A Doctor's Wisdom

Here in the city of New York, it is often difficult to find a doctor who will actually sit down and talk with you. I have been fortunate enough to find one such doctor. When I visit him he not only asks me questions about my physical health, but also inquires about my mental and spiritual health. He truly is an integrative, holistic practitioner (and he takes my health insurance!)

The last time I visited him he looked me in the eyes and said with sincerity, "So, how are you doing? How is your life right now?"

I sat there puzzled for a second, momentarily thrown off by his genuine interest and concern. How is my life right now? I thought. Good question, Doc.

"I don't know," I said. "Honestly, I feel like I have no idea what I am doing. I look around at my friends, and my friend's friends and they all seem to sort of have things figured out. They know where they are going. They have a path. I don't seem to have any of that right now. I actually feel completely lost."

Doc smiled at me and nodded his head as if he too had experienced a moment of similar panic as he approached his thirtieth birthday.

"You know," he said. "You are exactly where you need to be right now. All those other people, they are like cows being herded into some big farm. Being lost - being a little off track - this is the place where true individuality takes shape. You are on your own path. Yes, it's a little scary, but would you honestly rather be one of those mindless cows, moving through life never veering off course a little bit to really explore."

I took a deep breath and sighed for a moment, clinging to his wise words as if I was meeting with my Guru on some Ashram in India.

"Yes, but it's just so terrifying. I feel"...

"Trust me," he interrupted, "The unknown - it's one of the best places you'll ever be."


I left the appointment that day running his words over and over again in my head. Maybe he's right. Maybe uncertainty is where it's at right now. But why do I still feel as though everyone around me has it all figured out, while I feel like I am 16 years old trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up?

I hate this.

Doc, I hope you are right. I don't want to be one of those cows.