I am writing to you fresh and renewed after a great Memorial Day
Weekend in the "Show Me State." (That's Missouri for all you
out-of-towners.) This trip came at the most perfect time, as this
trimester is in full swing and I'm already feeling a bit
overwhelmed.
Last week in our management and jurisprudence class, we
discussed how you can't let every day stress from school, work,
relationships, whatever, deter you from your ultimate goal. For me,
that goal is to finish school, pass Part II Boards, complete a
residency, and work in a hospital as a naturopathic pediatric
oncologist. After a long day of class and student clinic (read:
without any breaks!), it's hard to remember that the reason I put
myself through this is for this ultimate goal. Dr. Lou's lecture
reminded me of my "target" and to keep it at the forefront of my
mind.
Dr. Lou also reminds us to keep our determinants of health in
mind, because if we aren't healthy within ourselves, we really
can't begin to help our patients with their health. According to
naturopathic philosophy, some of the determinants of health
include: diet, hydration, sleep, fresh air, joy,
exercise/flexibility, nature, social connectedness, family, and
culture. This weekend spent spelunking, dancing, lounging by the
Lake of the Ozarks, touring the St. Louis Arch, and cheering on the
Cardinals at Busch Stadium addressed all of these. Now that I've
taken the time to get away from Chicago, I feel grateful for the
chance to get all of these things back in balance.
During our tour at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
under the Gateway Arch, I ran across a quote that resonated with
me. It reads, "Most Indian people considered the land to be sacred.
Taking care of the land was a spiritual responsibility, a communal,
rather than individual ownership." This is similar to naturopathic
medical philosophy. When we take our Naturopathic Oath, first at
the White Coat Ceremony and again at graduation, we pledge to
preserve the health of our planet for ourselves and future
generations. Living in an urban environment, we forget that the
Earth is a living entity that we should explore and connect with
spiritually.
Exploring Honey Branch Cave in Sparta, Missouri, was an
incredible spiritual experience for me, as it engaged all of the
senses by smelling the damp cave, feeling the water dripping from
the cave ceiling, seeing the stalactite and stalagmite crystal
formations, tasting the thick and misty air, and hearing the
echoing of our voices in the cave. Obviously, not a typical day in
Lombard, Illinois! But what a good reminder of our communal
spiritual responsibility to the Earth, as it provides us with so
much nourishment. There are many opportunities to connect with
nature in our area, a few of which include:
- Biking on the Prairie Path
- Walking along Lake Shore Drive in Chicago
- Having class outside when weather permits
- Taking pictures in our Forest Preserve
- Fishing in Hidden Lake
- Kayaking on the Chicago River
- Swimming in Lake Michigan
- Free yoga at Millennium Park on Sunday mornings
So, while summer is upon us and the weather is amazing, we
should take advantage of the resources we have around us and
remember our mother, Nature.