May 19, 2006 – “You are the author of your own happiness and it is up to you to decide, in the morning when you wake up, that your day will be happy. This is the essence of the message delivered by the famous Dr Hunter “Patch” Adams, a few days ago in Montreal1. A philosophy that can be applied successfully, provided you are aware of the pitfalls of self-pity.
With an imposing stature (he is 1.93 m or 6 feet 4 inches!), This “clown turned doctor” sows joy and germinates creativity to better care for his patients. He also pointed out that at the age of 18, he decided that he would not live a single day without being happy, no matter what. “It’s a privilege to be alive and you have to be happy about it every moment. Do not marinate with the expectation of next happiness. The optimal conditions may not come, ”he advises bluntly.
We are collectives
But to succeed in living the Carpe Diem2, we must learn to fight loneliness, boredom and fear, “the three forms of suffering we are faced with, often voluntarily”, laments Dr.r Adams. Then he adds: “We love to suffer”. And wham!
So he considers that the fight against loneliness is essential. “This is the biggest disease of our time and nothing is harder to overcome than being disconnected from other humans,” says the 61-year-old.
He even goes so far as to assert that nervous breakdown is not an illness, but the main symptom of loneliness. “Everyone must reach out to each other, especially in our aging societies. What is even more painful than death is having to face old age and death on your own, ”says Patch Adams.
Boredom, on the other hand, is a state of mind that must be kept at bay. “It’s an insult to life … starting with yours,” he exclaims. There are so many things that you can open up to and take an interest in that you don’t have the right to find life boring ”.
Let go of fear and anxiety? “It is through the collective sense that it is cured”, launches the D without hesitation.r Adams. “We have to support each other, unite each other while paying attention to the news reports which constitute the root of collective mistrust. “
Exercises to maintain your joie de vivre
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To fight… |
Patch Adams prescribes you … |
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loneliness |
“Talk to a different person, everywhere you go; at the office, have dinner with a different colleague every day ”. |
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“Be generous of yourself and give hugs while you can.” |
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boredom |
“Take a paper and a pencil and invent something, even if it means eating up the paper”. |
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“Dance! Let yourself be carried away by your energy. The body is a wonderful toy ”. |
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“Let go of the TV and take a look at how spiders live: they are fascinating and there are at least 30,000 different species!” “. |
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the fear |
“Laugh in public, three times a day, especially when your inner voice is whispering to you, ‘Noooo, not here !!! “. |
Need warmer doctors!
Nurturing since 1972 the dream of erecting a center where we would practice holistic medicine3, Patch Adams also gave his tips and advice to medical students at McGill University. For him, doctors should be warmer and more empathetic towards their patients, especially the dying. “They will be more grateful for your tenderness and your compassion than for your intelligence,” he insisted.
He even goes further by encouraging future doctors to be a bit of the rebels in the health system … the better to change it.
But, if many students or young doctors are enthusiastic about the idea of applying Patch Adams’ philosophy in a hospital environment, they often come up against misunderstanding when they try to sow the joy of life around them.
This is the case with Dr Adam hofmann4, a resident doctor who, every day, tries to put into practice the teachings of Dr.r Adams. “It is rather difficult because it is often in contradiction with the practice of classical medicine, which does not take into account the perspective of the patient,” says Dr.r Hofmann.
Despite a medical system that he considers very imperfect, he says “survive mentally” by presenting himself to his patients “in all friendship, with all the love that that implies”.
Patch Adams encourages doctors like Dr. Hofmann to persevere. “Don’t stop loving people,” he says. Stay connected to them! ”
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. The Dr Adams was invited to launch the Wellness Center set up by the “Hope & Cope” program at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. This support program offers mutual aid services to cancer patients and their families. For more information: www.hopecope.jgh.ca [consulté le 16 mai 2006].
2. Carpe Diem is a Latin expression that can be translated as “Seize the day”, a call to live in the present moment.
3. Since 1972, Patch Adams has been active in the realization of his project Gesundheit! Institute (the Institute Health!), West Virginia, United States. For more information: www.patchadams.org [consulté le 16 mai 2006].
4. Also responsible for the coming of Patch Adams to Montreal, the Dr Adam Hofmann founded the Asclepius Project – named after the Greek god of healing – in 2003 to promote a holistic approach to medicine focused on patient well-being and compassion. Any questions about the project can be addressed to the email address asclepiusproject@yahoo.ca.
