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Dr. Gold, Ph.D, LMHC, Licensed and Board Certified Clinical MentalHealth Counselor, with a Ph.D in psychology, is in private practice at her home office in Fort Salonga, specializing in relationships and integrating traditional methods with holistic ones. She works with all type problems. She is a Life Coach, Workshop Leader, Lecturer, and published Author. Please contact her at drgold6@optimum.net. |
| “She is the most positive person in the world,” my son-in-law announced about me at an event. That’s an exaggeration, but only a slight exaggeration. (Joking!) Kidding aside, I am known to be optimistic. My story to follow may sound somewhat negative, but please know that is not my intention. My goal is to inspire and hopefully save you from regret. From the moment I met my husbands friends, Renee and Ron, I was very fond of them both. She being a nurse, and he an owner of a construction company; they’re nice people, have a good marriage, fun, intelligent; the sort we like to socialize with. Even so, we got together only once due to four busy schedules. I’m sure we could have done so more often than that if only I had pursued. But I didn’t due to a busy schedule. I know you can relate. Recently we saw them again only for a sad occassion. Ron’s wake. He had passed suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 56. NOW I found time, right?! My friend Jessica, a chiropractor, and I bonded the day that we met. Jessie was always a quiet person. She didn’t socialize like me. The only time I saw her was mostly in her office, but I didn’t mind. We had much in common including how much she liked the outdoors and advocating for sea animals. One day, she surprised me and suggested, “If you get a break in your practice or I do in mine, let’s get in touch and take a walk on the boardwalk.” I would have loved that. I remember once a patient cancelled and I considered calling Jessie to see if she could make it. Did I do so? You guessed it. I did not. I don’t remember what I chose to do instead, which seemed important at the time. So important, that I don’t even remember it. After all, our offices were only 10 minutes apart. There would be another time, right? Wrong! Then, I did see Jessie out of her office. In the hospital, with a very aggressive cancer. Her husband had told me she did not want visitors. But, I went anyway. I wrote a note, stating she didn’t have to see me if she didn’t feel up to it; one way or another we would be communicating. I handed it to the nurse to read to Jessie while I waited in the corridor outside the room. Soon, the nurse came over to me and asked me to come into the room. A few days later, we were at her wake. Once again, NOW I found time, right?! The above two incidents were approximately three years and one month ago. Respectively, they will be etched in my memory forever. Of course most of us have work, families, and homes we tend to. It seems there is never enough time to get everything done. Or, we decide not to contact a particular person because they do not reach out first. We always seem to be the one to have to do it. Enough already! Let her/him do it next time. Do you know what? Once, long ago, I felt that way but I no longer do. If I like the person and if when we’re together we both enjoy it, who cares who made the initial call, text or e-mail. So, we fail to call, e-mail or text (how much time would that take out of our lives really?) because, it can always wait. But, can it? Of course, it is important to keep a clean and neat home; care for our children and perhaps, look after our relatives. And if we don’t tend to our work, who will? Once, a wise older relative said to me, which I’ve never forgotten, and has become meaningful to me: “Your house will be here longer than you will be. Put people first.” So, is there somebody you’ve been meaning to contact or see? If so, do it now. Step up to the plate. Don’t hesitate.YOU will be very glad that you made the first move. I hope I’ve inspired you. With great affection, Dr. P-T Gold. |
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