The hills beyond Marsh Glen sent the answer faintly back — Where are you? I listened. The wind sighed low in the firs: all was moorland loneliness and midnight hush.
Verghese urged psychiatrists to stand by the real patient and to make the "argument of ritual," stating that examining, being with, and listening to the patient were transformative rituals.
While getting evidence-based health information and messages out to the public via social media may seem simple, the challenge is in listening and responding to questions and rumours in a timely way.
And by looking at us, listening to us, respecting our input, affirming our value, giving us a sense of dignity, Papa was unquestionably our most influential teacher.
Once he's offered a solution, however, and she continues to be upset it becomes increasingly difficult for him to listen because his solution is being rejected. He feels useless.