Today, at the doctor's office, I met my new primary care physician. He's a resident. I love working with students. They are so engaged and enthusiastic. It's the beginning of the semester and he is in his first of 3 years at the practice.
He comes into the exam room, brand new lanyard bearing the mascot of the Washington Huskies. He's smiling a little too big. He vigorously shakes my hand as he says, "I'm Vic." Next he takes a seat at the computer to login. Once the computer opens and his hands are poised over the keys, he glues his eyes to mine, "It's dark outside today."
Me thinks I doth detect a pattern. They are clearly focusing on improving bedside manner with this class of physicians. It's almost as if he is running down a personality checklist.
- Invite patient to use your first name.
- Maintain relentless eye contact.
- Comment on the weather.
Ok, Dr. Congeniality. I see your weather comment and raise you small talk!
Me: Yes, it's dark out. It's very cloudy. It feels like it's gong to start raining any minute.
Vic: Yeah, it's not going to rain today. The news said it won't.
Me: i feel like sometimes meteorologists need to go outside and look at the sky. I think it might. It feels like rain.
Vic: Well, it's not supposed to rain today.
This isn't a story about being right or wrong. This is a story about capturing what's available to you and living it. You can train your mind to know about clouds and pressure systems and patterns. Armed with that knowledge, you can stay dry, but you'll never know what the air taste like just as a rain sweeps in. You can't know how the feel of soft rain can change your heart.
The lesson is that the moderate step is in between. Knowledge is incomplete without experience. Likewise, knowledge enhances experience.
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