met Dr Jamieson. My mother took me to see him when I was eight and suffering great pain behind my eyes. He was never one for words, but as I walked towards him, he simply stood and said: “It’s behind his eyes, she has encephalitis.” That was it. He did not touch me, ask me to cough or even use a stethoscope; he diagnosed me just from the way I looked. Years later, residing in Toronto, I found myself suffering kidney pains. A close friend mentioned reflexology; I was sceptical, but I agreed. The reflexologist looked at me, massaged me lightly and then started working on my feet, despite intense discussions that the pain was nowhere near there. I remained quiet. She continued her foot magic and used pressure points up my legs. I left her with not a single complaint and certainly no pain. Scepticism has made me a cynic for too long. Along our life-journey, thankfully, we are blessed with the beauty of meeting and being cured for further adventure by those who truly are “gifted”, and can take care of us. The difference between them and others is the love and passion they have. Perhaps this made them study harder, perhaps passion simply makes them care more, whatever it is, there should be more of them out there, and not just in the medical profession. All of us should use our “gift”. In the words of another: “Everyone is gifted — but some people just never open their package.” We were all born with it and if you truly wish to succeed in your career you need to capture your own “gift” and make it work for you. Dedication, passion and an ability to care about the other person, whether it is a patient, a customer or a passenger are what will see you through. WoMentality The By Hard-headed Woman Some of us work for a salary, some of us work to build ourselves a career and others do the work that is chosen for them! Gift
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