MONDAY MUSE (9 February 2009)
A PATCH OF HUMOUR
A woman had a below-knee amputation as a result of having diabetes and smoking
all of her life. When she was regaining consciousness in the Recovery Unit, her
doctor-son smiled at her and said ‘Well mum, how does it feel to have one leg
in the grave?’ She laughed out loud. Till the day she died, she told that story
to her friends and each time, she laughed again.
The son, Dr. Patch Adamsis an inspirational icon who has changed the despair of
his patients with his cheerful clowning! Convinced of the powerful connection
between environment and health, he employed many creative ways in using humour
to bring hope and healing to his patients... including dressing up like a clown
and decorating the patient’s bed with colourfull balloons. Along with friends,
Patch founded a model "happy" hospital – the Gesundheit Institute – where the
pain of patients is treated with a patch of humour.
Humour helps because smiling and laughing triggers the secretions of
morphine-like chemicals known as endorphins. Endorphins strengthen the immune
system (responsible for fighting disease and enhancing recovery), reduce pain,
and relax the body. Humour also works because it distracts people from their
worries and pain and it restores perspective. Humour doesn’t alter the
situation, but it helps you to cope with the pain.
Surely, we can learn from the example of Dr. Patch Adams. Surely we can “be
better” at facing every despair with a genuine display of care and humour.
Surely we can spread cheer and hope by lifting the spirits of those who seem to
have succumbed to the situation. And of course, we must start with our own
selves by seeing the positives in every problem that seizes us!
To BE BETTER at taking every hindrance head-on
We must choose to sing the positive humour song…
- Pravin K. Sabnis
9 February 2009, Goa, India.
A life coach with a passion to connect people to their passion & potential,
PRAVIN K. SABNIS employs creative competencies in theatre & trekking in his
UNLEARNING UNLIMITED workshops conducted for leading corporate & other groups.
The MONDAY MUSE series (based on JCI-India’s annual theme) was started on the
first Monday of the year 2004.
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