“Life needs to be appreciated more than it needs to be understood.”
~ Stuart Heller
One day at the bank when it was my turn to approach the teller, I asked “What’s the best day of your life?” She paused a moment and then responded, “When I gave birth to my daughter.” A voice from across the bank called out, “Wrong.” Then there was a discussion about how someone could tell her that she was wrong. Before it became too heated I interrupted to say, “The best day of your life, and everyone’s life, is today. Don’t forget that and live it. It is the only day you have.”
I find it very easy to carry out therapy in the bank by asking the tellers questions. Sometimes I just say, “How may I help you?” when I get to the window. I also love to go to the drive-up window at the bank and ask, “Is my order ready?” They all know it’s me. When I call the office where our son, the attorney, works and tell the secretary I am an FBI agent our son always answers the phone with, “Yes, Dad, what is it?” His secretary knows now.
If you think that’s crazy, I once called the outpatient operating room through the parking garage door intercom, where people enter to pick up post-op patients. There is a ramp there for wheelchairs. I didn’t identify myself; I just said, “I need someone to hold the door so I can drive my VW in and pick up a patient.” I heard a secretary shriek in fear. Then a moment later I heard a nurse’s voice say, “We’ll be there to help in a minute, Dr. Siegel.”
Lighten up and have your best day ever, daily.
Peace,
~ Bernie
