“Have a beautiful problem that needs watering?”

About a month ago I got an email from a wonderful colleague of mine, Brian Traszkos,  founder of the Institute for Rehabilitative Qigong and Tai Chi. He invited me to become part of something he described as a think tank for creating a brand-new approach to health care called “People Before Patients”. I trust Brian implicitly, so agreed to talk with the founder, Mark Stowlow, a few weeks later. Mark began our conversation by asking “So, what are you curious about these days?” I hadn’t expected that. What followed was a surprising, fun, thought-stimulating conversation that totally shifted my perspective on my work/life balance. No kidding!

I had originally thought “People Before Patients” was designed to help people grappling with illness and the vicissitudes of the medical system. It certainly does that. But it also offers what is described as “a creative sandbox to play in” for anyone facing a life transition of any sort: new job, retirement, moving to a new place, loss of a partner, or maybe an intractable creative block. Six different perspectives including time, beauty, love, presence, story, and lightheartedness will be offered by six different, knowledgeable facilitators, as a way to provide fresh eyes on your questions.

Actually, any problem can be considered as a creative block, can’t it? This is an enlivening and hopeful perspective, and from what I have seen so far, it’s the heartbeat of “People Before Patients”. Mark Stolow calls it “growing through what we go through.” The title of this blog is also drawn from the program’s website. Don’t you love that point of view? Transforming a problem into a thing of beauty and opportunity: what a great way to liberate good, healing energy!

People Before Patients is, by the way, a Canadian not-for-profit. I receive no financial remuneration from it. I share this with you because I like to share some of the good information that comes into my world.

If this piques your curiosity, learn more about it here: https://peoplebeforepatients.com/events/growing-through-what-you-go-through. Scholarships are generously available for those who need them.