“The Pain of Discipline vs the Pain of Regret…Choose one” Jim Britt

In 1975 I worked as a Medical Photographer at a Hospital in Canada. I was on the cancer ward one day  when I met a man who had cancer throughout his mouth, lips, esophagus and lungs. He had a tracheotomy, yet to my astonishment, he was smoking a cigarette through the trac hole. I was mortified at the sight. Seeing my excitation (horrification), the man called me over. His voice was raspy, low and guttural. He grabbed me by the sleeve and looked deep into my eyes and said in almost a whisper, “Son, don‘t smoke.” Tears filled both of our eyes. I am still moved by the memory…
This lesson has been a guiding principle in my personal health care. I do not want to die in a hospital with tubes coming out of me.  As you will see in my upcoming posts,  I deeply believe in personal responsibility.