It’s a good phrase to describe me this week. I am not proud of it, but honestly I am someone who feels strongly, passionately and determinedly so this is known to happen. How about you? I am not talking ire or frustration. I mean a loud, thunderous sensation that envelops you, even for a few minutes. There are surely episodes in our daily lives that inspire this reaction and I know well how slow breathing, meditation, self redirection could help….however, it does not always.

Jared sits next to his softly weeping mother. A young man whose corporate toxic exposure led to a deadly disease and no lawyers want to go up against the giant. At the very least he needs good health insurance to get care. Miguel is twenty and left his family in Mexico for a better life, while in school this year, he is diagnosed with stage four cancer and no way for him to have his family near. Heather was advised by the military she was too young for a screening mammogram, but didn’t know her high risk since she was raised in foster care. She has been the protector and now we will be hers. All young. All life changing and possibly ending situations. I will not suffer any one, or any organization, or any office not pulling out all stops for them.

To avoid my own hair on fire demise, I must take these issues and many others connected to practicing oncology and find a way to channel positive energy, direction and hope. There are amazing people who work on my team who will also come to the rescue for every single person we engage and so I am not alone even in the lonely feeling.

When events threaten, how can we cope and endure this day after day upset in our sensitivities? I will share the one thing that works for me. No its not wine, or whine. It’s something so simple and effective you would never believe the positive change. Very simply it is the walk. Not the hard, pressured run. Just a walk especially in the sunshine but definitely in nature and the smoke leaves my head. Every time. Its not pounding on a treadmill or ellipse. It’s listening to the swooping birds calling, watching the statuesque walk of the crane in the pond, the smell of magnolias that bloomed today. It’s the scurry of the squirrel, the breezes in the tall grasses, the sun on my face. It helps every single time.

Try it the next time your hair is on fire. What? It never is?! Lucky you. I didn’t get that gene. Mine is more intense and requires awareness and managing in order to bring the best plan forward, the most gentle care, the kindest words so that I am here for others who may not be able to actually walk today. My fervent hope is that they never see their doc with her hair on fire. Now my husband? Well, by now he is used to it!