On Stress and Illness

My last days of July this year had been very busy. I had a very full load at school and a very important relative came for a visit. I couldn't miss the chance of being with this relative. His very short visit might be his last. I also cannot just give up my load at school because that could create some agitation to several people, considering that we follow a quite complicated schedule.
So, I decided to just run from one place to another during these days. One time I had to wake up very early in the morning to be with my relative then immediate rush to meet my students in some place in Manila for their Related Learning Experience (RLE). Another time, I had to hurry to another end of Metro Manila after school to again be with my relative and the rest of the family. The traffic situation in the city did not help. There were moments when I wished the car I'm in can fly so that I can reach my destination on time. I hate the idea of people waiting for me because I'm late. So, this added to the pressure.
For a while, I was tempted to feel like a victim of circumstance. But I decided to carry on with such a schedule so I can accomplish many things. When school started this year, I resolved to maximize each moment I have because this will be my last term at the university. Looking back at my past five years there, I regretted the moments when I could have planned my schedule better so I can do more things. So I thought I'll give my best shot in this last stretch. Some items in my "bucket list" included:
> I'll perfect the lessons that I've been giving,including the documentation part, e.i., resource units, so my co-concept lecturers and the younger ones can start off where I ended
> I'll help stabilize the INSC Spiritual Committee so the members will be more self-propelled, and the next WESTYV Committee chair can start on other interesting activities, hopefully, more focused on the faculty
> I'll put order on the accounts of the Faculty Club so the next Treasurer can just continue the system. Still on the Faculty Club, that I help make the transfer to our new Faculty room smooth enough and create a homey yet a conducive place for healthy professional and social exchanges between the members.
The list goes on. It sounded simple but it took a toll on my outlook especially at the last days of July when I was faced with more family and social responsibilities.
How did I survive? I applied some tips I usually give to my students for my Stress and Illness lecture:
> Focus on the present. I can't do much about the past nor the future so I might as well give 100% attention to the present.
> Order in my schedule as well as priorities. To focus, I need to know what I need/want to do. By having a "to do" list, I know where to focus my energies.
> Love. Once focused, I can put my entire being, including my mind, heart and will on the present activity . Consequently, I'll enjoy what I'm doing.
But what about the traffic? Cars don't fly. When your car doesn't move because of traffic jam and you're stuck there, grab the chance for a pause. Stretch out and relax your tensed muscles, listen to good music if possible, send the needed SMS to people, and if the pause is long, be more interested in your surroundings. There are so many interesting things/moments that we miss out daily because we are so much in a hurry. These unplanned pauses are our chance to discover more joys and lessons in life.

Making Judgments

Last Thursday, I was with my students at a Government Health Center in Manila. We were busy giving vaccines on infants when a mother came in with her two year old son with orders from our physician for Measles, Hepatitis B and DPT vaccines. That would mean three injections.
Normally, we aim that a child be fully immunized before he reaches one year of age. I wondered why the mother was not able to comply with this (didn't bring the child earlier) so I verbalized my thoughts. She replied that they went on a vacation. Scolding, I told her what a long vacation they had and that she could have been more considerate with her son's health. Because of her negligence, her son will now have to suffer three injections. The mother just kept quiet as we prepared and administered the vaccines. I then grudgingly gave the crying child, who behaved well during the ordeal, my small pack of sweets as a reward.
Back home that evening, I related the incident to a roommate still critical of the mother's negligence. My roommate, who had more sense, told me that maybe the family's delay in coming back from a "vacation" was due to not having money for fare. It's true. Most of our clients are poor. That mother and child looked poor. Mea culpa . I could have known better.
Consideration: Think things through. Avoid making judgments on the motives and intentions of people. It is always better to say: "You give the impression that...", "you seem..." and lines that state observations instead of judgments.