So here’s the thing: Someone close to me, one of the the kindest and coolest guys I know, was just diagnosed with leukemia. Fortunately, they caught it fairly early. Today, the kind of leukemia he has is very treatable.
I’m mentioning this because his doctor detected this condition during a basic annual physical. His early symptoms were not something that most people would have associated with such a serious condition: general fatigue and pin-prick marks on his chest. Who would have looked at that and thought “leukemia?” Not me.
But to a trained physician, “body language” has a whole different meaning…
Physical symptoms are a subtle yet crucial language of the human body. I deeply respect anyone – from neurosurgeons to nurses to massage therapists – who takes the time and gets the training to interpret this language. It’s a skill of breathtaking significance.
Each of us has a body, but generally we understand so little of what it’s saying. Too often, we avoid listening – especially by not giving our bodies the chance to talk to people who can listen, and understand.
Well, I’m going to take a lesson from my friend whose life is about to be saved. The very least I can do is to make sure I get an annual physical. To be honest, I haven’t always done that. I’m sure that’s true for many Contentious readers, too.
Getting an annual physical, giving my body a chance to speak to someone who understands its language, is a small act of gratitude to the flesh and bones which carry my brain around and let me talk to you. It’s being willing to hear whatever your body has to say – hopefully at a point when those messages can make the most difference.
None of this is rocket science, I know. But it is important.
So I hope you’ll excuse this fairly personal public service announcement. And I hope you’ll take it to heart. Literally.
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