Whispering of Willows 46
by Dr. Anna Zhao
The clinic's
garden was very busy this year. A few months ago, only green leaves were seen,
but in the blink of an eye, it turned golden or red. The protagonists were certainly
the tomatoes and roses, who brought wonderful surprises to many patients.
One patient
said: "I believe there is only one clinic like yours in the whole world;
where else can you see a doctor and pick a few tomatoes or roses at the same
time?"
Why can't
there be more clinics like this? In addition to treating patients with
conventional tools, we also can give them a chance to touch life?
Autumn is
here, and the fruits in the garden have already been picked. Withered leaves
and decadent branches are scattered here and there, quietly waiting for us to
give them new life next year.
Quite a while
ago I realized it: life is just a transformation of energy, from one form to
another. Plants and animals do not have the ability to actively realize this
transformation, but we humans can. If you look carefully, you will find that
many people have been using this transformational ability intentionally or
unintentionally.
Dr. Daniel’s
father was ill, lying in the hospital. For various reasons, Dr. Daniel could not
go back to visit him. Dr. Daniel does not use a mobile phone either. One day he
borrowed my phone, trying to do a video chat with his father. By this time, his
father was unable to talk, so he sang a song for his father, the title of which
is "I Heard You Are in the Distance". Attentively, his father
listened, a smile on his lips and tears in his eyes.
A few days
later, his father passed away. Dr. Daniel said to me, "I am so glad that I
said goodbye to my father with a song". I nodded. I knew that he had
transformed the energy of sadness into love with the help of a beautiful song.
I gradually
discovered that the more people are adept at transforming energy, the freer and
happier they seem to be.
A
considerable number of people who come to our clinic for treatment are elderly
people.
When people
enter old age, through years of wear and tear, their organs enter a state of
fatigue and sluggishness; their energy, blood and body fluids become relatively
insufficient. It is common that seniors often suffer from physical pain and various
ailments.
Some people
may become depressed because of the chronic discomfort, but some people choose
not to dwell on it. They deliberately turn themselves into energy transformers.
The three
elderly people I have met recently have left a deep impression on me.
One of them
is J. She lives on an island with only 1,000 residents. She has to take the ferry
to visit us. She said, "I take care of my husband and two dogs every day,
and I have a five-acre garden to look after. This year, never mind everything
else, just in apples, we harvested 1,800 pounds! I am busy like a bee all the
time. When I finally have some free time, I lie on the grass, barefoot, listening
and talking to the flowers, plants and trees. This is the most relaxing and
happiest time for me..."
Another patient
is E, who is from Eastern Europe. She said, "I did not emigrate to Canada until
I was in my fifties. My life has not been easy at all, but I never took those
difficulties to heart. Whenever possible, I do volunteer work. Now I have more
friends than anyone else. Even though I am over eighty years old, I drive
myself everywhere, and I often pick up and drop off others. On my eighty-fifth
birthday, my church held a large party for me. I sang and danced like those
young people and had tons of fun. No one believes that I am this old!"
Another patient
is D, she is 92 years old. When I first met her, I felt like I had seen her
before. Her physical strength obviously is declining, but her mind is still sharp
and lucid. Her deep-set eyes are calm and elegant, as if silently telling the
vicissitudes of the past.
When D was
sick and it was inconvenient for her to go out, I went to her house to see her
in person.
She said:
"I do have a lot of pain in my body. Sometimes I can't sleep because of
the pain, but I always tell myself not to focus on the pain. I will try my best
to do things I like, such as chatting with my children and grandchildren,
reading interesting things online, sometimes gazing at the flowers on my table,
marvelling at their colors and fragrance, and sometimes relishing every drop of
my hot tea..."
Her daughter
interrupted: "Ah, Dr. Anna, should my mother drink such hot tea? Is it bad
for her health?"
I smiled and
replied: "What does it matter? Whatever she enjoys with her whole heart is
good for her!"
D chuckled
at her daughter: "See, my dear, just like I always told you, in order to
enjoy life, you must learn to find some fun wherever you are, even if it is
just in a simple thing like a cup of tea."
When I came
out of D's house, a short story I had read came to my mind:
Once upon a
time, a sage sat in his dim cave, a large group of his followers crowded to
listen to his teachings about happiness.
The wise man
said: "I will give you a chance to experience happiness right now. Each of
you, please go and fill this space with joy in the simplest, cheapest and
fastest way you can think of."
Everyone
took action, some went to gather flowers, some to find musical instruments,
some to find food, some to find crystals, and some went to find comedians... One little boy calmly stood up, and lit a
candle with a match. Suddenly the gloomy cave became bright, and the child led
everyone to sing and dance in the candlelight, full of joy...
Are not the
three elderly people I treated kind of like the boy in the story? They have
already understood that the secret to a happy and pain free life is ourselves,
for we are the true energy transformers.
210 - 2885 Barnet Hwy,
Coquitlam, BC V3B 1C1, Canada
Mon.&Fri.: 8:00am-12:00pm
Wed,Sat.&Sun.: 8:00am - 8:00pm
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